Municipal elections in Irving, Texas (2017)
2019 →
← 2016
|
| 2017 Irving elections |
|---|
 |
| Election dates |
| Filing deadline: February 17, 2017 |
| General election: May 6, 2017 |
| Election stats |
| Offices up: Mayor and city council |
| Total seats up: 3 |
| Election type: Nonpartisan |
| Other municipal elections |
| U.S. municipal elections, 2017 |
The city of Irving, Texas, held an election for mayor and city council on May 6, 2017. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was February 17, 2017.
Incumbent Mayor Beth Van Duyne opted not to run for re-election in 2017. Former Irving City Councilman Rick Stopfer defeated three other candidates to win the open seat. Place 3 Councilman Dennis Webb won re-election unopposed, and Councilman J. Oscar Ward defeated one challenger to secure re-election to his Place 5 seat.[1]
Elections
General election
MayorIncumbent Beth Van Duyne opted |
Place 3☑ Dennis Webb (i) Place 5☑ J. Oscar Ward (i) |
Campaign finance
The tables below present campaign finance filings available as of June 22, 2017. The figures in the tables were from the most recent reporting period and were reproduced as presented by the candidates in their report summaries.[2]
| Campaign finance information for 2017 candidates for Irving mayor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Total contributions | Total expenditures | Contribution balance at close of reporting period | Outstanding loans at close of reporting period |
| Elvia Espino | - | - | - | - |
| J.C. Gonzalez | - | - | - | - |
| Rick Stopfer | $7,220.00 | $11,330.97 | - | $26,000.00 |
| Kristi Weaver Pena | - | - | - | - |
| Campaign finance information for 2017 candidates for Irving City Council | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place | Candidate | Total contributions | Total expenditures | Contribution balance at close of reporting period | Outstanding loans at close of reporting period |
| 3 | Dennis Webb (i) | - | - | $346.69 | - |
| 5 | J. Oscar Ward (i) | $5,530.00 | $1,450.60 | $4,079.40 | $10,316.97 |
| 5 | Abdel Elhassan | - | - | - | - |
Additional elections on the ballot
- See also: Texas elections, 2017
The Irving Independent School District held an election on May 6, 2017. Click on the following link to read about their election:
Issues
The Dallas Morning News surveyed candidates in the contested races about why they ran for office and the three most important actions they would take if elected. Click "show" on the bars below to view the candidates' responses. To view the Morning News' full candidate profiles, click here.[3][4]
| Why are you running for this office, and why should voters choose you over your opponent? | ||
|---|---|---|
| Office | Candidate | Response |
| Mayor | Elvia Espino | "I am running for Mayor of Irving because given the current division within our city, we will need a bridge leader to unite the divide in Irving. I am a lifelong dedicated public servant who has dedicated her personal and professional career for speaking on behalf of others. As a minority minority city, I not only look like the majority of our city, I am the people of our city. I am not being supported by the good 'ole boy system which means I will not spend my time as mayor paying off favors. People want leaders who lead and engage their communities. In Irving we are a vulnerable city due to previous leadership putting self-interests before that of the people they were elected to serve. As the former community engagement director for the largest sheriff's office in the state, I worked with 4 million citizens to bring about change at the community level. We need a leader who understands 'ALL' people as opposed to catering to a select few." |
| Mayor | J.C. Gonzalez | "I have business and leadership experience which allows me to understand budgets and balance sheets, as well as an understanding of conducting business through committees and boards. I am willing to put the extra time needed to get the job done vs. a simple 9 to 5 job. Being a good listener and building true relationships allows me to hear and understand different sides of an issue, while being open minded to come to resolutions." |
| Mayor | Rick Stopfer | "I'm excited about the opportunities the city of Irving has in economic development, including the opening of the Irving Music Factory, the construction of the new Westin convention center hotel, the Verizon transit-oriented development, the resurgence of the Heritage District, and planning for the future of the gateway to our city, the former Texas Stadium site, in addition to many other projects along the SH 183-SH 114-Loop 12 corridors and DART Orange Line.
