Denton City Council Candidate Rundown

Last week we reported about the familiar faces and newcomers who've begun to announce interest in the current city council race, as all four seats are up for election in May. Below you will find information for all candidates running for city council in Denton.

We will keep this page updated between now and February 17, the last day for any person to file to run for election. Early voting begins on April 24. Are you registered to vote? Find out here

The Dentonite is hosting a City Council Candidate Debate on April 13 at Backyard on Bell. This is an all-ages, free public event. 


District One

Gerard Hudspeth. Photo from Facebook

Gerard Hudspeth. Photo from Facebook

Emily White. Photo by Aubrey Mortensen.

Emily White. Photo by Aubrey Mortensen.

Fran Hawes. Photo by Adrian Samano.

Gerard Hudspeth
Website 
Facebook

Hudspeth has a background in law and has worked as a paralegal and litigation consultant. His data management company, Hudspeth Information Management, works with the NAACP and volunteers with Court Appointed Special Advocates of Denton County. Hudspeth is a member of the Denton County NAACP as well. If elected, Hudspeth would be the sixth black councilmember ever elected to the City Council.

Emily White
Website
Facebook

White is a 19-year Denton resident and English professor at North Central Texas College. She has volunteered as a member of the Citizen Bond Committee and the Transportation Committee. Currently, White volunteers at the Denton Community Market.  

Fran Hawes
Facebook

Hawes has been a resident of Denton for 10 years and is a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community, as she is a member of it herself. She graduated from Berklee in 1980 with a degree in vocal arrangement and is passionate about her community.
 


District Two

Keely Briggs. Photo from Facebook.

Keely Briggs. Photo from Facebook.

Keely Briggs
Website
Facebook

Briggs is the current councilmember for District 2. She won the seat from incumbent John Ryan in May 2015. She serves on the Committee on Citizen Engagement, Committee on the Environment, Ethics Committee, Mobility Committee, Lake Ray Roberts Planning & Zoning Commission and Development Code Review Committee.


District Three

Don Duff. Photo from Facebook.

Don Duff. Photo from Facebook.

Paul Meltzer. Photo by Ed Steele.

Paul Meltzer. Photo by Ed Steele.

Jason Cole. Photo from Facebook.

Jason Cole. Photo from Facebook.

Don Duff
Website
Facebook

Don Duff is a local realtor who works primarily in Robson Ranch. He said he decided to run when Kathleen Wazny, the current District 3 representative, announced she would not run again.  

Paul Meltzer
Website
Facebook

Meltzer, a retired businessman, is running for office for the first time. He is the vice president of the Thin Line Film Festival and has volunteered with several organizations, including Denton County United Way, Communities in Schools, Bank On Denton County, VITA and the Red Cross.

Jason Cole
Facebook

Cole is Denton born and raised and has long-standing family ties to the city. "You don’t have to be either hippie, redneck, yuppie, immigrant or minority. You can simply be a Dentonite," he says on his Facebook page.


District Four

John Ryan. Photo from Facebook.

John Ryan. Photo from Facebook.

Amanda Servis. Photo from Facebook.

Amanda Servis. Photo from Facebook.

John Ryan
Website
Facebook

Ryan served as the councilmember for District 2 in 2014. Before serving on the council, he volunteered as a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission from 2009 to 2011.

Amanda Servis
Website
Facebook

Servis, another newcomer, is the owner of Lucky Locks Beauty Bar in Denton. Her salon has volunteered with Mosaic Family Services, a nonprofit that works with victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.

Header image photo by Madi Gostkowski
Header image design by Sara Button