On June 15, Fort Worth will officially have a new mayor and four new city council members as voters ushered in a slate of younger millennials to public office.
Mattie Parker will be the new mayor, defeating former Tarrant County Democratic Party Chair Deborah Peoples in a runoff election.
Jared Williams, Leonard Firestone, Chris Nettles and Elizabeth Beck will be the new council members.
“We’ll be officially welcoming our newly-elected mayor and city council members at the swearing-in ceremony on June 15,” outgoing Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price said on Twitter. Parker is a former aid to Price.
At age 37, Parker will Fort Worth’s first millennial mayor, WFAA reported. She will also be one of the youngest mayors of a large city in the U.S., Fort Worth Culture Map reported.
When Price announced that she would not seek re-election, 10 candidates entered the race to succeed her, WFAA reported.
Parker and Peoples were the top two candidates, but neither received a majority, forcing a runoff, which Parker won.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott endorsed Parker, a Republican, citing her opponent’s position on law enforcement.
Price, also a Republican, has announced plans to run for a Tarrant County judge, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.
“I am proud to congratulate Mattie Parker for earning the people of Fort Worth’s votes and being elected the 45th mayor of Fort Worth,” Price said on Twitter. “Mattie undoubtedly has the heart for service and the head for policy that we need leading Fort Worth during this time of rapid growth and change. The new voice and fresh perspective Mattie brings to the table will be invaluable on the Fort Worth City Council.”
Parker won the runoff with 53.55% of the vote to 46.45% for Peoples
In the city council races, Williams defeated the incumbent, Jungus Jordan. Firestone beat Zeb Pent, Nettles won over longtime incumbent Kelly Allen Gray and Beck defeated Fernando Peralta, Fort Worth Culture Map reported.
The new council members will lower the average age of the city council from 60 to 45, the story said.
