Odom-Wesley, a retired health care professor, wants to continue implementing recommendations by the Odom-Wesley played a major role in forming the committee of 28 council-appointed board members, which produced a that included dozens of recommendations, including the creation of a permanent Unity Council, appointment of a chief equity officer and address barriers for marginalized groups.
鈥淚鈥檓 really happy that we took a comprehensive look at that,鈥� Odom-Wesley said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about policing and social justice, which is what cities across the country were focusing on at the time in 2020, but we took a comprehensive look.鈥�
Mosby said he鈥檚 centered his campaign on municipal basics, keeping city spending low and lowering the crime rate. He said he believes equity-focused programs discriminate against white men. He cited his time working through a UT Arlington Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) program, which worked with Black and brown business owners and women.
鈥淒iscriminating against white males, I don鈥檛 think, helps the situation. It increases the amount of racism out there, I think. I鈥檓 not complaining for myself. I feel that I don鈥檛 need any helping hand up,鈥� Mosby said.
He said in an email he doesn't believe the city needs a full-time chief equity officer, but would want to evaluate all city positions before recommending the city cut positions.
"I don't think we need a full time person for 'Equity Officer,'" Mosby wrote. "What I know is that I don't have all the facts."
Odom-Wesley said she wishes there wasn鈥檛 a need for equity programs or positions like the chief equity officer. However, the barriers that face residents depending on race, ethnicity, gender, age range, sexual orientation and disability status require attention, she said.
鈥淭he city also adopted an equity resolution and every department head signed off on that. So what it does is it makes it a priority. And if you look at city council priorities that are published on our website, building unity and inclusiveness is one of those, so it makes sure that we continue to move forward,鈥� Odom-Wesley said.
In addition to continuing the Unity Council鈥檚 work, Odom-Wesley鈥檚 platforms include getting residents more involved in municipal government and expanding transportation options beyond Via rideshare.
The program, which offers people rides for $5 or less in town, was never meant to be the only transportation option in town, Odom-Wesley said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 part of a system,鈥� she said of Via. 鈥淚鈥檇 like to see it move forward in implementing all the other components of the system.鈥�
Mosby, a business owner, is campaigning on property tax relief, public safety funding, transparency in city government, zoning and beautifying the town.
Mosby said in a phone interview that people including political consultants and a current Arlington council member encouraged him to run for either mayor or District 8 council member. He鈥檚 received a lot of calls from people concerned the city is greenlighting too many more apartments. He said he鈥檇 fight for transparency in zoning and too many new apartments in places including Highway 287 in east Arlington.
鈥淚鈥檓 not 100% against new apartment buildings, but we can鈥檛 put more in where there鈥檚 already too many,鈥� he said.
He鈥檚 also going to delve into what city government can cut to provide tax relief to residents.
Odom-Wesley has advocated for a wider array of housing options, as well as more affordable housing. She鈥檚 also interested in looking at health in the 76010 ZIP code. The city received funding for an initiative to tackle the lack of nearby healthy food options and create a program that can be replicated citywide.
The District 8 race will be on all Arlington residents鈥� ballots this spring. Early voting runs April 24 through May 2, and election day is May 6. includes a detailed list of voting centers available. The Arlington鈥檚 mayor race and five bond proposals are also citywide races.
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