2024 Voters Guide: Denton City Council
The decisions made by our Denton City Council affect Denton residents more directly than any other level of government. As residents interested in how our towns change and adapt, and whether we are building a fiscally and environmentally secure future for future generations, Stronger Denton prepared this questionnaire to help you decide which candidates best represent the future Denton you want to see.
Candidates:
Mayor (Place 7)
Gerard Hudspeth (Incumbent): Contact campaign via email
Luc Wedgeworth: No contact information provided
Stephen P. Dillenberg: No responses received
At-Large (Place 5)
Erica Garland: Contact campaign via email, Facebook, or @EricaforDenton
Brandon Chase McGee (Incumbent): Contact campaign via email
At-Large (Place 6)
Lilyan Prado Carrillo: Contact campaign via email, Facebook,, or X (formerly Twitter)
Jill Jester: No response received
Election and registration information is provided after the candidate responses.
Why are you running for Denton City Council and what are your top goals?
Mayor
Gerard Hudspeth
Be good stewards of taxpayers' money. To ensure Denton is one of the safest cities in North Texas and improve the overall city road quality.
Luc Wedgeworth
Affordable Housing: No one should have to struggle to find a safe and stable place to live.
Environmental Sustainability: Denton must take aggressive action to combat climate change and protect our environment. I want to expand public transportation options, and implement sustainable development practices as well as conservation of our green space.
Economic Development: I believe in fostering a thriving local economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy few. I will support small businesses, promote job growth, and ensure that economic development initiatives prioritize the needs of working families and underserved communities.
At-Large Place 5
Erica Garland
As a 14-year resident of Denton, I am running for Denton City Council At-Large Place 5 to bring the Council's focus back to the city and its residents. We need a council member who concentrates on issues that the Council has the authority to act upon and implement, solving local problems with local solutions. My main priorities are supporting our first responders, revitalizing our development, investing in our infrastructure, and refocusing on local issues.
Brandon Chase McGee
I'm running for Denton City Council because as the only regular working person currently on Council, I can see that the system is not designed for regular working people to have any say in government. However, it is regular folks that are the most affected by the things that government does or fails to do. In me, the people of Denton have a seat at the table, and I look forward to working on water infrastructure, affordable housing, and improving Council's relationship with our federal and state delegation in my upcoming term.
At-Large Place 6
Lilyan Prado Carrillo
Denton is my home and I believe that council should be representative of the population it strives to serve. I also believe the role of council members should be to amplify the voice of the people they are supposed to represent, not their own desires. I want to serve our community and advocate for groups who may not have a voice in the decisions that are being made. Through the introduction of policy and our votes, we should be addressing the needs of the residents, making sure to weigh the unintended consequences of decisions we make, for all people in the city not just a select few. We need to manage smart growth in our community, make sure we keep our values, and that we provide safety, affordability, opportunity for growth, livable wages, and a sense of belonging for all who choose to call Denton home. I’m running because I believe I can help Denton achieve these goals, and provide service before self.
Denton’s Comprehensive Plan directs us to “Include the cost of regular road maintenance and reconstruction in estimating the cost of building and widening roads.” Denton has borrowed $114 million in the past 15 years to reconstruct our end-of-life streets, and plans to borrow another $447 million in the next 12 years because our tax revenue is insufficient to fund street reconstruction. What does a responsible street funding program look like, and what must Denton do to get there?
Mayor
Gerard Hudspeth
The bond process pulls in the citizen input and the council votes to approve each project. It is best to present the current status to the citizens. They can then decide/vote if the project should go forward.
Luc Wedgeworth
We must prioritize building smaller, more localized communities with mixed-use zoning. This approach not only fosters vibrant neighborhoods but also promotes economic diversity and resilience. By creating spaces where people can live, work, and play within close proximity, we enhance the overall quality of life for Denton residents.
Additionally, investing in a robust public transportation system is essential. We need to ensure that everyone has reliable and accessible transportation options, whether they choose to travel by bus, bike, or foot. This means not only improving our existing transit infrastructure but also adequately funding bike lanes and pedestrian pathways to create a true network of alternative transportation routes.
By building smaller and closer to home, and by investing in comprehensive transportation alternatives, we can break free from the debt trap we are in, and pave the way for a more sustainable and livable Denton.
