In a recent livestream, we connected with a dozen Black women who are are running for office in Tarrant County. Please check out our brief blurbs on the women who are up for election for statewide office along with city positions in the cities of Arlington, Fort Worth, Mansfield, and Keller.
Shawn Lassiter,
Candidate for U.S. Congress in Texas – 06
Shawn Lassiter is a non – profit leader, a lifelong educator, and a former science teacher in Fort Worth. As a first – generation college graduate, Lassiter understands the power of education to liberate people and open doors of opportunity.
Also being an administrator in Fort Worth, she saw how a lack of funding drained hope and opportunity from our public education system. She knows the issues that so many Texans are experiencing with families enduring a pandemic and an economy that fundamentally does not work for working people.
As a mother of three and a fierce advocate for equity, justice, and working people, she believes it’s time for District 06 to have a representative in Washington dedicated to uplifting the voices of those in the community.
Dr. Barbara Odom Wesley,
Candidate for re-election – Arlington City Council, District 8
A retired college professor and successful small business owner, Dr. Barbara Odom Wesley has called Arlington her home since 1980. Her record of volunteerism includes leadership positions in national associations, local nonprofit organizations, and service on City Council appointed boards and commissions. She is a published author, motivational speaker, wife, mother and grandmother.
One of her favorite quotes is “I learned early in life that service is the price you pay for the ground you walk on.”
Her professional services consist of United Way of Tarrant County, Health Impact Council, Arlington Rehabilitation Hospital, Tarrant County Parenting Center, Home Health Services of Dallas and many more.
Deborah Peoples,
Candidate for Mayor of Fort Worth
After a long career with the city of Fort Worth helping connect more residents with city resources, she entered the business world. A trailblazer in the work place, she worked her way up at AT&T to eventually become a Vice President in charge of growing revenue across nearly half the country. She said she is poised to use this executive experience to help bring new businesses and good paying jobs to Fort Worth.
After retiring from a three – decade career as a successful executive. Ms Deborah redoubled her commitment to positive change by serving as Chair of the Tarrant County Democratic Party. During her tenure, the county “reached new heights of voter registration and civic engagement.”
Daphne Brookings,
Candidate for Fort Worth Trustee, District 4
A former 4 year All-American athlete who served as a city Councilwoman and Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Forest Hill, she has over 20 years in social services, education and government relations.
As one of the overseers of one of the largest TRE bond elections which will be used to hire and train teachers, adequate hotspots and laptops for students; in addition to securing PPE for teachers and students so they could return safely to school.
She said she will continue to work with FWISD leadership to try to make sure it stays student focused and “our students receive the best instruction and resources through an equitable lens.”
Gyna Bivens,
Candidate for re-election – Fort Worth City Council, District 5
Ms. Bivens wears two hats: She serves as President and Executive Director of North Texas Leaders and Executives Advocating Diversity (LEAD). She also represents more than 100,000 constituents in her role as a Fort Worth City Councilwoman. Bivens’ career started in broadcast journalism. Many of her stories were carried by radio and television news networks.
A fierce advocate for her Constituents, Bivens has represented Fort Worth City Council District 5 since 2013. District 5 is home to the corporate office of BELL Helicopter and American Airlines. She was the first African American corporate spokesperson for TXU (now known as Oncor).
Dr. Stacy Burrell,
Candidate for Crowley Independent School District, Place 3
Dr. Stacy Burrell is the Director of Grants Compliance and Monitoring Department for Fort Worth ISD. She is responsible for the districtwide compliance process for state and federal grants that includes the development of evaluation proposals, instrument designs, method of data collection, data analyses, and interpretation.
Formerly, she was the coordinator of Academic Advisement that oversaw the Middle and High School Success Interventions programs that are grant funded by United Way of Tarrant County. Her academic credentials include a bachelor’s degree in Social Science Education and Master’s in Guidance and Counseling from Jackson State University as well as a Ph.D. in Counselor Education: Students Affairs in Higher Education from Mississippi State University.
Christie K. Moore,
Candidate for Mansfield City Councilwoman Pl 5
Christie K. Moore is the owner and CEO of Mansfield Funeral Home, which has been rated number one in this area several times. With her business sense and her experience as a small business owner she said she knows that the citizens of Mansfield will have an ally in her, because she understand the importance of maintaining a low tax rate while supporting the very fiber of our economic growth.
Her goal is simple, “always lead with integrity and to be open and transparent on every issue and know that I was elected by the community to serve the community, therefore, I will always be accessible to the community.”
Kelly Allen Gray,
Candidate for Re-election – Fort Worth City Council, District 8
Allen Gray has served on the City Council since 2012.
Community Service is nothing new to Allen Gray. She started early in District 8 neighborhood, going door to door, when a neighbor died collecting money that was presented to the bereaved family.
She has used proven tools gained from her community revitalization experience to develop new ways for District 8 to progress. The core of her success is engaging citizens to insure that each resident has a rich quality of life and every family has a safe environment in which their children can thrive.
Leah King,
Candidate for Tarrant County Water Board
Leah King, president and CEO of United Way of Tarrant County, is a nonprofit leader who brings together individuals, groups, and service providers to help solve some of the community’s toughest social issue. Over the course of her career, she has held positions in community relations, marketing communications, investor relations, and public affairs with Fortune 500 companies in oil and gas and retail, and in regional community banking.
She is also a member of both Texas Wesleyan and TCU President’s Advisory Councils. In May 2017, Leah was elected to the board of directors of the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) and is currently serving her first term.
Leah and her husband, Barry, “spend every moment possible” with their grandchild.
Shalunda Corzine,
Candidate for Keller Independent School District, Place 6
Shalunda Corzine, MBA, M. ED., currently works in the fifth largest school district in Texas, in the office of Human Capital Management specializing in Employee Relations. Her focus is on developing tools and solutions for a wide variety of employee problems and resolutions.
Before becoming an educator, she worked with non-profit organizations in strategic marketing and development. She is a wife, mother
of two amazing children, and one mischievous Yorkie.
With almost 20 years of teaching and training experience, Shalunda firmly believes that “education is the great equalizer” and highquality teachers are the beginning of the equation.
Tiesa Leggett,
Candidate for Fort Worth City Council, District 6
Tiesa Leggett is the founding president of BRIDGE Fort Worth. She was appointed to the Blue-Ribbon Citizens Committee, established by the Tarrant County Commissioner’s Court, to review the future needs of the JPS Health Network. She is a member of the Fort Worth Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.
Leggett graduated from the University of North Texas with a BA degree in journalism and holds a Master of Science degree with a focus on sustainability from the University of Texas at Arlington. She served as the Vice President of Advocacy at the North Texas Commission where she led regional legislative issues such as aviation, eminent domain, transportation/infrastructure, and taxpayer-funded lobbying.
Yolanda E. McPherson,
Candidate for Mansfield ISD School Board Trustee Place 2
A native of Dallas, McPherson is a graduate of Beverly Hills Christian School and Bishop College. The wife of Bishop B.C. McPherson II, she retired from the classroom after 32 years as an educator. The mother of two college students, she also mentors youth and ministers wives. A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and has had leadership positions in the Southern Baptist of Texas State Convention.
“My platform is equity and quality of education for current and future student advocacy. I have the unique ability to connect and relate to the concerns of teachers, students, parents and the community, as a whole.”
McPherson goals are full transparency and bridging the equity gap in education. Additionally, tops for an aggressive hiring of qualified minority teachers and administrators.