My prior experience on City Council, my longevity in the community, the diversity of positions that I have held, and my long-standing representation of all of Irving's interests at the local, state and federal levels on key issues, such as economic development, public safety, transportation and water planning, distinguish me from my opponents. Irving is a complex city that will require collaboration and bridge-building at all levels to continue on our path of growth and economic vitality. Also, as a retired executive, I am in the unique position of being able to serve the residents and businesses of Irving on a full-time basis; over the last 28 years, I estimate that I have invested more than 50,000 hours into promoting and pursuing our city’s vision for economic growth, stable and sustainable infrastructure, and a high quality of life." |
| Mayor | Kristi Weaver Pena | "Having been born and raised in Irving and also having raised my family here, I feel it is time to stop complaining and do something for the City I love. Running for Mayor was the best thing I could think of to do. It is time for my generation to step up and start serving this great City. I am uniquely qualified because of my deep roots in the community and also because of my involvement in City activities as a citizen. Some might say that I lack the experience needed to serve as Mayor, but I can name a half dozen current council members that did not have as much experience as I do. I have personally attended hundreds of City Council meetings and Work Sessions. I have personally spoken for and against issues in front of council. I have personally written letters, emails and made phone calls. In other words, I have been as active as one can be without actually being on the council." |
| City Council Place 5 |
J. Oscar Ward (i) | "I am running for City Council, Place 5 to continue the progress made during my first term in supporting/initiating actions and projects. This includes infrastructure funding, planning for future water supply, Texas Stadium area development, and the completion of the Irving Music Factory, Convention Center Hotel and Hidden Ridge Project (Verizon). Voters should support me over my opponent based on my Engineering & Business education, my job experience, knowledge of city government, and my project funding choices. Most important is my record of communication with citizen's concerns and facilitating resolutions." |
| City Council Place 5 |
Abdel Elhassan | "•I now have the time to give back to the city I have been in living with pride for over 22 years. The city needs representation from the diverse ethnic, racial and cultural communities of Irving. it is time for the city to elect new leaders for looking out for the south Irving as well as the north Irving. •I am running a unity campaign in the most diverse zip code in America. My main focus will be to unite and serve our diverse community as ONE IRVING." |
| What are the three most important actions you would take, if elected, and how would you advance them and pay for them? | ||
|---|---|---|
| Office | Candidate | Response |
| Mayor | Elvia Espino | "1. Community Engagement- Work with our city council members to find the funding to ensure our community is heard at all levels. One example is to restore and improve ICTN which is the city's municipal channel. Presently, we are communication less city which is one major reason the city is lacking in community involvement. Hence, low voter turnout during elections and little to no participation from the city on major issues affecting 'ALL' citizens. (Example: Chief of Police Candidate forum (approximately only 40 + attendees many of which were city employees. 2. Economic Development- Irving is a centrally located gem in the heart of the metroplex. With the new development projects coming to our city, we will regain the losses from severing relationships with the Dallas Cowboys and Byron Nelson to name a few. I will ensure our city leaders are speaking with our school district to ensure we are no longer a vulnerable city. Our school and city leadership must work together to attract, retain, and engage economic development opportunities. Irving is considered a local address with a global address, which is a great slogan based on where I envision leading the city but in order to head there and compete in the 21st century, a small city mentality must be diminished. We should be looking at our neighboring cities and cities across the country and beyond in order to implement promising practices. Improving our economic development projects will take working together with all members of city council and members of our community. 3. Infrastructure- Many of our city buildings and roads necessary of our city's economy to function need to be operating at a major city level. We have the third busiest corridor in North Texas which means we should continually be looking to ensure our structures are adequate to the city's growing needs. I will work with our stakeholders, council members, and appropriate agencies to ensure our city's economic development and prosperity." |
| Mayor | J.C. Gonzalez | "1) Listen to the people of Irving - Get to know our residents and what's important to them. 2) After gathering the information from our residents, meet with City Manager to review budget 3) Work with City Council to design a plan to better meet the needs of our constituents.
Top priorities include improving infrastructure, neighborhood safety, and community-wide development. I would look into options to duplicate the progress of Las Colinas into South Irving." |
| Mayor | Rick Stopfer | "1. Ensure the city has adequate water resources to support continued growth by partnering with Upper Trinity Regional Water District on the construction of the new Lake Ralph Hall and tying into our existing pipeline. Our city could advance this by entering into a formal partnership with UTRWD to pay for the portion of pipeline construction based on the percentage of water that flows through it. The raw water would then flow into Lake Lewisville, where it would be treated by the city of Dallas. This would continue to allow our residents to access water at one of the lowest rates in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
2. Facilitate stronger communication with and engagement of residents from all areas of the city to ensure their voices are heard. Our city could advance this by assessing and expanding our various communications channels (printed newsletters, website, Irving Community Television Network, social media, etc.) and by hosting more town hall meetings throughout the community on a regular basis. I would expand upon the current 'Coffee with the Mayor' program not only for business but also for residents in varying areas of the city. 3. Ensure we have an ample pool of talented, skilled workers that meet the needs of our community. We currently have 218,000 jobs in Irving, and, increasingly, employers are having a hard time finding workers with the right skill base to fill their jobs. This will require continued public-private partnerships among the business community, the educational community (traditional four-year institutions, community college, technical training institutes) and the city; this collaboration would support necessary funding." |
| Mayor | Kristi Weaver Pena | "My three priorities are in no numerical order.
