Grand Prairie May 3 ballot includes mayoral contest, sales-tax renewal and two charter amendments

Grand Prairie voters will decide on May 3 whether to reelect Mayor Ron Jensen, approve a quarter-cent sales tax renewal for street repairs and consider two amendments to the city charter.

The mayoral contest pits incumbent Ron Jensen against Ravi L. D'Lesley. Two city council seats are also on the ballot: District 2 incumbent Jacqueline Hedden is unopposed for a three-year term, and District 4 has a three-way race among incumbent John Lopez, Marquetta Nemo and Carlos Charlie Garza.

The tax measure would reauthorize an existing quarter-cent sales tax dedicated to street improvements for eight years. City material provided to voters states the 2017 renewal has since produced about $81,000,000 used to improve more than 121 streets, repair roughly 64 miles of roadway, fix 29 alleys and eliminate 1,355 standing water sites. If renewed, the city estimates the measure would generate about $96,000,000 over eight years and the overall local sales tax rate would remain unchanged.

City officials say if voters decline to renew the tax, the overall sales tax rate would fall by one quarter-cent and the level of street repairs would decline to what the city’s general fund could absorb. The ballot packet states nonresidents who shop in Grand Prairie would share the cost through sales-tax collections.

The ballot also includes two proposed charter amendments. Proposition B would add the position of deputy mayor pro tem, selected from among city council members, to carry out the mayor's duties when the mayor pro tem is absent or disabled. Proposition C would make housekeeping changes: removing redundant language, correcting typographical errors and modifying city-code language that conflicts with state or federal law.

Early voting is available April 22–29. Polls are open on Election Day, May 3, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. For polling locations and more information, the city directs voters to gptx.org.