The May 4 General election is fast approaching, and two city council seats are up for re-election.
Councilmember Place 6 and Councilmember Place 7 seats are up for re-election in the May 4 General election.
The incumbent for Councilmember Place 7 is Letitia Hughes, who is running unopposed.
Hughes will represent the neighborhoods encompassing areas within Wintergreen Road, Cockerell Hill Road, Pleasant Run Road, and Polk Street.
“I’m hoping and praying that I’m doing the work enough that people are pleased waiting to what I’m gonna do next,” said Hughes, speaking to The DeSoto Tribune.
“I love engaging, I love making things happen, I love it when people come to me. I’m a problem-solution kind of girl, and that’s what I really want to be known for. I like the fact that people know when they call me, I’m going to get back to them, and I’m going to make sure that we get it resolved one way or another.”
Running for re-election for Councilmember Place 6 is incumbent Crystal Chism and newcomer Shirley Robinson.
Chism has served on the city council for the past three years and serves on various committees, such as the Veteran Affairs Committee.
Robinson, a long-time resident of DeSoto for 21 years, is a counselor for the DeSoto Independent School District and has worked for the district for the past 10 years.
Offering a glimpse into the future of DeSoto and what they hope to achieve as members of the city council, Chism and Robinson each outline their goals if elected.
“I want to finish the work that I have started,” said Chism, speaking to The DeSoto Tribune.
“I am not a one single-issue person, and there are many areas in DeSoto that I’m passionate about, but public safety has been something that I have championed, from the speeding to the city coming up with better strategies to help guide driving patterns.”
There have been multiple accidents at the intersection of Beltline Road and Cockerell Hill Road, and that is something that Chism says she is working to figure out why there have been so many accidents at the busy intersection.
One way Chism believes might help is if cameras were set up across the city.
“If there is an issue, we have a way to track down and prevent a person who committed a crime from doing so again,” said Chism.
Robinson, Chism’s challenger, spoke at the candidate forum held at DeSoto City Hall Bluebonnet Room about her vision for DeSoto.
“I would like to see more activity for teenagers, for our young adults to have a place where they can come and go out and have a good time here in DeSoto,” said Robinson.
Robinson also believes that the police department can do more to relate to the residents of DeSoto, citing relatability to the different cultures in the city.
“I really think that the police department can do more and learn more about culture and diversity and relating to citizens from our perspective,” said Robinson.
“If I’m elected, I will work with the city manager and with the council to provide that type of training so that there are no biases.”
Robinson also says that another issue she would tackle would be to continue to help keep DeSoto beautiful.
She said she would work with Code Enforcement to help keep DeSoto beautiful and in the right direction.
“There a lot of areas in DeSoto that are not seen that could really impact the community, said Robinson,
“We want to make sure we keep DeSoto pointed in the right direction and keep DeSoto beautiful.”
DeSoto’s General Election is scheduled for May 4, with various polling locations available throughout the city.
As candidates continue to campaign and engage with voters, residents are encouraged to participate in the democratic process and vote for the candidates they believe will best represent their interests and address their concerns.