SOUTH IRVING South Irving and Downtown Irving have been over-discussed, it's time to take action. With the houses being built on 6th street bringing in new economic development and the Microsoft Center being an incubator for the downtown area, now is the prime time to talk to private investors to make South Irving BOOM. We also have land in the downtown area prime for development. The Transit Oriented Development area (TOD) around the TRE (train station) is a perfect area for a private investor to locate the dense population we badly need to jump-start businesses in the area. The City needs to work with the developer much like they have worked with Water Street and the Convention Center Hotel. CORPORATE GROWTH The financial backbone of Irving rests in North Irving. We have been blessed with leadership and staff that has brought us major corporate growth mostly in North Irving. When I think about North Irving 15 years ago and what it is today, I am totally amazed. I pledge to devote resources and my time to continue the work of my predecessors to seek out and retain the giants of the corporate world. Irving’s future is inextricably tied to our corporate citizens. Approximately 70% of our budget is supported by taxes from these corporations. Looking at that figure puts the importance of corporate growth in perspective. TAXES Corporate growth means keeping taxes low. Keeping the budget as trim as possible to keep taxes from escalating is another of my goals. We have many areas in Irving that are in need of repair or rebuilding. That is the way of 'things' that wear out. I want to see that our city is brought back to excellent condition, but I want to do this without raising taxes. I believe with the right planning, the right budget and the right Mayor (me) we can accomplish all of these things that must be done." |
| City Council Place 5 |
J. Oscar Ward (i) | "The three most important actions that I would take would be (1) the continuation of funding infrastructure upgrades throughout the city,(2) approval and issuance of a 'Request for Proposal' for the Texas Stadium PUD-6 Development site,and (3) pursue and secure additional water sources for future generations. The financial tools available are Fund Reserves, GO Bonds, Revenue Bonds, Grants, and/or a dedicated portion of our tax rate." |
| City Council Place 5 |
Abdel Elhassan | "1. I pledge to look for more & better ways to inform & include the citizens of my district & all of Irving with city government activities. I plan on accomplishing this thru periodic emails and newsletters. I hope that the Dallas Morning News will become a stronger partner with Irving in helping us to inform our citizens. 2. I will push for inclusion of the most qualified and talented & public policy oriented Irving citizens from diverse backgrounds for all boards, commissions & committees of the city of Irving. 3. I will be a strong supporter of each & every employee of our police, fire & all other departments of the city of Irving to ensure they are treated fairly. The safety of all citizens of Irving will be the constant in my priorities.
• I will ensure that we guard our funds at all time & constantly seek for new revenue sources. The city will have my support for competitive & meaningful development that brings in new monies and conforms to the city's comprehensive plan as well as a balanced budget with no deficit. I will always support the constant overview of all monies collected to ensure no wasteful spending." |
About the city
- See also: Irving, Texas
Irving is a city in Dallas County, Texas. As of 2010, its population was 216,290.
City government
- See also: Council-manager government
The city of Irving uses a council-manager system. In this form of municipal government, an elected city council—which includes the mayor and serves as the city's primary legislative body—appoints a chief executive called a city manager to oversee day-to-day municipal operations and implement the council's policy and legislative initiatives.[5]
Demographics
The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.
| Demographic Data for Irving, Texas | ||
|---|---|---|
| Irving | Texas | |
| Population | 216,290 | 25,145,561 |
| Land area (sq mi) | 66 | 261,266 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White | 47.9% | 74% |
| Black/African American | 14.2% | 12.1% |
| Asian | 19.7% | 4.8% |
| Native American | 0.6% | 0.5% |
| Pacific Islander | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Other (single race) | 14.7% | 5.8% |
| Multiple | 2.8% | 2.7% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 42.3% | 39.3% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate | 80.5% | 83.7% |
| College graduation rate | 37.7% | 29.9% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income | $64,868 | $61,874 |
| Persons below poverty level | 12.2% | 14.7% |
| Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2010). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2014-2019). | ||
| **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Irving Texas election. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
| Irving, Texas | Texas | Municipal government | Other local coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 NBC DFW, "Irving Mayor Decides against Re-Election Campaign," February 16, 2017
- ↑ Irving, Texas, "Campaign Finance Reports," accessed June 22, 2017
- ↑ The candidates' answers are reproduced here verbatim, without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ The Dallas Morning News, "Voter Guide," accessed May 3, 2017
- ↑ City of Irving, "Mayor and City Council," accessed September 5, 2014
 |
State of Texas Austin (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
