Governing a city like Arlington is a constant balancing act between addressing the infrastructure and quality-of-life needs of 390,000 residents and managing a major economic magnet in the entertainment district, which brings tens of thousands of out-of-towners weekly to sports events, music concerts and theme parks.
In the race for the Arlington City Council District 7 at-large seat, we recommend Bowie Hogg. The incumbent has the insight and experience to steer Arlington through growing pains and to tackle the planning for major events that will test the city, including the MLB All-Star Game this summer and nine FIFA World Cup matches in 2026. Arlington’s AT&T Stadium is hosting the most World Cup matches of any single site.
Hogg, 46, had a long tenure as an Arlington ISD trustee before first being elected to the city council in 2022. That strong service record cannot be underestimated.
This experience manifests in a pragmatic approach to governance. Hogg proposes short-term solutions to reduce pedestrian fatalities and traffic congestion by redesigning streets with the help of technology, but he told us the council is anticipating what infrastructure the city will need in the next three decades.
Part of the council’s work is to look for traffic solutions in a city where voters have repeatedly rejected a public transit system. Arlington On-Demand, a publicly funded rideshare service previously known as Via, has been moderately successful and is expanding its geographical base to include neighboring cities, he said. While the program needs to boost ridership, Hogg understands this is a long-term commitment.
A major logistical challenge for Arlington is the upcoming MLB All-Star game, which many view as a test run for the FIFA World Cup. Hogg, who is also a board member of the North Central Texas Council of Governments, supports an ambitious regional plan to bring international fans to the event via the Trinity Rail Express and energy-efficient buses. He said that thinking about public safety at the event keeps him awake at night. Public safety and not just transportation should be top of mind for the Arlington city council as it plans for these major events.
Like other North Texas cities, the question of housing affordability looms large, with median home prices hovering over $300,000 in Arlington. Hogg favors a balanced mix of housing but opposes increasing density without proper infrastructure. His challenger, Chris “Dobi” Dobson, supports building more condos to attract younger workers who can build equity over time through homeownership.
Dobson, 45, has unsuccessfully run for office several times. In an interview with us, he demonstrated that he is well-informed on policy issues and that he follows local government closely. Dobson agreed with Hogg in several areas, but he criticized what he views as the council’s inadequate communication with and consideration of residents. He is likely echoing the feelings of some residents who feel like second-class citizens whose needs are subordinate to those of the big companies and brands that also call Arlington home.
Dobson, however, was unable to make a compelling case for why Hogg shouldn’t be reelected. Voters should return Hogg to office.
We welcome your thoughts in a letter to the editor. See the guidelines and submit your letter here. If you have problems with the form, you can submit via email at [email protected]