At-Large Place 5
Erica Garland
To facilitate sustainable and thriving communities, it is crucial to prioritize the reconstruction of city streets. Usually, cities issue bonds to fund such projects, and engaging the public in the decision-making process is needed to secure their approval. By proactively listening to the concerns and opinions of citizens and providing them with pertinent information, cities can effectively improve the quality of life of their residents and concurrently promote the growth and development of the community.
Brandon Chase McGee
A responsible street funding program looks like funding large roadway projects through bond funding. While we can fund some roadway repair projects through the budget, we must continue to rely on the voters to have a direct say in which large projects receive funding.
At-Large Place 6
Lilyan Prado Carrillo
I understand that streets and infrastructure will be the highest cost for our city. I do know that we have to be smart about our budget, and we are borrowing because we simply don’t have enough to keep up with the demand. Denton is growing, and so we must take into account the wear and tear on our roads, especially with the growth coming in. When we decide to build, and approve different areas for specific zoning, we need to take into account the cost on our roads, not only for new residents, but specifically for those who are already here and call this place home. I believe a responsible street funding program must look at regular assessments of street conditions and identify areas of maintenance, expansion and repair. We need to have a transparent method of how we are prioritizing streets based on safety, traffic volume, and cost, amongst other factors. We need to make sure we are allocating sufficient funds to street maintenance and improvement plans, and to share with the public our phases of repair. Our funding must come from diverse funding sources, including local taxes, but also possible state and federal grants, impact fees from new developments (making sure these don’t get pushed down to future residents), and public and private partnerships.
What is your favorite area of Denton and why? Where else in Denton could this mix of homes, businesses, and streets be replicated?
Mayor
Gerard Hudspeth
I like the charm and uniqueness of Denton as a whole.
Luc Wedgeworth
Downtown, and the historical areas.
Ideally we would implement this pattern of growth across denton so that all parts of denton have equal access to neighborhoods that support them.
At-Large Place 5
Erica Garland
Denton's Idiot's Hill is one of my favorite neighborhoods. It has a mix of architectural styles, well-planned parks, and heritage tree preservation. By adopting the timeless neighborhood model in future developments, Denton can create more welcoming, sustainable, and diverse residential communities.
Brandon Chase McGee
My favorite area of Denton is the western, undeveloped portion of town. As we all know, the western portion of town, known as Cole Ranch, is being developed and will no longer exist in its current form.
At-Large Place 6
Lilyan Prado Carrillo
Obviously, I really like the Square and the area by UNT, Fry Street, etc., but I think an area where we haven’t focused too much, and we could really grow and turn into something awesome is McKinney St. From the post office by City Hall, all the way to the Loop, I could see this as a strip of restaurants, locally owned businesses, maybe putting in a small park or place for food trucks, and keeping what is there. With sidewalks, a bike lane, slower speed limits, especially on the weekends, this may be an area to explore and turn into a cultural zone. The best tacos are already there, so we can just expand on that and really promote our identity as an eclectic and multicultural place, infusing cuisine from all parts of the world.
Denton has a large student population, but many TWU and UNT graduates leave the city upon graduation to find a job elsewhere. What would you do to encourage them to stay in Denton and put down roots here?
Mayor
Gerard Hudspeth
The city council must continue to support economic development policies that attract businesses that offer good-paying jobs to our local talent pool.
Luc Wedgeworth
We need to have developers include affordable housing options in each neighborhood we build. Denton needs a strong market of smaller starter homes so that young college students looking to start a family actually have options that are viable for them.
At-Large Place 5
Erica Garland
I believe it's important for our city to thrive not just survive. Unfortunately, many graduates are leaving Denton due to a lack of job opportunities. That's why, if elected, I plan to prioritize the development of programs that will attract new businesses and higher-paying jobs to our city. This will not only benefit established residents but also encourage the growth of Denton's commercial sector. By shifting more of the tax burden to commercial developments, we can help offset the cost for residential homeowners.
Brandon Chase McGee
To encourage them to stay, there would have to be robust economic opportunities for them. During my first term on Council, I have used my connections to promote Denton throughout the state and county. I will continue to do so and encourage my colleagues to do so also.
