Deborah Morris

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Deborah S. Morris
Image of Deborah S. Morris

Nonpartisan

Prior offices
Garland City Council District 2
Successor: Kris Beard
Elections and appointments
Last election

June 7, 2025

Education

High school

Merritt Island High School

Personal
Religion
Christian
Profession
Writer
Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

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Deborah S. Morris was a member of the Garland City Council in Texas, representing District 2. She assumed office on May 15, 2018. She left office in 2024.

Morris ran for election for Mayor of Garland in Texas. She lost in the general runoff election on June 7, 2025.

Morris completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Deborah Morris' career experience includes working as a nonfiction writer and in public speaking. She has served as a local disaster team leader with the American Red Cross, as a member of the first aid team with the Christian Motorcyclists Association, as a president with the North East Garland Neighborhood Association, and as a board member with the Building & Fire Codes board in Garland, Texas. Her professional credentials include a certification as a first responder.[1] Morris has been affiliated with the National Association of Parliamentarians, the Garland Association for Hispanic Affairs, the Garland NAACP, the Vietnamese American Community of Greater Dallas, and Antioch Lake Cities Church.[2]

Awards

  • 2001: Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Children’s Series — Real Kids, Real Adventures (Discovery Channel)[2]
  • 2000: Volunteer of the Year, Dallas Red Cross[1]

Elections

2025

See also: Mayoral election in Garland, Texas (2025)

General runoff election

General runoff election for Mayor of Garland

Dylan Hedrick defeated Deborah S. Morris in the general runoff election for Mayor of Garland on June 7, 2025.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Dylan Hedrick
Dylan Hedrick (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
51.7
 
4,010
Image of Deborah S. Morris
Deborah S. Morris (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
48.3
 
3,748

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 7,758
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

General election

General election for Mayor of Garland

The following candidates ran in the general election for Mayor of Garland on May 3, 2025.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Deborah S. Morris
Deborah S. Morris (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
42.4
 
4,171
✔
Image of Dylan Hedrick
Dylan Hedrick (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
33.2
 
3,261
Image of PC Mathew
PC Mathew (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
8.3
 
815
Image of Shibu Samuel
Shibu Samuel (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
7.4
 
726
Image of Roel Garcia
Roel Garcia (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
5.2
 
513
Image of Koni Ramos-Kaiwi
Koni Ramos-Kaiwi (Nonpartisan)
 
3.5
 
345

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 9,831
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

To view Morris's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Morris in this election.

2022

See also: City elections in Garland, Texas (2022)

General election

General election for Garland City Council District 2

Incumbent Deborah S. Morris defeated Koni Ramos-Kaiwi and Trayc Claybrook in the general election for Garland City Council District 2 on May 7, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Deborah S. Morris
Deborah S. Morris (Nonpartisan)
 
68.8
 
368
Image of Koni Ramos-Kaiwi
Koni Ramos-Kaiwi (Nonpartisan)
 
19.3
 
103
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Trayc Claybrook (Nonpartisan)
 
12.0
 
64

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 535
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

2020

See also: City elections in Garland, Texas (2020)

General election

General election for Garland City Council District 2

Incumbent Deborah S. Morris defeated Koni Ramos-Kaiwi in the general election for Garland City Council District 2 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Deborah S. Morris
Deborah S. Morris (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
57.1
 
3,853
Image of Koni Ramos-Kaiwi
Koni Ramos-Kaiwi (Nonpartisan)
 
42.9
 
2,894

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 6,747
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

To view Morris' endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here.

2018

General election

General election for Garland City Council District 2

Deborah S. Morris defeated Rex Wisdom in the general election for Garland City Council District 2 on May 5, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Deborah S. Morris
Deborah S. Morris (Nonpartisan)
 
83.4
 
412
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Rex Wisdom (Nonpartisan)
 
16.6
 
82

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 494
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2025

Video for Ballotpedia

Video submitted to Ballotpedia
Released March 7, 2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Deborah S. Morris completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Morris' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

As a three-term City Council member and 39-year Garland resident, I've worked side by side with our community for years to make real, lasting change.

On council I served terms as both Mayor Pro Tem and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem, leading numerous initiatives to increase quality of life and reduce costs for Garland residents, including sidewalk repair programs, senior tax relief, and neighborhood improvement grants. I worked to promote our local businesses and attract new ones, and to make our processes more business-friendly.

I drew on my background as a career journalist to keep residents informed by creating and publishing a free twice-monthly 'Garland City Connect' newsletter for the last seven years, along with providing real-time online and email updates.

