Illustration by Jessica Turner.
Paula Blackmon and Paul Ridley won new two-year terms on the Dallas City Council.
Blackmon will be serving her third term representing District 9, which includes Lakewood, Lochwood, Old Lake Highlands, Forest Hills, Little Forest Hills and greater Casa Linda. She won 79.7% of the vote against political newcomer Kendra Madison. A total of 4,667 votes were cast district-wide. There were no soft spots for Blackmon as she won every precinct.
Ridley had two opponents in District 14 but still managed to win handily. He will serve a second two-year term after collecting 62.5% of the vote against former Dallas Park and Recreation Board member Amanda Schulz at 33% and first-time candidate Joseph Miller at 4.5%. District 14 includes parts of East Dallas, Downtown, Uptown, Oak Lawn and Turtle Creek. Schulz won a few precincts, but 90% of the precincts stayed with Ridley. The total tally was 5,579 votes cast across the district.
Incumbency proved to be a powerful tool in this election. Twelve of the 14 incumbents ran for reelection, and the incumbents went undefeated. It will be a familiar crowd around the horseshoe for the next two years.
