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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Chris Jamieson, a small business owner, positioned himself as a community-focused candidate. According to his campaign website<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n Alicia Ortiz, also a small business owner, has emphasized fiscal responsibility and economic growth. Her campaign says<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Faith also played a role in the discussion, with both candidates highlighting its importance in their lives.<\/p>\n \u201cWe go to church, our daughter is at a faith-based school, it is everything about our lives,\u201d Jamieson said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have men and women restrooms. That is it. Men and women. They have their own issues. You don\u2019t have men in women sports,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Ortiz also spoke about her faith.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m 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,\u201d Ortiz said.<\/p>\n Fiscal issues, including property taxes, also came up during the forum. Both candidates pointed to the need for better allocation of city resources.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a large amount of dollars that are going toward animals when it could go to road infrastructure,\u201d Ortiz said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to cut out the bureaucracy. We have to focus on how the money is spent the right way,\u201d Jamieson said.<\/p>\n Fort Worth recently implemented a hiring freeze in some city departments as officials respond to a projected budget shortfall this year, according<\/a> to the Fort Worth Report.<\/p>\n The candidates were also asked about the state takeover of Fort Worth ISD and the city\u2019s role moving forward.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to support our teachers, but outside of the classroom is another measure that we as a city do have to look over,\u201d Ortiz said.<\/p>\n Jamieson noted the limits of city involvement but emphasized support systems.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t really get involved in that per se, but what we can do is support everything around it, after school programs, those are so important,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n