[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6046049,"mediaKeyId","3573547-94eca071bf20c04ecae09e001d92f950","parentId",3573547,"title","Deborah Peoples sworn in as Fort Worth council member for District 5; pledges focus on development, safety and housing","audioSeconds",683,"startMs",2786000,"endMs",3469000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3573547-94eca071bf20c04ecae09e001d92f950&start=2786&end=3469","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3573547-94eca071bf20c04ecae09e001d92f950/thumbnail_2786000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6046049/Fort-Worth/Tarrant-County/Texas/Deborah-Peoples-sworn-in-as-Fort-Worth-council-member-for-District-5-pledges-focus-on-development-safety-and-housing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6046049-5a0b3531523c20674fb6ab7c339e99ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170558&Signature=bktnMuBJYpyM97sQYZdOOubf6p3oVdG7uG-Iw~Z589VSfliXPXOk5VIfJFz286KF4oJqAgyd0huq3MVfddYiys8WGYFg~OX8avbaFZ33sthfK-fvONCEkbP-sx-Ry9z3CMQ3iyB9NLN9g4JsZNJZPBN3DSoOlAkFGWFbKNFQ7gtKsWWemLTTo9vhQrrddrPs31Nxooow5UPAzT9SuCPGuZ~pRGY1J2aasO2~z78pLkN5sgPX8kn~a26wAq6nkwwisHfOHqJXlKKuzYzcLsMrIogeaYCyh73hkqe7WrYiL0hM9TRWdGQryW4f6EXX1a-AZu3rknX5bK17g0icrrQfTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Fort Worth","date","2025-05-14T11:21:27Z","article","Deborah Peoples was sworn in as the Fort Worth City Council member for District 5 by Judge Mary Ellen Hicks in a ceremonial portion of the council meeting. Judge Hicks administered the oath “in the name and by the authority of the State of Texas,” after which Peoples addressed the chamber and outlined priorities for her term.

In brief remarks, Peoples thanked community, family and campaign volunteers, cited Shirley Chisholm’s advice — “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair” — and pledged to serve District 5. She said she will focus on economic development, public safety, affordable housing, parks, streetlights and code compliance, and she repeatedly described herself as “your servant.”

Why it matters: The swearing-in fills the District 5 seat following the May 3 election and signals the new council member’s stated top priorities for a portion of east Fort Worth that city leaders and residents have identified as a focus for investment and code enforcement.

Peoples thanked fellow elected officials and community partners who supported her campaign and noted specific neighborhood concerns she plans to address, including park improvements and street-lighting and code-enforcement follow-up in Stop 6 and other eastern neighborhoods. No formal council policy or budget action was taken during the swearing-in remarks.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Special Called City Council Meeting, Election Canvass | May 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Judge Mary Ellen Hicks administered the oath to Deborah Peoples during a swearing-in ceremony; Peoples thanked community supporters and said she will prioritize economic development, public safety and affordable housing in District 5.","taxTitle","Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas","taxId",2814,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6046054,"Mayor Pro Tem Gina Bivens honored for Stop 6 revitalization; cites $36 million HUD grant and partnerships",1296,1363000,2659000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3573547-94eca071bf20c04ecae09e001d92f950&start=1363&end=2659","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3573547-94eca071bf20c04ecae09e001d92f950/thumbnail_1363000.jpg","/articles/6046054/Fort-Worth/Tarrant-County/Texas/Mayor-Pro-Tem-Gina-Bivens-honored-for-Stop-6-revitalization-cites-36-million-HUD-grant-and-partnerships","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6046054-1dda670aa57e68256522f5b77a383b6a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170558&Signature=ISrHMYBWttmY1OyU7mj06MeLiojWW671KZ6OmM0MpOJKzsU215tpVzKYuF6r7eDdZg3vTBdcxim~TMxOqSFCncIYR7MdEhS6vMDokXi41eUoTk1QhidsXlXhg96i-genq4tsAzxil6qJu-egybb4IWdoKba~NX2u~PYgchdeL5uZVDDctb5SMekIaTXMHNUMd7OxQYq7tdCwRQXcwfa~hNrF40cxpQ2LNVLLYoKwF6xy9LTfUdll4va7mVdnKoLToiuXUUptlqHyzaonCRiD5J3or-ZXCvyZ7btFM7QcQi4ps6RJdwYTLMQWc4iv3tQf7wClWXn36ODnEhooZqdhJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Pro Tem Gina Bivens used her council appearance to review more than a decade of neighborhood work in Stop 6 and to accept ceremonial recognition at a farewell event in the City Council Chamber. Bivens recounted zoning changes, housing projects, and federal and local partnerships she said helped spur new construction and community improvements.

Bivens told the dais she and partners secured a HUD Choice grant for $36,000,000 that supported redevelopment work in Stop 6 and that the city strengthened its partnership with the housing authority, which Bivens said has a new name, Fort Worth Housing Solutions. She described bringing then–HUD Secretary Ben Carson to tour projects and highlighted local partners — including Mary Margaret Lemons, CEO of Fort Worth Housing Solutions; Don Babers, a former regional HUD administrator; developer Jeremy Smith; and community leaders and institutions such as Paul Quinn College.

