Dallas City Council elects Jesse Moreno mayor pro tem; Gaye Willis named deputy mayor pro tem, assigns offices and seating

The Dallas City Council elected Council member Jesse Moreno mayor pro tem and Council member Gaye Willis deputy mayor pro tem during a June 2025 meeting that also established office assignments and a seating chart for the council’s 2025–27 term.

The vote followed a secretary-administered process using QR codes and the Poll Everywhere application. Council members first indicated, by district and on the record, whether they wanted their names removed from consideration; members who did not remove their names remained on the ballot. Under the procedure explained by the city secretary, a nominee needed eight votes to be elected outright; otherwise the top two vote-getters would move to a runoff.

Council members Jesse Moreno, Jaime Resendez and Gaye Willis remained on the ballot for mayor pro tem. Moreno received 10 votes, Resendez received 2 and Willis received 3; Moreno was named mayor pro tem. For deputy mayor pro tem, council members Zarin Gracie, Maxie Johnson and Gaye Willis were the nominees; Willis received 9 votes, Johnson 5 and Gracie 1, and Willis was elected deputy mayor pro tem.

The meeting began with the mayor calling a quorum at 2:44 p.m. and the city secretary reading Agenda Item 1, the election of officers. The secretary explained logistical details: council members were to scan distributed QR codes, enter their names, and select from a ballot listing members by district; nominations did not require motions or seconds. After members confirmed who remained on the mayor pro tem ballot, the council allowed a five-minute discussion period for members to speak on the record about leadership qualities and expectations.

Speakers who addressed the council during the leadership discussion emphasized collaboration, availability for full meetings and experience. Council member Gaye Willis said she sought the role to “work positively and collaboratively” and cited her recent work on reviving an independent inspector general as an example of building consensus. Council member Jesse Moreno described his background in Southeast Dallas and said, “Serving on the city council is my priority, which is why I take great pride in being at the horseshoe at 9AM ready to begin each meeting.” Council member Adam Bazaldua said he wanted mayoral leadership to act “as a conduit for bridging gaps” across the council.

After the two officer elections the council moved to Agenda Item 2, office selections and seating. The city secretary described an eight-group selection process based on seniority. Members selected lettered offices (for example, Office A, B, etc.) and then chose numbered seats; the secretary read each selection into the record. Examples recorded in the meeting include Council member Jaime Resendez selecting Office N, Council member Kara Mendelson selecting Office M, Council member Chad West selecting Office D, Council member Jesse Moreno selecting Office A, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Willis selecting Office K, and other members selecting offices and numbered seats until the seating chart for the 2025–27 council term was complete.

The meeting concluded after staff confirmed office and seating assignments and the mayor adjourned the session at 3:22 p.m. The city secretary said printed copies of the office and seating assignments would be provided following the meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Mayor pro tem: Jesse Moreno — 10 votes (elected); Jaime Resendez — 2; Gaye Willis — 3. - Deputy mayor pro tem: Gaye Willis — 9 votes (elected); Maxie Johnson — 5; Zarin Gracie — 1.

The council recorded no formal motions requiring seconds for nominations; selections and votes were administered by the city secretary using the QR/Poll Everywhere system and read into the record.