As a private citizen, I also led the successful public effort to preserve a wooded Garland greenbelt--now part of the Rowlett Creek Preserve's trail system--by advocating for an alternate road realignment that also saved significant tax dollars.

I’m honored now to have received the endorsements of four former Garland mayors—Mayors Ron Jones, Bob Day, Jamie Ratliff and Doug Athas--in this mayoral race.

I have both the broad experience and the time to serve this large and busy city--the 93rd largest city in the U.S.!--as a proven and effective full-time Mayor who will put your interests first.
  • Safety is my top priority. You deserve to feel secure in your home, neighborhood, and business place. As mayor, I will continue to stand by our first responders and ensure adequate funding to maintain highly trained police, fire, and emergency services.

    As an elected official I also represented Garland on the North Central Texas Council of Governments Emergency Preparedness Planning Council. During the tornado, pandemic, ice storm and power outages I was there for you, keeping you informed and personally arranging relief efforts from hot showers and hot food to delivering generators or cases of water.

    As a community volunteer I've also had real hands-on experience as a Red Cross Disaster Team Leader and certified first responder.
  • Keeping Garland economically strong means taking action today while planning for tomorrow. We have a beautiful and historic city with much unrealized potential. I will continue to support and engage with our existing businesses and employers while working to attract new businesses to Garland. This will include continuing to create the economic environment necessary to attract a community hospital to open in Garland. As mayor, I will ensure we keep up the momentum--honoring the past while positioning our city for the future.
  • Garland is the 13th largest city in Texas. It's time for us to step up and take our rightful place as a leading city in DFW and North Central Texas. The active role I played during Downtown Garland's transformation has led to me being invited to speak with other cities and city leaders interested in pursuing similar initiatives. I've come to realize how valuable these regional and statewide connections can be. As mayor, I will work to see Garland's influence and reputation expand in our region and state.
Government transparency, public safety, and effective communication.
My father was a man of great integrity and constancy, and also someone who quietly took care of a lot of people who needed help. He considered it normal, not exceptional. He was one of the most generous men I've ever known besides my two elder brothers and my husband. I look up to all of them. I've been greatly blessed to have them in my life.
I'm a voracious reader, so I really can't choose just one title. My first thoughts are two passages I have framed and hanging on my office wall--one is "The Man in the Arena" by Theodore Roosevelt, and the other is a Bible passage, Luke 22:25-26, that talks about serving people rather than "lording it over" them.

To do this right often requires putting yourself last. In fact, there's one favorite book title by Simon Sinek: Leaders Eat Last! It requires genuinely caring for those in your charge, not just parroting the empty phrase, "I hear you..." This is a people job, but one that focuses on the practical: streets for people to drive on, stores for people to shop in, homes for people to live in, community for people to connect and thrive, etc.
Humility. Integrity. The ability to listen to people, to own mistakes, and to learn from them.

Arrogance is probably the #1 negative characteristic for an elected official. Citizens, not the mayor or city council, are at the top of our City org chart. They are, collectively, our boss. We should remember that.
I work hard, and have a proven track record of keeping people informed, seeking their input, advocating for their ideas, and delivering real results.
As mayor, my primary responsibility would be to provide leadership that ensures transparent and accessible governance. I would be expected to preside effectively and fairly over meetings, including demonstrating proficiency in parliamentary procedure (for which I’ve received formal training), and to stand ready to act decisively in the event of a disaster that requires an immediate response.

The mayor is also the official spokesperson for the city, including representing Garland beyond our city borders. Garland is the 93rd largest city in the U.S. and 13th largest city in Texas, but all too often we have been absent from regional events and discussions. Establishing strong relationships with other DFW leaders will ensure Garland consistently has a voice in key conversations.

It also falls to the mayor to interact with the media. I would like to strengthen our city's media presence to highlight positive developments and enhance our reputation in the region. Having spent years as a professional journalist, I’m well aware of the value of establishing a good working relationship with local media.

Other responsibilities include ongoing support for our first responders, promoting economic development, and enhancing the overall quality of life for all Garland residents.

The Mayor is elected by the people of Garland, and answers to them.
A city with a lot more people who know they truly have the power to shape our city's future through speaking up, sharing their ideas, and expecting their elected officials to take them seriously.
JFK being assassinated. I was very young, and mainly remember my parents going quiet and pale.
My VERY first job was when I opened my own lawn chair re-webbing business in the front of my mom's used furniture store. I was 11. I borrowed $5 to purchase rolls of different colored webbing, painted a sign, and re-webbed dozens, maybe 100+, chairs over the next three years. (I did repay my $5 business loan from my mom.)

