Diane Benjamin
Diane Benjamin ran for election to the Dallas City Council to represent District 13 in Texas. She lost in the general election on May 3, 2025.
Benjamin completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Diane Benjamin was born in New York, New York. She earned a high school diploma from Nyack High School. Benjamin's career experience includes working as a realtor.[1]
As of 2025, Benjamin was affiliated with the following organizations:[1]
- National Association of Realtors
- Texas Association of Realtors
- Hadassah
- National Council of Jewish Women
- Bnai Zion Foundation (Past President)
- Shearith Israel Congregation
- Tiferet Israel Congregation
- Shaare Tefilah Congregation
- Americans for a Safe Israel (AFSI)
- Christians United for Israel
- Park Cities Republican Women Friends Category
- Preston West Republican Women
- Texas Federation of Republican Women
- Golden Corridor Republican Women
- Preston Hollow North Homeowners Association Inc.
- Town Homes of Preston Place HOA
- The Harvey J. Bloom Post #256 of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America
- The National Museum of American Jewish Military History
- Daughters of World War II Veterans
Elections
2025
See also: City elections in Dallas, Texas (2025)
General election
General election for Dallas City Council District 13
Incumbent Gay Donnell Willis defeated Diane Benjamin in the general election for Dallas City Council District 13 on May 3, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Gay Donnell Willis (Nonpartisan) | 65.2 | 4,871 |
 | Diane Benjamin (Nonpartisan)  | 34.8 | 2,597 | |
| Total votes: 7,468 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Benjamin in this election.
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Diane Benjamin completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Benjamin's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Experience as an accomplished licensed Texas Veteran Realtor and dedicated community volunteer and leader. My experience as a veteran Realtor makes me aware of many city issues that need to be addressed now. I’ve had extensive, long-term involvement in making Dallas a better place.
-Precinct Chair of Preston Hollow (Precinct 2021), one of Dallas County's largest and most engaged precincts.
-Founding member and a former President of the Preston Hollow North Homeowners Association. My work helped grow it to 950+ families, enhancing neighborhood security with off-duty Dallas Police officers through the Expanded Neighborhood Patrol (ENP).
-Longtime volunteer with the Dallas Police Department’s Crime Watch Executive Board. This experience included serving under three police chiefs. My nickname “Private Benjamin” demonstrates my commitment to crime prevention!
-Additional public service includes Commissioner for Environment & Health Services (8 years) under Councilman Mitch Rasansky and Commissioner for Seniors Affairs under Councilwoman Ann Margolin.
-Served on the Government Affairs and Political Action Committees, advocating for homeowners' rights.
-Serves on MetroTex Board of Realtors Government Affairs Committee
-Member of Texas Trepac (Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee)
-Former Sunday school Teacher Awards: -Legacy Award (2025)
-Bridge Builder Award- Root Source 2023- My first priority is to make all Dallas citizens feel safe and secure at home and on Dallas streets. Crime is a problem that I’ve seen first hand. I was assaulted at gun point at home. Safety in District 13 has declined over the past few years. This needs immediate attention. We need to focus on better officer retention. We lose too many officer candidates who don’t make it through officer training school. Better selection going in would increase the graduation rate of officer candidates. We need to find the root cause of officers leaving the force. We haven’t had a complete roster of officers for several years. Crimes are difficult to report. Citizens are concerned that the interim Police Chief is not following the law regarding ICE.
- The city has a spending problem. The city needs to focus on its core responsibilities which are public safety, infrastructure and zoning issues. Other projects that don’t support these areas are not the purview of the city. The city cannot do everything. City council must work closely with the city manager to provide input on expected, measurable results. Continued funding must be predicated on delivered results, not promises. New funding must be based on expected results and milestones met. There needs to be more accountability for expected results. We need a deep dive into unnecessary spending. I plan to do an extensive study of the budget and eliminate funding of projects beyond the scope of the city’s responsibilities.
- I am a strong supporter of maintaining residential zoning. The city needs to consider existing neighborhoods if it looks to make zoning changes that impact new housing. The city should not be making zoning changes that adversely affect existing neighborhoods without their input. Different Districts have different densities and abilities to maintain quality of life with zoning changes. Dallas should look to undeveloped land to create new opportunities for housing without negative impacts on existing neighborhoods. I do not support zoning changes in existing neighborhoods to allow multi-family units when single family residences are the norm.
Street maintenance should be a priority. Roads are in disrepair. Dallas citizens' cars and police vehicles are damaged from pot holes. This is unacceptable to Dallas citizens.
Poor streets put our cyclists at risk. 1,142 people were severely injured or killed on Dallas roads in 2024.This is unacceptable!
The U.S. Constitution protects the individual while allowing God given freedom. A public servant who operates with a respect for both of these time-honored texts protects citizens and ensures Dallas’ future.
It is important for Council Members to realize that policies for the entire city don’t necessarily meet individual district needs. Dallas is comprised of very different districts with many different needs. A policy for current neighborhoods should consider existing Dallas residents and the impact on them. Districts should have opt in choices instead of telling them they must comply.
As a mother and grandmother, it is incumbent that my life serves an example and an encouragement to others. I volunteered to serve the city when it was challenging because I want to make a difference. I would hope that others say her legacy is that, “She did make a difference and made Dallas better.”
City Council should encourage people to vote. People don’t exercise their right and privilege to vote and determine the well being of the city and its services. If citizens want their council members to represent them, they should know the issues and vote. Less than 5% of citizens voting is a sad state of affairs. Silence is consent and means you accept the consequences of what happens at city hall. Be sure you vote for someone who represents your interests! Silence is consent.
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.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
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Candidate Dallas City Council District 13 |
Personal |
Footnotes
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