By Rita Cook
Correspondent
I Messenger Media
FORT WORTH – Fort Worth City Council District 5’s newly elected member Deborah Peoples found herself in a packed race recently when she ran for the seat currently occupied by Gyna Bivens, who had sat in the seat since 2013.
Peoples took the lead and won the seat with 54.27% of the vote against five opponents.
A retired AT&T executive and former chair of the Tarrant County Democratic Party, the 72-year-old said, “I want to bring a resident centric approach to City Council. I want to be very specific in making sure that all areas of the district are represented on boards and commissions. I also want an advisory committee that looks like District 5 and brings together viewpoints from each neighborhood.”
Peoples also said she is adamant that her district receive the same consideration as other districts in Fort Worth “looking at not only basic services like roads, and bridges, but making sure we’re also getting the type of amenities that drives tourist traffic.”
A key component of her campaign for the District 5 seat was the promise she made to her constituents to focus on economic development for the area.
“For example,” she said, “We have no stores and restaurants in some parts of the district.”
She said she also wants to pay attention to public safety, both police and fire.
“We will be hiring a new police chief, and I want to ensure that that individual believes in community policing and is willing to work with the diverse neighborhoods across District 5 to make sure we are meeting each of their needs.”
Regarding public safety, Peoples added, “I think it is critical that we work to make sure that the new police chief is community focused. And I have been talking with the fire department about how we can bring more state of the art equipment to fire houses in District 5.”
Neighborhood revitalization is another heightened priority for the new city council member. She said she wants to work with all the neighborhood associations across the district to create an overall vision.
“Currently, you have neighborhood associations that sometimes work against each other,” she explained. “I want us to have a common vision so that we all work together.”
District 5 is in East Fort Worth. It includes the historic Stop Six neighborhood, as well as stretching from the intersection of Loop 820 and Interstate 20 at its southernmost point to past the intersection of State Highways 360 and 183 at its northeastern tip.
Peoples said she is focusing on this area becoming one of the most scenic areas of the city. To that end she pointed out the green spaces be preserved in the district while at the same time offering viable tourist destination options.
“We have the Trinity River that runs through the district and we are adjoined to our neighbor to the east by Lake Arlington with a great shoreline that can be developed,” she explained. “In short, I want to make District 5 a destination district that residents will want to visit for the amenities there.”
The city council seat in Fort Worth is the third office Peoples has put her name on the ballot for recently. She ran for Fort Worth Mayor in 2019 and 2021 and for Tarrant County Judge in 2022.
As for her May win, she said, “The voters in District 5 know I have always been committed to the community and that I never give up. They saw my persistence and continued involvement as an advantage because they know that when I focus on an issue, I am not going to stop until we see results.”
Her tenacity was appealing to voters.
“Every decision I make is based on what would enrich and improve the lives of the residents I serve. I am in the trenches and I believe you must walk a mile in someone’s shoes when you are looking at issues and making decisions.”
Over the years Peoples has served in elected offices nine years while also sitting on nonprofit boards including North Texas American Red Cross, Fort Worth Sickle Cell Anemia Board, Southside Community Gardens and Fort Worth Sister Cities as well as her membership in Forum Fort Worth, Leadership Fort Worth and Leadership FWISD.
When asked about her downtime she said, “I don’t know what downtime is. I thrive on being connected to the community and staying engaged and involved.”
To that end she combines her personal areas of interest with community needs.
“For example, I love gardening and can spend hours working in the dirt, so I serve on the board of the southside community gardens because it gives me a chance to combine my love of gardening with my love of community.”
She is also an avid reader.
“I truly believe we are made whole by inclusivity and that every resident has a role to play in making Fort Worth a great place to live,” Peoples concluded. “I try to listen to all viewpoints and bring people to consensus. I want Fort Worth to be an example to the rest of the country about how truly great cities focus on their residence and make decisions that improve their lives and empower them.”