My first hourly job was as a sign-maker in a department store where I set type, inked, and rolled product signs to be posted around the store. I was 15. Later I became a cashier. I worked there part-time all through high school.
Out of the many thousands of books I've read over my lifetime, the Bible is still my favorite. I've been reading it through every year for many years, and it's always new.
"Can't Help But Praise" (Jordan Colle)
I struggled with severe depression in my younger years, which taught me a lot.
A mayor should be a leader who listens, connects with the community, and delivers real results along with the City Council. Leadership isn’t about making decisions in isolation—it’s about ensuring that the voices of residents shape the future of our city.

Throughout my time on City Council, I’ve proven that when citizens are empowered, Garland thrives. As mayor, I will continue to champion policies that put our people first, from public safety to infrastructure improvements and business growth.
The mayor’s role should be to set a clear vision for Garland and ensure the city government remains accountable and accessible to the people it serves. I’ve worked to make government more responsive—whether by advocating for fairer costs for residents, improving accessibility with live phone translation services and closed-captioning, or working for neighborhood improvements.

As mayor, my top priority will be ensuring Garland continues to grow in a way that benefits all residents, while keeping our streets safe, our infrastructure strong, and our quality of life high.
The mayor and city council should work together as a team, with mutual respect and a shared commitment to serving the people of Garland. The mayor should provide strong leadership while encouraging collaboration so decisions reflect the needs of our community.

I’ve always worked to build bridges, whether by partnering with local businesses during Downtown Garland’s redevelopment or securing majority support for initiatives to improve quality of life. That same spirit of teamwork will guide my approach as mayor.
Garland’s greatest strength is its people. Our city is full of hardworking, engaged, and community-minded residents who care deeply about its future. They literally invested in our future by approving the $423M bond in 2019, which has been a game-changer.

I’ve spent decades listening to Garland residents' concerns and working to make a real difference, both on and off council.
Garland is growing, and with that growth comes challenges. We need to ensure our infrastructure—our streets, sidewalks, and public spaces—keeps up with demand. Public safety must remain a top priority, and we need to attract businesses that strengthen our economy. I’ve already taken action on these issues during my time on the City Council, and as mayor, I will continue to focus on smart, sustainable solutions that prepare Garland for the future while maintaining the character that makes our city special.
The city should work in partnership with the state while maintaining its ability to make decisions that best serve its residents. Collaboration on key issues—such as infrastructure funding and economic development—is essential, but local leaders know their communities best. I will always stand up for Garland’s right to govern itself in a way that reflects the values and needs of our residents.
While federal support can be beneficial for infrastructure and public safety initiatives, Garland must remain in control of its own destiny. I believe in seeking out federal resources when they align with our city’s needs while ensuring that local decision-making remains in the hands of those who know our community best.
Oh please. I live surrounded with punsters and bad dad jokers. Don't ask.
The mayor should be a strong supporter of law enforcement while also ensuring accountability and trust between officers and the community. Public safety is one of my top priorities, and as mayor, I will work to make sure our police and first responders have all the resources they need to keep Garland safe--and to keep themselves safe as well!
Former Garland Mayors Ron Jones, Bob Day, Jamie Ratliff and Doug Athas. Former Councilmembers Annie Dickson, David Gibbons, and others. At this point I have well over 100 endorsements from Garland residents and businesses. I will provide a link.
Transparency at all levels is a top priority for me. A lack of transparency in our local government is how I first came to run for elected office. As a citizen I led the successful recall of a district councilmember due to lack of transparency, then was asked to run for the seat. I've been a constant advocate on the council for keeping citizens informed of what we're doing *before* we do it. I have a proven track record of keeping people informed and seeking their input.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2022

Deborah S. Morris did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Video for Ballotpedia

Video submitted to Ballotpedia
Released August 29, 2020

Candidate Connection

Deborah S. Morris completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Morris' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

One of America's leading writers of real-life rescue and survival stories, Deborah authored over 140 magazine features and 15 books, including the Real Kids, Real Adventures book series (adapted as an Emmy-nominated TV series on the Discovery Channel). She also ghostwrote/co-authored the Christian Gold Medallion Finalist What Would Jesus Do?, and co-produced two reality-based television movies with ABC and Lifetime.

