Dallas City Council Member’s Legal Challenge Denied, Won’t Appear on May 3 Ballot
A state appeals court has denied Dallas City Council member Carolyn King Arnold’s petition to get onto the May 3 election ballot, ruling that she waited too long to challenge the city’s ruling that she was term-limited and ineligible.
Term Limits and the City Charter
Dallas voters in November approved a city charter amendment that bans single district council members who’ve served four two-year terms from being a future candidate for any seat on the council except mayor. Arnold has served four full two-year terms since 2015, representing District 4’s South Oak Cliff. However, because she didn’t serve all of her terms consecutively, Arnold was eligible to run for one more two-year term before the November election under the old charter.
The Legal Challenge
Arnold argued to the appeals court that, because the charter amendment didn’t clearly say it covered past and current council members, she shouldn’t be barred from the 2025 election ballot. Her attorney, Chris Bowers, wrote in response to the city’s motion to dismiss that corrected ballots could be issued to include Arnold and that any changes made to the District 4 ballot wouldn’t be significant enough to derail the entire election. He also warned that legal challenges from past council members who’ve served at least four terms could be on the horizon.
The Court’s Decision
Fifth Court of Appeals Justice Tina Clinton, in an opinion filed Friday, said Arnold’s March 3 legal challenge was submitted too close to when Dallas County would start printing election ballots on March 10. Any reprinting after March 12 couldn’t be done in time to meet the March 19 deadline to mail all overseas ballots and approving Arnold’s request "would interfere with the orderly process of the election," Clinton wrote. The court also noted that Arnold had failed to show that she could not have challenged the city secretary’s determination, which was rendered on January 24, 2025, well before the ballot printing deadline.
Implications and Next Steps
The decision means that Arnold will not appear on the May 3 ballot, and the District 4 race will proceed with candidates Kebran Alexander, Avis Hardaman, and Maxie Johnson. The last day to register to vote is April 3, and early voting runs from April 22 through April 29.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why was Carolyn King Arnold’s petition denied?
A: Her petition was denied because she waited too long to challenge the city’s ruling that she was term-limited and ineligible.
Q: What is the significance of the term limits amendment?
A: The amendment bans single district council members who’ve served four two-year terms from being a future candidate for any seat on the council except mayor.
Q: What are the implications of this decision for future council members?
A: The decision sets a precedent for future council members who may face similar challenges and reinforces the importance of timely challenges to city decisions.
Q: How can I still get involved in the election?
A: You can register to vote by April 3 and participate in early voting from April 22 through April 29. Election day is May 3.