At-Large Place 6
Lilyan Prado Carrillo
Jobs with competitive wages, affordable housing for all income brackets, and other amenities like cultural events, recreational activities, night life (aside from where all the students hang out) would be a start. Denton has a lot to offer, and we should capitalize on the strong sense of community and the networks students develop while they are here, and enable them to do so even more. I don’t know that the city does a good enough job of interweaving what the two universities offer and what is happening at the local level, but it’s something we can examine. What continuing education programs do we have, and do we have enough partnerships with businesses and the universities, to make post-baccalaureate work feasible without having to work for the universities themselves?
We want to make sure that we are attracting businesses that can provide a diverse job market, and we should recruit according to what we are known for in Denton, and/or what we want to be known for in Denton. Innovation, music and arts, entrepreneurship, innovative education at the k-12 age are just some that come to mind. We need to leverage our location too, far enough from big cities, but close enough that we can make an evening out of a visit. We are a short drive away from Dallas/Ft.Worth and OKC. We need to show that we have a highly educated workforce to attract business, in addition to a ready workforce, as evidenced by our partnerships with the ATC, and all their certification programs.
In your opinion, what does a thriving neighborhood look like and how does it function?
Mayor
Gerard Hudspeth
A thriving neighborhood has great quality streets and is walkable. The homeowners feel safe and pay a fair tax rate.
Luc Wedgeworth
A thriving neighborhood has not only a variety of different housing options, but is built in such a way where there local needs can be met within a short distance from where they live.
At-Large Place 5
Erica Garland
A thriving neighborhood is all about creating a safe, clean, diverse community that's inclusive and affordable for everyone. It's a place where people can invest and feel economically secure while enjoying a healthy and prosperous lifestyle.
Brandon Chase McGee
A thriving neighborhood has a mix of housing products with a diverse mix of residents from all ages, races and socioeconomic backgrounds. There is safety in this neighborhood. There is access to shared greenspaces in this neighborhood. There is also access to fresh food and a range of public accommodations in this neighborhood.
At-Large Place 6
Lilyan Prado Carrillo
A thriving neighborhood is one where neighbors actually know each other, and come out of their homes. There is belonging and equal accessibility to any amenities that are available to them. There is open greenspace for walks, and recreation for families within a short distance. Trees provide shade, a neighborhood school is within walking distance as well, and the infrastructure such as roads, and sidewalks are kept, and all areas are well lit.
If there is an HOA, it should be inclusive, and transparent, and provide opportunities for neighbors to get to know each other rather than just policing each other’s homes. If there isn’t an official HOA, maybe having an informal group that welcomes people to the neighborhood, or offers support when something doesn’t seem right, rather than tell on them for some kind of minor violation they may have on the side of their house or with their grass.
A thriving neighborhood is also a safe neighborhood, and has everyone watching out for everyone else. Crime rate is low or non-existent, and the members of the neighborhood, young and old, all embrace diversity and inclusivity. It functions by everyone making a conscious decision to put their part, and help others as they may want someone to one day help them.
What are the top two things Denton needs to do to make housing more affordable for all Denton residents? And how would you seek to realize these?
Mayor
Gerard Hudspeth
The city does not have purview over how much a home/property owner charges for their private property. Denton can do its part, by keeping the fees consistent with the current real cost. A city can also ensure the permitting does not take longer than necessary.
Luc Wedgeworth
Simply put we need to build vastly more housing. The best way to lower housing cost is to force our local landlords to compete with the options we create.
Another option I think would work is developing housing co-ops. The people deserve housing options where rent cant be endlessly raised. This would also be a way to combat the rise of rent by forcing the current housing to compete with lower rates of the Housing co-ops.
At-Large Place 5
Erica Garland
The city needs to take proactive steps to encourage the development of affordable housing options that match the income brackets of people from all walks of life. This could include creating incentives for developers to build affordable housing units, promoting mixed-income neighborhoods, and increasing the availability of rental assistance programs. By taking these steps, the city can ensure everyone can access safe and affordable housing, regardless of income level. The city must become more intentional about zoning to improve and accommodate housing needs for all income levels.
Brandon Chase McGee
First, Denton needs more housing. Second, Denton needs a more diverse cadre of housing products available. I would help advance these goals by working with staff to remove any potential barriers to different housing products and encourage our friends in the development community to bring diverse stock to the city.
