Gerard Hudspeth, who is running for another term as mayor, answers questions during a City Council candidate forum presented by the League of Women Voters at City Hall on April 4.
Stephen Dillenberg, who is running for mayor, answers a question during the League of Women Voters of Denton's candidate forum at City Hall on April 4.
On Monday morning, Denton voters will begin casting ballots to determine if Mayor Gerard Hudspeth will receive a final term in office to complete his four priorities, which include addressing homelessness, over the next two years.
Gerard Hudspeth
Two challengers are vying to unseat him: Stephen Dillenberg and Lucas Wedgeworth.
Stephen Dillenberg
Dillenberg, a general contractor, is a familiar face on the campaign trail. Last year, he sought the District 3 council seat, receiving 2% of the vote. He lost to Paul Meltzer, who unseated council member Jesse Davis.
Lucas Wedgeworth
Wedgeworth is a newcomer to campaigning for office. As a teacher, his candidacy was initially a civics lesson, only for his students to convince him to seek his office because he had good ideas for local government.
Since Hudspeth’s election as mayor in 2020, the City Council has approved millions in funding for the Denton Community Shelter. The council also approved about $1.5 million for the downtown ambassador program, in part, to help address the people who are unhoused downtown.
Hudspeth’s latest term has not always been smooth. Shortly after his reelection, hundreds appeared at a council meeting to demand an abortion rights resolution, which the mayor didn’t support, in June 2022. A year later, dozens of people in red shirts showed up at a council meeting to voice their anger over Hudspeth and the majority of council members for approving a “developer-friendly plan” over their environmentally sustainable vision to save northeast Denton, an ecologically sensitive area, from multifamily development.
Then, there’s the marijuana ordinance. Denton’s largest turnout of voters in a municipal election approved a referendum to decriminalize misdemeanor marijuana possession in November 2022. Hudspeth doesn’t support it for several reasons — in part, he said, because it violates state law and because a lawsuit by the state would follow. That occurred in January, when Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Denton and four other cities over their marijuana ordinances, claiming they violated state law.
Where do these three candidates stand on the local issues? Are they engaged voters themselves? With early voting around the corner, here’s what candidates had to say about their plans for Denton if elected May 4.
Their responses’ have been edited lightly for clarity and length.
Early voting starts Monday and continues through April 30. Early voting locations include the Denton Civic Center, Denton County Elections Administration, Fire Station No. 7, Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, North Branch Library, North Lakes Recreation Center, Robson Ranch Clubhouse and South Branch Library.
Gerard Hudspeth, incumbent
Age: 51
Birthplace: Denton
Years lived in Denton: 51
Education: North Central Texas College, associate’s degree, 2017; University of North Texas, Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences, 2020
Voting record: Began voting in the November general election in 1998, followed by the municipal election in May 2003, according to Denton County Elections Administration records.
Gerard Hudspeth, who is running for another term as mayor, answers questions during a City Council candidate forum presented by the League of Women Voters at City Hall on April 4.
Marco Barrera/For the DRC
What’s the most important issue for our city right now? How do you propose to address it?
Rising inflation is the primary issue. We feel it at the grocery store and feel it at City Hall when implementing needed projects. Everything costs more, putting pressure on people’s home budgets and the city. I continue to evaluate the city budget and tax rate. Denton is a first-class city, and our citizens deserve to have great amenities and services at an affordable rate. They also deserve low taxes. The city must continue to be as fiscally conservative as possible.
The Denton Police Department’s mission is “to make Denton a safe, sustainable and livable city for everyone by keeping victims safe and holding offenders accountable.” As a council member, how would you help them to achieve this mission?
The chief of police reports to the city manager rather than the City Council. I would continue to advocate for people to say something if they see something. Active and alert citizens are a great crime deterrent. I would review our current police database and work with the city manager to set expectations and measure progress on training, crime reduction and staffing. Ensuring families feel safe in their neighborhoods is a top priority of the city.
Many people in the community are worried about the traffic and traffic problems. Do you think it is an issue? If so, how will you address it if elected?
Yes, traffic is an issue. Denton is growing, and that puts a strain on our street infrastructure. Since I have been mayor, I have worked to attract new jobs and infill developments that promote work, live and play concepts so fewer residents have to drive to Dallas and Fort Worth for jobs, thus relieving congestion. We must continually work with staff to analyze traffic patterns and how to maximize road improvements and traffic light synchronization to maximize the efficiency of our roads.
Lucas Wedgeworth
Age: 39
Birthplace: Enid, Oklahoma
Years lived in Denton: 17 years
Education: UNT, degree in education, 2010
Professional experience: Teacher in Sanger ISD, formerly with Denton ISD
Voting record: Began voting in the November general election in 2008. Voted in several municipal elections starting with a June 18 runoff, according to county elections administration records.
What’s the most important issue for our city right now? How do you propose to address it?
Housing costs have soared, presenting a pressing issue locally. Consequently, many individuals and families struggle to afford decent housing, leading to homelessness, overcrowding and financial strain. Addressing this crisis demands a multifaceted approach. We must prioritize affordable housing initiatives, invest in social housing projects and offer subsidies to low-income individuals. Additionally, zoning regulations should be reformed to encourage the construction of affordable housing units and increase density in urban areas.
