In less than 60 days, Dallas voters will start heading to the polls to cast ballots for one of nine candidates vying to be mayor of the ninth largest city in the country. The long list offers voters a variety of choices and a short time to decide which one is best suited to address the city’s challenges.
Here’s a look at each of the candidates (in alphabetical order):
Mike Ablon
Current Job: Head of commercial real estate development company PegasusAblon
Known For: Dallas Design District redevelopment, former chair of Trinity River Corridor LCG to build Harold Simmons Park
Elected Office: None
Campaign Theme: “Thriving neighborhoods in every part of Dallas”
Politics: Donated to one Democrat in 2018
Supporters: Former city attorney and lobbyist Larry Casto
Website: mikeablon.com
Albert Black Jr.
Current Job: Founder and CEO of On-Target Supplies & Logistics
Known For: Former chair of Dallas Housing Authority and Baylor Health Care System board, first African-American chair of Dallas Regional Chamber
Elected Office: None
Campaign Theme: “Believe in Dallas”
Politics: Donates to Democrats
Website: albertfordallas.com
Scott Griggs
Current Job: Dallas City Council, District 1 (term-limited out); patent attorney
Known For: New Urbanism-based planning, support for core infrastructure over vanity projects, opposition to Trinity toll road
Elected Office: Dallas City Council member since 2011 (four terms)
Campaign Theme: “Dallas needs a new kind of Mayor”
Politics: Progressive Democrat
Supporters: Councilmember Philip Kingston
Website: griggsfordallas.com
Eric Johnson
Current Job: State Representative, House District 100; municipal bond attorney
Known For: Career “F” rating on Fiscal Responsibility Index
Elected Office: State Rep. (D-Dallas) currently serving 5th term
Campaign Theme: None
Politics: Democrat
Supporters: Consortium of establishment Republican business elites
Website: johnsonfordallas.com
Alyson Kennedy
Current Job: Walmart cashier
Known For: Socialist Workers Party’s 2016 presidential candidate
Elected Office: None
Campaign Theme: Workers’ revolution
Politics: Communist/Socialist
Lynn McBee
Current Job: CEO of Young Women’s Preparatory Network, philanthropist
Known For: Fundraising for city nonprofits, former research biochemist, recently moved to Dallas from Highland Park
Elected Office: None
Campaign Theme: “A fresh perspective from outside of politics”
Politics: Donated to one Republican in 2018
Supporters: Former Mary Kay CEO Richard Rogers, several city philanthropic leaders
Website: lynnmcbee.com
Regina Montoya
Current Job: Corporate and healthcare attorney
Known For: Former aide to President Bill Clinton, fundraiser for Hillary Clinton, chaired Mayor’s Task Force on Poverty
Elected Office: None
Campaign Theme: “Investing in People”
Politics: Democrat
Website: reginamontoya.com
Miguel Solis
Current Job: Dallas ISD Trustee, District 8
Known For: Youngest person elected to Dallas ISD board; supported former Superintendent Mike Miles’ reforms to improve student achievement and reward excellent teachers
Elected Office: Dallas ISD school board trustee since 2014 (current term expires 2020)
Campaign Theme: “Together for Dallas”
Politics: Progressive Democrat, field organizer for Obama 2008
Website: miguelformayor.com
Jason Villalba
Current Job: Financial attorney
Known For: Career “F” rating on Fiscal Responsibility Index; inflammatory statements
Elected Office: Former State Rep. for three terms (2013-2018)
Campaign Theme: “Dream Big,” 5 Point Plan to “Get Stuff Done”
Politics: Republican
Website: villalbafordallas.com
Early voting for the May 4 mayoral election runs April 22-30. All 14 city council positions will also be on the ballot. The municipal runoff election date is June 8.
