City Secretary Bilierae Johnson, left, and Paul Ridley, right, at City Hall.
Former City Plan Commissioner Paul Ridley will run for the District 14 seat on the Dallas City Council, according to paperwork filed last week with the city secretary’s office.
Ridley, a Munger Place neighbor, announced his candidacy on Facebook.
“I wanted to continue to serve my city and my district in a capacity that could bring my skills to bear,” he said. “The representative should have a strong background in development, zoning and planning because there’s so much going on in D14. I think I have great experience in city government.”
He will challenge incumbent David Blewett, who won the seat in 2019 from Philip Kingston. Blewett has not yet filed the paperwork to run for a second term, according to the city secretary’s website, but he announced his intention to seek re-election on Facebook in November.
Ridley served on the Landmark Commission for four years before jumping to the City Plan Commission, where he worked for eight years.
“During that time, I have a track record of working hard for our shared values, aspirations and desires for safe, livable and vital neighborhoods, while recognizing the need for economic development and the necessity to strike a careful balance between the two,” he said. “I have lived in District 14 for 27 years, and I know I can be the effective leader our district needs now.”
Ridley said his priorities as councilman would be protecting the neighborhood from unwanted development, ensuring transparency, inclusivity and equity in decision making, mitigating climate change and pollution and enhancing the quality of life in the district by promoting walkability, green space and good urban design.
“I got very accustomed to relating to people from different walks of life, in sometimes stressful conditions, and our district needs someone who is a neighborhood advocate,” Ridley said. “I’m very excited, and I look forward to serving my community.”
For more information, visit ridleyfordallas.com.
The election is May 1.
