Candidate: Jesseca E. Lightbourne

Age: 39

Website: jessecalightbourne.com

Why do you want to be a member of the Dallas City Council, and why are you the best person for the job?

I am running for Dallas City Council because I am bringing the light to District 3. As a resident, a former director representing District 3 on the Housing Finance Corporation, and an active community member, I have a deep understanding of both the problems and the pain our community faces. I’ve witnessed firsthand the challenges with affordable housing, economic development, and the lack of essential resources in some of our neighborhoods.

What makes me the best person for this job is that I am not just observing these issues — I have been actively working to solve them. Whether it’s advocating for affordable housing solutions, fighting food insecurity through my work with local farms, or collaborating with community leaders to uplift our neighborhoods, I have consistently shown up for District 3.

I believe our district deserves leadership that listens, leadership that understands, and leadership that acts. I am that leader — ready to shine a light on the needs of our community and work tirelessly to bring real solutions that improve the quality of life for all residents of District 3.

What is the single greatest challenge for your district and how will you address it?

The greatest problem in District 3 is the lack of affordable housing and the challenges residents face when trying to become homeowners. Right now, our district is overwhelmed with multifamily units, and too many families are stuck renting instead of building wealth through homeownership. This creates a cycle where residents feel displaced, disconnected, and unable to invest in their own communities.

I will solve this by advocating for policies that promote pathways to homeownership, including increasing access to down payment assistance programs, encouraging responsible development that prioritizes single-family homes, and working with local lenders to remove barriers that often prevent working families from securing a mortgage. I will also push for balanced development — ensuring that new housing projects reflect the needs of current residents, not just outside investors.

My work as a former director for District 3 on the Housing Finance Corporation, combined with my deep roots in the community, has prepared me to bring real solutions that reflect the voices of the people who live here. By shining a light on these challenges and bringing all stakeholders to the table, we can create housing opportunities that are affordable, equitable, and sustainable for generations to come.

What do you see as the greatest opportunities to grow our city's tax base?

I see one of the greatest opportunities to grow our city’s tax base in shining a light on the lack of anti-displacement policies and the uneven distribution of resources across Dallas. When longtime residents are forced out of their neighborhoods due to rising costs or lack of affordable homeownership opportunities, we lose a valuable part of our tax base — people who want to invest, build wealth, and contribute to the city’s economic growth.

By creating and enforcing strong anti-displacement policies, we can help families stay in their homes and ensure neighborhoods remain stable and prosperous. This stability strengthens the tax base because homeowners are more likely to invest in property improvements, shop locally, and contribute to the local economy.

At the same time, we must address the lack of equitable resources — from infrastructure investments to quality schools and retail development — in historically underserved areas. When all parts of Dallas have the amenities and opportunities that attract families and businesses, we naturally grow our population and expand the tax base in a way that benefits everyone.

Through balanced development, targeted investment, and policies that protect and empower residents, we can create a Dallas where growth doesn’t mean displacement — it means shared prosperity.

What is your political party affiliation and what role will that play in your job as a council member?

My role on Dallas City Council is to represent all of District 3. While my personal values align with putting people first — ensuring equity, opportunity, and transparency in local government — my decisions will be driven by community needs, not party politics. My goal is to bring the light to District 3 by listening to residents, advocating for their needs, and working collaboratively with my fellow council members to deliver real results.

Candidate: John Sims

Age: 47

Website: johnfor3.com

Why do you want to be a member of the Dallas City Council, and why are you the best person for the job?

I want to bring accountability to the Dallas city council. I want to see Dallas become the Best city in Texas or maybe the entire country to raise a family. I'm tired of seeing the suburbs thrive and we struggle to me mediocre. Time for change in Dallas. We have 17 Billion in deferred infrastructure maintenance. That is $17000000 worth of work that needs to be dont and we don't have the money to pay. The council has mismanaged the peoples money for too long.

What is the single greatest challenge for your district and how will you address it?

The lack of accountability at Dallas City Hall has gone too far. Over 172,000 voters passed Proposition U in November 2024, demanding a safer city by directing 50% of new revenue to the Police and Fire Pension System and setting a minimum of 4,000 police officers. Yet, the city council seems more interested in playing politics than honoring that mandate. Their recent vote to slash developer fees—framed as a win for parks—raises serious questions about their priorities when public safety and infrastructure are crumbling. Interim Police Chief Michael Igo has been blunt: hiring 900 more officers isn’t a quick fix, and watering down hiring goals only deepens the problem. If we want real change, it’s time to hold these leaders accountable. Honor the will of the votors and work to pass a new ordinance to increase the police to resident ratio of 3 per 100 as required in the original 1988 ordinance. And fumd or parks and infrastructure.

What do you see as the greatest opportunities to grow our city's tax base?

We have got to make Dallas the best city in the nation. Better Streets, Better Parks, Better Public Safety and bring accountability to city hall. We have allowed the council to defy the voters for far too long.

What is your political party affiliation and what role will that play in your job as a council member?

No real party affiliation. I have voted both ways. I do consider myself to be a fiscal conservative and believe we should be transparent and accountable to the voters.