We recommend businessman Mauricio Galante in this three-way race of first-time office seekers to represent District 1 on the Arlington City Council.
This North Arlington council seat had been held by Helen Moise, who is not seeking reelection. The council district includes many of North Texas’ most identifiable entertainment venues such as Six Flags Over Texas, Hurricane Harbor, Globe Life Park, River Legacy Park and AT&T Stadium. Although the entertainment district is a major contributor to Arlington’s overall economic vitality, some residents worry that the city hasn’t paid enough attention to the surrounding neighborhoods that are negatively impacted by traffic congestion and other quality of life challenges from increased growth.
Galante and rivals Tim Goss and Jacob Franklin generally recognize the need to address these concerns. In interviews and this newspaper’s Voter Guide, they’ve indicated that the next council member must be responsive to residents, reduce traffic congestion, and address housing and affordability issues while also adding retail and food options in the neighborhoods.
Our nod goes to Galante, 53, whose experience as a business owner gives him an appreciation of the real world challenges facing residents and small-business owners. The operator of a golf facility in the city, Galante has deep ties to the business and real estate communities. If elected, Galante said his priorities on the council would be to revise zoning laws and incentivize private developers with targeted tax breaks to increase affordable housing construction. Galante, who immigrated to the United States in 2003 from Brazil and became a U.S. citizen in 2011, says the city should address homelessness with a combination of assistance, rehabilitation, and job training and housing.
Goss, a retired military veteran and federal government employee, has the support of Moise, who appointed him to the Arlington Citizens Bond Committee. Goss, 61, says the council district has made significant progress in increasing the supply of multifamily housing, but that the city should focus on expanding job opportunities, retail establishments and restaurants.
Franklin, a technical support engineer who has lived in the district for roughly two years, says the city needs to improve public transit and develop alternative modes of transit and make neighborhoods in the district more walkable. Franklin, 24, also says the city needs to focus on reducing homelessness.
All three would face a learning curve as a first-time council member. However, Galante and Goss each have lived in the district for roughly a decade and have developed the relationships that an effective council member needs. In particular, Galante brings an energy and optimism required of leadership in a city that is dealing with complicated redevelopment and transportation issues and is the better choice in this contest.
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