
Crystal Wise
Jared Williams
Fort Worth City Councilmember Jared Williams has announced he will not seek a third term.
Williams, who represents District 6, told Mayor Mattie Parker of his decision shortly before making a public announcement late Tuesday afternoon.
Williams’ decision leaves two open seats on the dais. Gyna Bivens is retiring after six terms representing District 5. Every other incumbent, including the mayor, has either filed or is expected to.
The deadline to file is Feb. 14.
“After much prayer, reflection and conversations with my family, I have been led to deepen my lifelong pursuit of God’s love, mercy and justice through ministry with my faith community and through my work to end hunger in communities near and far,” Williams said in a press release. “For this reason, I have decided not to seek reelection this May.”
Williams said that he planned to remain active in the city and “continue serving in new and creative ways, guided by the same values and love for this city.”
Williams and his colleague Chris Nettles recently made headlines over the hiring of new City Manager Jay Chapa. Both urged council peers to restart the hiring process, alleging it had been unfair. Nettles described the process as "baked," claiming that other council members had focused on Chapa, a former assistant city manager, from the very beginning as the replacement for the retiring David Cooke.
Nettles voted no on the appointment. Williams, however, did nothing. He didn’t vote no or abstain. He simply got up and walked away from the dais. He later dubiously claimed that participating would have gone against his "principles of ethical leadership."
With Williams backing out, no one has yet declared or filed in District 6.
In her bid for a third term, Parker has already formally picked up two opponents, with two others saying they will run. Opponents who have filed include Lawrence Walker, founder of a consulting company, PCU; and Chris Wood, whose occupation is listed as “student” on his or her application to be on the ballot.
The race to replace Bivens has attracted two who have filed for a place on the ballot, including Mary Kelleher, currently a member of the Tarrant Regional Water District. Bob Willoughby, a regular critic of the City Council at weekly meetings, has also filed. Michael Moore hasn’t yet filed but has appointed a campaign treasurer.
In District 2, incumbent Carlos Flores, an engineer who is seeking a fifth term, has picked up an opponent. Joe Ponce Jr., who owns a transmission shop, has filed. Both were raised on the North Side.
The race to represent District 8 should be interesting.
Nettles, the incumbent, first elected in 2021, will face Payton Jackson, an activist who interestingly lists her occupation as TikTok. She’s active on there, that is for sure. In December, Jackson posted a video to the platform of a conversation she had with Nettles, who is caught on tape creating controversy.
Nettles said at the time that the post was the first proverbial shot across the bow in Jackson's intended council campaign against him.
It appears that he was right about that.
Charlie Lauersdorf is seeking his first reelection bid for District 4. Teresa Ramirez, who made two unsuccessful attempts at elective office in 2023, has announced her intention to run for the council seat again. After losing to Lauersdorf in 2023, she later entered the Republican primary in an attempt to unseat Stephanie Klick in the Texas State House.
Jenny Stewart, an insurance agent, has filed to run in District 9 against Elizabeth Beck. In District 11, incumbent Jeanette Martinez, elected to the new seat in 2023, has filed. So, too, has Christopher Johnson, who was among a cast of candidates seeking the seat in 2023. He also ran unsuccessfully for District 8 in 2021.