District 14 City Council member Paul Ridley. Photography by Jessica Turner.
District 14 Dallas City Council member Paul Ridley will run for reelection.
Ridley was elected to represent the district, which includes parts of East Dallas, Uptown and Downtown, in June 2021.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to represent you and craft policies and make tough decisions to meet the diverse needs of District 14 in ways that ensure the future success of our city,” Ridley wrote in a newsletter announcing his campaign.
In the May 1 general election, Ridley received 45.7% of the vote, and David Blewett, who was the incumbent, received 32.1%. A runoff was held in June, with Ridley winning over 60% of the vote.
Ridley has previously served on the Landmark Commission and the City Plan Commission. He has lived in District 14 for about 30 years.
During his first year as a council member, the city was working through the redistricting process, which happens once a decade. An ethics complaint was filed against Ridley by Kristin Scholer, Blewett’s appointee to the Redistricting Commission, but the Ethics Advisory Commission voted to dismiss the complaint.
Ridley has been a member of several council committees during his first term, including government performance and financial management; housing and homelessness solutions; and quality of life, arts and culture. Through his participation on the quality of life, arts and culture committee, Ridley has been active in discussions on regulations for short-term rentals, allowing him to carry out his campaign promise to protect neighborhoods.
“I ran on being protective of neighborhood values and neighborhood character and neighborhood self-determination,” Ridley told the Advocate in July 2021. “On the plan commission, I balanced the two interests by having the development we need in appropriate locations compatible with neighborhoods.”
Ridley will host a campaign kickoff event 5-7 p.m. Jan. 5 at Desert Racer on Greenville Avenue.
The general election to vote in a new City Council will be May 6. A final ballot order will be available Feb. 27.