The Denton Police Department’s mission is “to make Denton a safe, sustainable and livable city for everyone by keeping victims safe and holding offenders accountable.” As a council member, how would you help them to achieve this mission?
I would collaborate closely with the Denton Police Department to ensure they have the necessary resources and support to fulfill their mission effectively. We foster stronger ties between the Police Department and the community through regular meetings, forums and outreach programs. Building trust and understanding between residents and officers is crucial for effective policing. We can advocate for comprehensive training programs for officers that emphasize de-escalation techniques, cultural sensitivity and nonviolent conflict resolution. Additionally, I would support measures to enhance accountability within the department.
Many people in the community are worried about the traffic and traffic problems. Do you think it is an issue? If so, how will you address it if elected?
Traffic congestion is a significant issue in our community. If elected, I would address it by implementing short-term solutions like optimizing signal timing and promoting alternative transportation such as additional bike lanes and sidewalk improvements. We’ll also work on long-term plans such as infrastructure improvements. Additionally, I’ll advocate for mixed-use development, developing smaller communities with needs met closer to home. By collaborating with residents, businesses and experts, we can develop comprehensive solutions that improve traffic flow and quality of life for everyone.
Stephen Dillenberg
Age: 37
Birthplace: Roanoke
Years lived in Denton: 34 years among Denton, Flower Mound and Argyle; 18 of the last 20 years in Denton.
Education: UNT, Bachelor of Science in biology, double minor in chemistry and Spanish, 2011
Professional experience: Full residential and light commercial general contractor, real estate consultant, biologist. Taught biology/chemistry for four years while chasing professional golf in the summers, 2011-15.
Voting record: Began voting in the November general election in 2016. First vote in a May local election was in 2023, according to county elections administration records.
Stephen Dillenberg, who is running for mayor, answers a question during the League of Women Voters of Denton's candidate forum at City Hall on April 4.
Marco Barrera/For the DRC
What’s the most important issue for our city right now? How do you propose to address it?
Taxes. Apart from making taxes unaffordable for an aging population, many of whom are on fixed incomes, BlackRock and Vanguard’s anti-competitive buying-up of houses to make a perpetual renter’s class has priced another one-third of buyers out, according to a 2019 managers’ salary survey where 70% of salaries could afford the median sales price pre-Hudspeth, at $63,000 per year; now that’s flipped. Before 2017, when my opponent took office, median sales price was $189,000 in Denton. $54,000 per year buys that 100% financed. At $368,000, a $105,000 salary is needed to afford the “average,” with nothing entry-level available.
On Texas Workforce Commission, 50 out of 56 pages of jobs do not pay $105,000, Gerard laughs with the city attorney — nice; fewer than 10% of entry-level employees are buyers in Gerard’s Denton. Shouldn’t have happened and it was his duty to prevent it. He profited from it and gave unlicensed medical advice, telling people of this city to take a dangerous biological product in the vaccine, which was also a crime that my mother had a stroke five days after, two more since. Lawsuits must be filed strategically and with the informed consent of the governed.
I’m not anti-business, I’m anti-forests filling up with any more people who refuse to work for the state that put them in this position.
The Denton Police Department’s mission is “to make Denton a safe, sustainable and livable city for everyone by keeping victims safe and holding offenders accountable.” As a council member, how would you help them to achieve this mission?
As the mayor, I would be the chair of the body police answer to. I will make sure they answer to our people, and I will provide them, to the extent I influence it, with what they need to go about that effectively. Part of that circles back to No. 1, especially when common decency disagrees with a predatory state, or predatory orders, even more so when those orders are not lawful and weren’t when the crime bill was passed by Clinton and Biden, either.
Police have a hard job today. Our leaders should make that better, not worse. Asking them to do something that 88% of the community doesn’t agree with and the same is true across this state is the cause of a lot of stress we don’t need. 8,290 voters elected Hudspeth. That’s under 10% of the registered voters in Denton, and under 5% of the population. Why is there so little engagement? Why are our leaders not following the law? Why did Joe Holland say “no comment” relative to why he couldn’t produce an oath he’s required to swear under the Texas Constitution (Article 16)? Without it, everything they’ve done for a year is null and void. That’s Denton leadership?
Many people in the community are worried about the traffic and traffic problems. Do you think it is an issue? If so, how will you address it if elected?
I’d love to bring a first of its kind in our area subterranean transit system to North Texas. Tunnels can move with the earth now, so I see little impediment to getting it started, or at least looking at feasibility studies, if we could get landowners on board with a massive network of tunnels under our feet, I mean. It could be a real winner, like the one in Las Vegas. I think it would also be great for housing the homeless out of the inclement weather when it’s too hot, or too cold.
I’m also in favor of rolling out green tech to the maximum extent it’s available, like the Tesla roof on commercial buildings — which to be clear isn’t solar panels, it’s a steel-infused tempered glass solar voltaic tile that looks sharp, and can withstand baseball-sized hail at Nolan Ryan fastball speed (100 mph). Insurance premiums go to negligible with no risk of hail damage, and it could power the existing infrastructure and give individuals energy independence. That option has to at least have a seat at the table, if we say we are leading with the consent of the governed, and that consent is actually informed.
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