The District covers areas including Uptown, Oak Lawn, Turtle Creek and parts of downtown and East Dallas.
Paul Ridley secured another term in the race for the District 14 seat on the Dallas City Council Saturday, defeating first-time candidates Amanda Schulz and Joseph F. Miller.
Ridley, 70, a retired attorney who was first elected in June 2021, came in ahead of Schulz, 47, a real estate broker, and Miller, 74, who trailed in third place.
At nearly 10 square miles, District 14 is the smallest district by land mass in Dallas. But at roughly 95,000 people, it’s one of the most populated council districts. It includes neighborhoods such as Uptown, Oak Lawn, Turtle Creek and parts of downtown and East Dallas.
City projections last year, based on new district boundaries after the most recent census, estimated that the population is 67% white, nearly 15% Hispanic, almost 8% Black, 5% Asian and almost 5% of the population has other racial backgrounds.
Ridley has been among the biggest critics of short-term rentals on the council, and the largest concentration of short term rentals registered with the city are based in his district. He said he wants the City Council to approve a ban to keep them from operating in residential areas.
“I am hopeful that the council takes a decision about short term rentals ordinance before we go into recess in. That is something I want to focus on,” he said Saturday evening at a watch party with his family and supporters at Desert Racer on Lower Greenville Ave.
Some residents have expressed concern of excessive noise, parties and crime connected to the short-term rentals.
Among his accomplishments in his first term, Ridley has pointed to his advocacy helping lead to the closure of OT Tavern in Old East Dallas, as well as a city lawsuit aimed at shutting down neighboring Bar 3606. The city and residents say both locations for years were linked to crimes and nuisance complaints.
He also pointed to pushing for the city to buy more electric vehicles for workers and advocating for more money for solar power for city buildings to help Dallas meet environmental goals; pushing for the city-owned WRR radio to keep its classical music format and be managed by KERA; and pushing for road improvements on a stretch of Richmond Avenue in Old East Dallas.
