by The FWR Staff, Fort Worth Report
February 16, 2026

Age: 36

Public email address: info@drjaredwilliams.com 

Campaign website: drjaredwilliams.com 

Social media: @drjaredwilliams

Education: BS Plant Science Biotechnology, Fort Valley State University; MS Environmental Science, TCU; PhD Environmental Science, University of North Texas

Occupation and workplace: Nonprofit leader, Tarrant Area Food Bank

Previous elected office(s) sought or held: Two-term Fort Worth City Council member, District 6

How long have you lived in Texas and in your district? 

36 years

What are your qualifications to serve in this office?

I am a two-term Fort Worth City Council member with experience governing, managing budgets, and delivering results. I have led efforts to raise wages, improve community safety, expand affordable housing and homeownership, strengthen essential services, and build effective city-county-private partnerships. I have also served on the Tarrant County Human Services Advisory Committee, gaining direct experience with county systems and service delivery. In addition, I bring extensive nonprofit leadership experience addressing poverty and community development at the local, state, and federal levels.

What are your top three priorities, if elected? Briefly describe how you would approach each.

1. Lowering the cost of living.

I will work to lower the cost of living so every family can afford a decent life. This includes pushing to end unfair property tax appraisals and advocating for capping homestead taxes at purchase price, while making housing and homeownership possible, guaranteeing access to quality child care, supporting living wages for county workers, and creating good-paying local jobs.

2. Delivering excellent county services for all.

I will ensure county government cares for people by expanding access to health care through public hospitals, investing in mental health and disability services, safeguarding human dignity in our jails, and improving roads, public transit, and disaster preparedness through accountable budgeting.

3. Protecting fundamental rights and restoring democracy.

I will protect the right to vote by ensuring accessible polling locations, expanding voter registration, safeguarding public comment, and operating Commissioners Court transparently with decisions guided by community input and best practices, not political agendas.

What is the single biggest issue your constituents face? How would you address it?

The single biggest issue facing Tarrant County residents is the rising cost of living. Families are being squeezed by housing costs, property taxes, child care, and everyday expenses, leaving too many one emergency away from crisis. As County Commissioner, I would work to lower costs by advocating to end unfair property tax appraisals and cap homestead taxes at purchase price, while making housing and homeownership possible, guaranteeing access to quality child care, supporting living wages for county workers, and creating good-paying local jobs.

Why are you seeking this office?

I am seeking this office to help build a county government that works for everyday people after decades of failed leadership by politicians in power. Too many families are struggling with the rising cost of living, uneven access to county services, and repeated violations of fundamental rights. I bring experience governing, managing budgets, and delivering results, and I am ready to use that experience to lower costs, ensure county services are excellent and effective, and protect our fundamental rights. Together, we can build a future where every person and every family can flourish in harmony with an effective Tarrant County government that makes it possible.

Who are your top five campaign donors?

My top donors, listed from lowest to highest contribution amounts, include a mix of local community leaders, small-business owners, and longtime advocates for public service: Michael Bell, Kathy Spicer, Dr. Patrick Moses, the Roderick Miles Jr. Campaign, Jason Smith, Ty Stimpson, Richard Harleaux, Kevin Afkami, All In PAC, and Steve Hawkins. My campaign is powered by everyday people across Tarrant County, with 84% of contributions coming from donors and an average contribution of $33.75.

Have you ever filed for bankruptcy? If so, when?

No 

Have you ever been convicted of a crime, in Texas or another state? If so, what crime and when?

No 

What are your budget priorities, and why? 

My budget priorities reflect my broader goals of lowering the cost of living, delivering excellent county services for all, and protecting fundamental rights. I will prioritize responsible investments that lower costs for families, including housing stability and homeownership, child care, and partnerships that expand economic opportunity. I will ensure county budgets deliver excellent services by strengthening public hospitals, safeguarding human dignity in our jails, investing in mental health and disability services, infrastructure, and emergency preparedness, and supporting living wages for county workers. I also believe strong public input is essential, and I support participatory budgeting to ensure transparency, accountability, and that community voices help shape how county dollars are invested.

What do you see as the county’s role in managing infrastructure, such as streets and water quality, across the county amid rapid growth?

Tarrant County plays a critical role in planning, coordinating, and investing in infrastructure that supports a growing population while protecting public health and safety. The county is responsible for roads in unincorporated areas and serves as a key partner with cities, regional agencies, and water districts on transportation, flood mitigation, and water quality. I believe the county should approach infrastructure through the lens of lowering the cost of living, delivering excellent county services, and protecting fundamental rights, while using data and public input to guide decisions. By coordinating across jurisdictions and leveraging partnerships, the county can deliver on these priorities effectively.

With a reduction of public meetings, some residents are concerned about opportunities to engage with their elected officials. How do you plan to engage with constituents? 

Public engagement is essential to a healthy democracy. I will work to restore and protect public comment at Commissioners Court and ensure residents have regular, meaningful opportunities to be heard. I will hold Commissioners Court public comment meetings in precinct locations, conduct town halls, listening sessions, and policy roundtables, and create a County Workers Advisory Committee to elevate frontline perspectives. I will also invest in strong constituent services so residents of Precinct 2 can access help, raise concerns, and see their priorities reflected in county decisions.

How would you approach bipartisan collaboration on the Commissioners Court? 

It is a fact that politicians from one party have held power exclusively in Tarrant County and for decades in Texas, and their failed leadership has not materially improved the lives of everyday people. Decisions made by those in power have led to families being priced out of their homes through unfair property tax appraisals; the divestment of critical public services like our public hospitals and human services; unsafe and inhumane conditions in our county jails; and the undermining of fair representation and the right to vote through partisan political theatrics.

I believe effective governing requires public servants to focus on our shared responsibility to serve the people and advance the common good. My approach is grounded in a moral obligation to build a future where every person and every family can flourish alongside an effective Tarrant County government that helps make it possible.

We will do that by lowering the cost of living, delivering excellent county services, and protecting our fundamental rights through data, best practices, and democratic participation. I will work with the people of Tarrant County, county workers, and any colleagues on the court willing to advance the common good, but I will always govern for the people and lead from these values.

How would you address concerns about deaths in the Tarrant County jail?

The number of deaths in the Tarrant County jail is a moral crisis. It is unacceptable and demands urgent action. As county commissioner, my responsibility would be to ensure the county protects the lives and dignity of people in its care. That starts with expanding diversion, including bail reform that ends wealth-based detention and relies on individualized, evidence-based decisions that preserve community safety while respecting due process. It also includes investing in alternatives that provide direct care and services for people experiencing addiction, homelessness, mental illness, unmet health care needs, and veterans in crisis, so fewer people are unnecessarily detained.

For people in the county’s care at county detention facilities, we must ensure humane and safe living conditions, timely medical and mental health care, and real accountability. We must also invest in the workforce by improving wages, training, and support for detention and health care staff, because safe conditions depend on a stable and well-supported workforce.

Just as importantly, the county must invest upstream in communities so fewer people ever encounter the justice system. That includes strong public education partnerships, reliable transportation, universal access to quality child care, health care through our public hospitals, disability and veteran services, housing stability, economic opportunity, and living wages.

Finally, strengthening reentry support is essential so people can return to their communities with housing, health care, employment, and the resources needed to live with dignity.

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