At-Large Place 6
Lilyan Prado Carrillo
The bond is a great start. Almost half of all residents in Denton (48%) are ALICE homes, most likely living paycheck to paycheck. Many of our residents are severely cost burdened, meaning they pay a large percentage of their monthly income to rent alone. That is a lot of people, having to make tough decisions month to month. A clear understanding of the status of our residents is essential to come up with a plan, and set goals before we keep growing.
Educating our citizens is a priority. Residents need to understand that the AMI for our area is about $96K, and so providing affordable housing for people at 80% of that ($76K), who are considered low income, is a “little” different than providing affordable housing for people who are at 30% ($28K). We need to ensure that when we talk about providing affordable housing, we take into consideration all people, but specifically, our most vulnerable. This is a big task, and so working with the city and other organizations is essential in identifying opportunities. We have to work with developers and really leverage what Denton has to offer, in order to ask them for what we need. Rather than only reserving spaces for those at 80%, asking for a variety of units at all percentages, enabling diverse groups of people from different income ranges to do life together.
Zoning regulations that allow for diversified housing options, including infill, are all essential to meeting our growing needs and demographics.
Denton’s Comprehensive Plan calls for “compact development patterns” and “reinvestment and infill in underutilized areas of the city” partially because greenfield development at the edge has resulted in “longer auto trip lengths, greater levels of congestion, strained environmental and fiscal resources, and challenges for public services and facilities to keep up with the demands of this rapidly enlarging development footprint.” Would you support this vision? As Denton grows, where should additional homes and businesses be located, and why?
Mayor
Gerard Hudspeth
I will consider each project individually and evaluate the merits of each project. Yes, one of the evaluation criteria is the Denton Comprehensive Plan.
Luc Wedgeworth
No response was provided to this question
At-Large Place 5
Erica Garland
I fully support the Denton Comprehensive Plan and its outlined strategies. Growth is essential for creating a sustainable and equitable community where everyone can thrive. We must adopt and implement a holistic approach to achieve this goal and ensure that all development is responsible and intentional, designed to benefit the community.
Brandon Chase McGee
I absolutely support this vision. As Denton grown, additional housing and businesses should be located as close to the city center as possible, and then gradually move outward. As we move forward toward our Net Zero goal in 2050, we need to do everything possible to reduce the burden on unnecessary driving. Infill development is one tool to make this more achievable.
At-Large Place 6
Lilyan Prado Carrillo
Yes, I would support infill development in underutilized areas of the city. There is no reason why half of our Square should be dark right now. We can reinvest in small locally owned business, mix use development for housing whether it be apartments, townhomes, duplexes, or quadplexes. By pushing out development we are adding to the strain on our roads, adding to congestion and higher emissions, and adding to the frustration of our residents. If we would develop downtown out, we can have smart designs where we develop walkable neighborhoods, encourage local business development, promote and create job opportunities, and have a visibly thriving place to live, work, and grow.
Denton’s cherished older neighborhoods were built when it was legal and common to build house-style buildings that housed more than one family. These include duplexes, triplexes, fouplexes, and ADUs and are referred to now as Missing Middle Housing. Our zoning code was amended in 1961 to segregate rather than embrace this development style, with the 1960 comprehensive plan calling for “development of neighborhood units of homogeneous groups of people having similarity in racial characteristics, income levels, and general economic and social interests.” Allowing only single-family homes and requiring large lots on most of our land is referred to by the American Planning Association as “exclusionary zoning” because it prevents people of lower income from living in most neighborhoods. What reforms would you support to right this historical wrong?
Mayor
Gerard Hudspeth
It is important to have high standards for planning and zoning that address multiple housing options. Equally important is a set of ordinances that allow people to live where they desire.
Luc Wedgeworth
As mayor, I am committed to righting the historical wrongs of exclusionary zoning and promoting housing equity in Denton.
Encouraging Mixed-Income Development: We should incentivize developers to include affordable housing units in new developments through density bonuses, tax incentives, and streamlined permitting processes. Mixed-income neighborhoods foster greater economic and social diversity, creating more vibrant and inclusive communities.
Amending Zoning Codes: We must update our zoning codes to allow for a greater variety of housing options, including duplexes, triplexes, fouplexes, and accessory dwelling units.