Deborah grew up in a family of entrepreneurs and started her first business at age 11, running a lawn chair repair shop from her mother's used furniture store. She built and sold a specialty resume service in Research Triangle Park (NC) in the 80's, and founded and directed the International Writers' Roundtable Conferences in Dallas in the 90's and early 2000's.

A Certified First Responder, Deborah served as a local Disaster Team Leader with the American Red Cross. She was named Volunteer of the Year by the Dallas Red Cross. She also served on the First Aid Team of the Christian Motorcyclists Association.

She has been married to her husband, Terry Morris, for 46 years and has three adult children and 10 grandchildren.

Deborah Morris was elected to the Garland City Council on May 5, 2018, to represent District 2.

  • I believe my job is to serve, not rule, Garland residents, and to accurately represent the will of my district.
  • I encourage and empower Garland residents to partner with me to make this city a better and more beautiful place to live.
  • I demonstrate transparency and keep my constituents informed about issues which may affect them.
I'm passionate about transparency at all levels of government, which includes both making information available and bringing more Garland residents into the decision-making process. I've spent the last two years demonstrating the power of their voices by carrying their ideas and requests into the city process and letting them watch what happens. They've seen tangible results, and the word has spread.
City Council Members are the elected officials closest to the residents they serve. We live in the same part of town as our constituents, drive the same streets, and shop at the same grocery stores. This is a nonpartisan position since our focus is on local issues: neighborhood improvements, streets, parks, city services, programs, etc. We're able to concentrate on our people and the local policies which will better enable them-and us-to enjoy peaceful and pleasant lives.
I have so many heroes in my life and heart, ranging from Nehemiah or Abigail in the Bible to more recent historical figures to my own parents (now deceased) to current friends. I've been fortunate to have been presented with so many positive examples over my lifetime.

The people I look up to are all examples of good character rather than (necessarily) great renown. A very elderly and crippled nun friend has shown me how to endure hardship with joy and grace. A young woman I mentor has mentored _me_ in humility. A pastor friend has challenged me to go ever deeper in recognizing and serving the poor and overlooked. A former public official and friend has called me to constantly step outside my comfort zone and be "unstoppable" for the sake of service. I've learned from so many different people, including many who are very unlike me.
Honesty, humility, a strong service-orientation.
I care about people, and I'm a good communicator. I'm committed to serving people in the community and partnering with them to make our city a better place to live.
Accountability. The City of Garland's official organizational chart shows "Citizens of Garland" at the very top, with "City Council" directly below them. The citizens are our boss, and not just every two years at election time! (I've actually heard that theory voiced by those who feel that citizens' position at the top of the chart simply indicates that they elect their council members. I reject that interpretation.)

It's not my job to be smarter than my district, or to act as I think best. It's my job to represent their collective will at the city level. Barring the rare situation where legal considerations dictate a certain action, I don't believe in voting over the clear objections of my district.
I'd like to leave a district filled with people who have confidence that their ideas and opinions are valuable, and that this is THEIR city to shape-empowered people who are bold about sharing their dreams for new programs and amenities, or new ways to do things, knowing that they'll be taken seriously.
Kennedy's assassination in 1963. I was seven years old. It left our whole family silent and shell-shocked.
My first employment was as a part-time in-store sign maker at Cook's Department Store in Central Florida. I was 15. I worked there for nearly two years.
I'm a heavy reader, and can't imagine choosing any one book out of my library as "the" favorite! That being said, if I'm limited to just one it'll have to be the Bible. It has provided the foundation for my life, career, relationships and everything else. That's the one book I'd want if I was stranded alone on an island.
"Here's One".
I grew up poor, an experience I'm now grateful for. Overcoming various obstacles and societal disadvantages has taught me resilience I probably couldn't have learned in other ways.
The City Council decides the direction of much of what happens in Garland, from public policies to neighborhood and street improvements, park amenities, and spending of tax dollars. Although none of that is hidden, I've been surprised at how many Garland residents remain unaware of the power they hand to us upon election. I find it sobering. It's a huge public trust.
I came into this position with no previous political experience, and found my outside perspective to be mostly helpful since I was able to notice and raise issues that others had grown accustomed to. I don't think there's any hard and fast rule in this area.
Strong reading comprehension skills, good time management and organizational skills, a lot of personal discipline. Good communication and listening skills. Ability to interact respectfully with fellow councilmembers and city staff. Independent research skills.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 2, 2020
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ballotpedia staff, "Email communication with Deborah Morris," March 11, 2025

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