At a recent candidate forum for the open Fort Worth City Council District 10 seat, both candidates addressed key issues including development, taxes, public safety, and social policy.
The seat is open because Fort Worth City Council member Alan Blaylock is not seeking re-election while pursuing another public office. The city council election is set for May 2.
Chris Jamieson, a small business owner, positioned himself as a community-focused candidate. According to his campaign website, Jamieson has built his career around creating jobs, improving neighborhoods, and delivering results through accountability and management. He has been endorsed by Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, the Fort Worth Police Officers Association, and Tarrant County Commissioner Manny Ramirez.
Alicia Ortiz, also a small business owner, has emphasized fiscal responsibility and economic growth. Her campaign says she wants to balance the budget and navigate the challenges of a growing economy. Ortiz has been endorsed by Fort Worth City Councilmember Charles Lauersdorf.
Speaking at the North Tarrant Republican Club on March 30, both candidates said they would support lower taxes and indicated opposition to a potential Pride proclamation if one were introduced in June.
Faith also played a role in the discussion, with both candidates highlighting its importance in their lives.
“We go to church, our daughter is at a faith-based school, it is everything about our lives,” Jamieson said.
“You have men and women restrooms. That is it. Men and women. They have their own issues. You don’t have men in women sports,” he added.
Ortiz also spoke about her faith.
“I’m Catholic, born and raised Catholic, and God is who I serve because he is the one we answer to at the end of the day,” Ortiz said.
Fiscal issues, including property taxes, also came up during the forum. Both candidates pointed to the need for better allocation of city resources.
“That’s a large amount of dollars that are going toward animals when it could go to road infrastructure,” Ortiz said.
“We need to cut out the bureaucracy. We have to focus on how the money is spent the right way,” Jamieson said.
Fort Worth recently implemented a hiring freeze in some city departments as officials respond to a projected budget shortfall this year, according to the Fort Worth Report.
The candidates were also asked about the state takeover of Fort Worth ISD and the city’s role moving forward.
“We have to support our teachers, but outside of the classroom is another measure that we as a city do have to look over,” Ortiz said.
Jamieson noted the limits of city involvement but emphasized support systems.
“We can’t really get involved in that per se, but what we can do is support everything around it, after school programs, those are so important,” he said.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, only 41% of the district’s third- and fourth-grade students met grade-level standards, according to the Texas Education Agency, a modest increase from 33% in 2024. The district has also lost nearly 3,000 students since 2024. The district is now under state oversight following years of academic underperformance.
Both candidates also criticized diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
“We need to go back to merit based,” Ortiz said.
“Whoever does the job the best should have the job. It should not matter how they look like,” Jamieson said.