At-Large Place 5
Erica Garland
Implementing effective planning and zoning regulations can create thriving communities that are diverse, inclusive, and equitable for everyone. These regulations are crucial to meeting every individual's unique housing needs and should empower individuals to choose the best location to live without any unnecessary restrictions or limitations.
Brandon Chase McGee
I support the DCRC (Denton Code Review Committee) looking at our current code and zoning laws and making recommendations to update them to current standards and expectations.
At-Large Place 6
Lilyan Prado Carrillo
We have to examine our zoning code. We are not the same community that maybe existed in 1960. More than 60 years later, much has changed. We have a wonderfully diverse community in Denton. In Denton ISD alone, we have more than 50 languages spoken. UNT and TWU are both considered HSI campuses (Hispanic Serving Institutions), and between our African American and our Latino populations, we make up almost 40% of the population in the city of Denton. We have incomes at all levels, and all levels of education are present. I know my kids have grown up with the richness of the diversity that Denton has to offer, and that can’t happen if we segregate people from living in different areas, and not allow our children to go to schools with people different from themselves. How can we teach to accept, and love and respect, if they are never allowed to experience life different than their own?
For these and so many other reasons, yes, I would advocate to reform ordinances and parts of the zoning code that are outdated and that make it harder to move Denton forward. I want to encourage unique neighborhood developments that reflect the diversity of our residents & provide them with the opportunity to build community, together.
New buildings, renovations, adding a patio, or simply changing the activity happening inside a building are only allowed in Denton if the property provides the specific number of parking spaces our code requires. These minimum parking requirements create more parking than is used, increase housing costs, disperse our city, and limit the flexibility of our small businesses. In the last decade, over 50 cities in the US have removed these rules. Would you support eliminating parking minimums to let businesses and residents choose how much parking to pay for based on their need? Why?
Mayor
Gerard Hudspeth
I will evaluate every project individually and measure them against the current codes and ordinances.
Luc Wedgeworth
Parking minimums not only create unnecessary burdens on businesses and residents but also exacerbate housing costs and discourage sustainable development practices. By mandating a specific number of parking spaces for every new building or renovation, we are effectively prioritizing cars over people and perpetuating a car-centric urban design that is unsustainable and inefficient.
At-Large Place 5
Erica Garland
I understand that minimum parking regulations can present a challenge for businesses and residents alike. To ensure our infrastructure is manageable, I support a more flexible approach, considering each project's unique circumstances. A case-by-case evaluation process could effectively balance meeting business and resident needs and maintaining our infrastructure's integrity.
Brandon Chase McGee
I support eliminating parking minimums because it gives residents and businesses more say in how they utilize their space. It also speaks to allowing for more infill development.
At-Large Place 6
Lilyan Prado Carrillo
Yes, I would support it. Not everyone drives, and honestly, we don’t want everyone to drive if there are other ways to get around. I know this question is about maybe taking down some barriers that have not allowed developers to build the type of businesses or homes they want because of parking requirements, limiting units and therefore making them more expensive possibly, but this question to me is also about sustainability. The Climate Action and Adaptation Plan presented to the council last October talked about the goal of us getting to Net-Zero emissions by 2050. Even if we did everything in the plan, we would only get to 87% by 2050. Nothing has been done since October, so we are already behind, but one thing that stood out to me the most was that the emissions from transportation accounted for 59% of all emissions. That is directly related to our community driving, which is directly related to our lack of walkable neighborhoods and our very small public transportation availability. I know that less parking won’t solve all our problems, but I believe it is a start to promoting a new way of doing life. Yes, I will support eliminating parking minimums and letting businesses and residents decide how much parking they need and want.
May Election Information
Registration
All voters in the May local election must be registered by April 4th. The best way to ensure you are registered in time is to go to the elections administration building at 701 Kimberly Drive, Denton, TX.
How to Vote
Early Voting
You may early vote at any polling location within Denton County for City Council, provided you are registered within the City of Denton.
April 22-27 (Mon - Sat) 8 AM - 5 PM
April 28 (Sun) 11 AM - 5 PM
April 29-30 (Mon - Tue) 7 AM - 7 PM
Election Day Voting
Election Day polls are open Saturday, May 4th from 7 AM - 7 PM, but you must vote at your assigned polling location. Look this and more information up with the Voter Lookup tool on votedenton.gov.