Suzy Ware and her grandchildren stood silently as her husband, Tom Ware, swore his oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States and Texas.
Each watched in admiration as their loved one became an Arlington City Council member.
Ware and council member Brittney Garcia-Dumas were sworn in Tuesday after the council certified the results of the May 2 election.
The certification also saw Mayor Jim Ross and District 3 council member Nikkie Hunter officially retain their seats and each began their final three-year term.
Another new face will join city council when voters decide a June 13 runoff election for the at-large District 8 seat.
The new council members thanked those who voted for them and looked ahead to the future of their districts.
“We’ll do the very best we can possibly do for Arlington and support everything we can,” Ware told attendees after he swore in, surrounded by his family.
Ware was elected to the District 4 seat after the incumbent, Andrew Piel, reached his term limit. He defeated two challengers, local activist Rojo Meixueiro and Tarrant County Republican precinct chair Lisa Ventura as they sought to represent parts of west and central Arlington.
Council member Tom Ware laughs with family and friends before being sworn in during an Arlington City Council meeting May 12. (Christine Vo | Fort Worth Report)
Ware, who spent five years as a planning and zoning commissioner, said he wants to focus on the maintenance of streets, public safety, the Parks Mall and the upkeep of code compliance inspections as he enters the office.
“That’ll keep me pretty busy for a while,” Ware said through a laugh.
In District 5, Garcia-Dumas defeated incumbent Rebecca Boxall, who served two terms representing parts of central and east Arlington.
Garcia-Dumas, the founder and CEO of BGD Digital Marketing, said she was proud to take the responsibilities that come with being a council member.
New council member Brittney Garcia-Dumas hugs her mother Heather Garcia during an Arlington City Council meeting May 12. (Christine Vo | Fort Worth Report)
“I was born here; I was raised here; I am a product of your public schools; I am the product of your vision for the future,” Garcia-Dumas told the crowd in the chambers. “The taxpayer dollars that you paid for the last 37 years have helped rear you a city council member.”
Garcia-Dumas said her election to the seat was a testament to District 5.
“The percentage chance that a person has of being a first-time candidate, running and winning is 15%,” Garcia-Dumas said. “When you run against an incumbent, that goes down to 5%. We had a 5% chance of winning this seat for the people, and we did it.”
Her immediate goals as she takes office are to increase the walkability of the city, bringing in young families and creating a strong partnership with Arlington ISD, she said.
New council member Brittney Dumas-Garcia talks with family and friends before being sworn in during an Arlington City Council meeting May 12. (Christine Vo | Fort Worth Report)
The council will have to wait over a month for the election talk to end.
On June 13, Arlington ISD trustee Melody Fowler is slated to face Jason Shelton, a sociology professor and director of the Center for African American Studies at UT Arlington, after no candidate received over 50% of votes. Incumbent Barbara Odom-Wesley will vacate the seat after reaching her term limit.
Chris Moss is a reporter for the Arlington Report. Contact him at chris.moss@arlingtonreport.org.
At the Arlington Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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