Bivens said the city removed an historic-district overlay in parts of Stop 6 to ease development barriers and that the changes helped attract builders and media attention. She described housing, demolition of blighted structures and new projects such as “Babers Manor” on Ramey, and efforts to recruit a grocery store and other amenities to transit-oriented locations such as Lakes of River Trails.

Community organizations presented plaques and remarks. Annie Taylor Curtis, president of Beta Mu Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, praised Bivens’s “unwavering dedication” and service. A speaker for the Fort Worth chapter of Links Incorporated credited Bivens with advancing Stop 6 redevelopment and cited, on behalf of the Links, a “24 percent reduction in crime and a 74 percent increase in building permits following significant capital improvements,” language offered by that speaker at the ceremony.

Why it matters: The presentation framed long-term, multi-agency work (federal HUD funding, the local housing authority and private developers) that city leaders say has reshaped portions of east Fort Worth. The items noted are relevant to future council priorities and to the council member who will represent District 5.

The ceremony was largely celebratory and ceremonial; no formal council action, budget vote or ordinance change was recorded during the remarks. Bivens closed by thanking staff, residents and partners and by acknowledging family and community members in the chamber.

","Council and community groups honored outgoing Mayor Pro Tem Gina Bivens with presentations that highlighted a decade of Stop 6 housing and neighborhood redevelopment, a $36 million HUD Choice grant, partnerships with Fort Worth Housing Solutions and others, and projects such as Babers Manor.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6046059,"Fort Worth City Council canvasses May 3 election results; District 6 headed to June 7 runoff",179,803000,982000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3573547-94eca071bf20c04ecae09e001d92f950&start=803&end=982","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3573547-94eca071bf20c04ecae09e001d92f950/thumbnail_803000.jpg","/articles/6046059/Fort-Worth/Tarrant-County/Texas/Fort-Worth-City-Council-canvasses-May-3-election-results-District-6-headed-to-June-7-runoff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6046059-244b2098fe97b60c78f75e8a01318ed0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170558&Signature=cr4tZgFgUiInv6Cg1wxByIsYBaB~Nehs~8tnDzEMTPJFejjMX5VBBhx5eyjY~naL3XFlDxsCLpT1glV2cCFZgSqG0YafwZEgPmJF1XPoRUo-g~Gv8-SvgxC3-zFFrHzFhTOySsP3gvrr5wC1hR8cJdS0SVpymrkhIwJKajDPr6Di~74tN3Yrlvn3mkgmtL4Qxh1814-6qYrMr8HhUomXlQsapH7kRD4YLpegFmL28NjB4BNEna0E1bPbzGOmO4yR95HzbJKeG8k73dx0FQfkKa-B7exGGEGCJ-Fmu39ESZxkjGcqSW2VgIhiFqm1wMHTqA1u5w4uaocuye~74sAAdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Secretary Jeanette announced the certified tabulations from Tarrant, Denton and Parker counties and the council approved a resolution canvassing the returns from the May 3 general election, declaring winners for mayor and 10 single-member council districts. The council approved the canvass by voice/hand vote after a motion and second; no nays were recorded.

The certification listed the following declared winners from the cumulative certified returns: Mayor Maddie Parker (66.68%); District 2, Carlos Flores (73.66%); District 3, Michael D. Crane (71.67%); District 4, Charlie Lauersdorf (74.49%); District 5, Deborah Peoples (54.28%); District 7, Macy Hill (100%); District 8, Chris Nettles (74.1%); District 9, Elizabeth Embecke (65.55%); District 10, Alan Blaylock (100%); District 11, Jeanette Martinez (77.07%). The city secretary also announced that council district 6 will proceed to a runoff on Saturday, June 7, 2025, between Mia Hall and Daryl R. Davis II.

Why it matters: Certification completes the formal local step that records results from county election offices and enables newly elected members to be sworn in. The canvass resolution (No. 6087-052025) is the council’s formal declaration of results and is the basis for seating winners and moving to any required runoffs.

Before the council vote, two members of the public used the meeting’s public-comment period to address the election. Resident Bob Willoughby criticized past tallies and said, “They’re being destroyed, and it is 100% corrupt. And the mayor is a liar, and she can’t say anything about that.” Another commenter, Adrian Smith, thanked voters: “Regardless of how your vote was cast, you made it of importance in allowing your voices to be heard by the power of your vote,” and called for continued public engagement and accountability.

The formal action on the canvass was recorded in the meeting minutes as a motion to approve resolution No. 6087-052025. Mayor Pro Tem Gina Bivens made the motion; Council Member Chris Nettles seconded. The council took a hand/voice vote; the motion carried. No roll-call tally with individual yes/no votes was provided in the meeting transcript.

Looking ahead: the council completed the canvass and proceeded with a ceremonial program and swearing-in events for newly elected members.

","City Secretary presented certified returns from Tarrant, Denton and Parker counties; council approved resolution canvassing results and declared winners in the mayoral and 10 council races. Council district 6 will hold a runoff on June 7 between Mia Hall and Daryl R. Davis II. Public commenters challenged the integrity of the count.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Deborah Peoples sworn in as Fort Worth council member for District 5; pledges focus on development, safety and housing

Mayor Pro Tem Gina Bivens honored for Stop 6 revitalization; cites $36 million HUD grant and partnerships

Fort Worth City Council canvasses May 3 election results; District 6 headed to June 7 runoff