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Fort Worth Star-Telegram renews Joel Burns endorsement

No change of mind

Star-Telegram

Joel Burns easily was the top vote-getter in the Nov. 6 special election for the District 9 Fort Worth City Council seat. But there's some unfinished business, because he still faces a Dec. 18 runoff election with runner-up Juan Rangel.

Our opinion hasn't changed: The Star-Telegram Editorial Board still feels strongly that Burns, 38, a Realtor and resident of the Ryan Place neighborhood, should be the voters' choice to succeed Wendy Davis, who resigned to run for the state Senate. Early voting for the District 9 runoff is Monday through Friday.

In November, Burns drew a strong 37.4 percent of the vote in a six-candidate field. Rangel, 60, a marketing and management consultant and Fort Worth school board member, received 23.4 percent.

Burns' priorities mesh well with those of residents of District 9, which includes downtown, areas west of downtown, the Texas Christian University area, the medical district and older central city-neighborhoods stretching from just south of downtown to Interstate 20.

Burns already has gained valuable City Hall experience as a member of the Zoning Commission and former chairman of the Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission.

He supports continued central-city redevelopment that further rejuvenates older neighborhoods; expanded rail transit; quality, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income residents; strong code enforcement that makes neighborhoods more livable and boosts property values; and well-equipped, well-paid police and firefighters. He wants the city to re-examine its natural gas drilling ordinance to ensure minimal negative impact on neighborhoods.

The Star-Telegram recommends Joel Burns.