Well-known Arlington civic leader Steve Cavender, the River Legacy Foundation board president, will challenge , Cavender鈥檚 campaign confirmed Tuesday.
, a veteran of the Marine Corps and Army Reserves, is a longtime resident of Arlington and was key in Mayor Jeff Williams鈥� push to bring the National Medal of Honor Museum to the Entertainment District.
After being contacted by the Arlington Report, Cavender said in a news release he was urged to run 鈥渇or the past couple years鈥� by civic and community leaders and small business owners who are frustrated with budget shortfalls and rising property taxes.
He said that the and had risen under Ross鈥� tenure as the mayor.
鈥淚鈥檝e worked hard to grow a business in Arlington, so I understand what it takes to bring back high-paying jobs and economic growth. And as a homeowner, I know the financial pressure people feel when taxes and fees rise again and again,鈥� Cavender said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 time to return energy, focus, fiscal responsibility and stronger leadership to the mayor鈥檚 office.鈥�
Two of Cavender鈥檚 early endorsements are former mayors: Williams and Richard Greene.
Williams said that Cavender鈥檚 record of business success and community leadership makes him the right candidate for the mayor's seat.
鈥淔or some time, many Arlington citizens and business owners have been asking for an honest, ethical mayor 鈥� someone with real business experience 鈥� who puts citizens first. Steve Cavender checks every box,鈥� Williams said.
Cavender is Ross and Hunter Crow in the May 2 election.
Ross, also a former Marine, is a lawyer who was first elected in 2021, succeeding Williams who was term-limited. Running for a final third term, he has been under fire recently for a video of the mayor confronting a street preacher in 2018 in New Orleans, his advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community and for to the IRS.
In an interview Tuesday with the Arlington Report, Ross said he had expected another candidate to come forward.
In response to Cavender鈥檚 claims about the budget shortfall and rising property tax rates, Ross said many of the were caused by the Tarrant County Appraisal District鈥檚 move to .
He pointed to Arlington鈥檚 rank in WalletHub鈥檚 as a sign that he and the city demonstrated 鈥渢remendous fiscal responsibility.鈥� In the 2025 rankings, Arlington was the top North Texas city and second to Lubbock in the state.
On the recent controversies, Ross said he had seen personal attacks and expects more to continue during the campaign.
鈥淲hat I鈥檒l tell you is we鈥檝e done a great job, and I鈥檒l stand on my record,鈥� Ross said.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Chris Moss is a reporter for the Arlington Report. Contact him at chris.moss@arlingtonreport.org.
At the Arlington Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy .
This first appeared on and is republished here under a .
