Bill Roth, a commercial realtor and attorney, has declared victory in the race for North Dallas’ District 11, having secured 54% of the votes in the recent runoff election, according to unofficial results. His opponent, Jeff Kitner, garnered 46% of the votes.
Roth expressed cautious optimism on election night, stating, ‘We’ve been watching the numbers, and it looks like they’re not all in, but we’ve got a real, real shot.’
Council member Cara Mendelsohn celebrated with Roth, exclaiming, ‘It’s done. You won!’ This announcement was met with loud cheers and applause from supporters.
Roth will represent the communities along Hillcrest and Preston roads, north of Royal Lane, succeeding the outgoing council member, Jaynie Schultz, who chose not to seek re-election after two terms.
Having maintained a lead since the May 3 election, Roth emerged as the front-runner heading into the runoff election.
Both candidates had spent the previous month engaging with voters through door-knocking, community events, and forums, aiming to mobilize those who supported them in the initial election and attracting the 400 voters who had backed their competitors, Mona Elshenawy and Kendal Richardson.
In response to his loss, Kitner remarked, ‘Obviously, I’m disappointed with how things turned out, but we ran a positive campaign focused on policy and the issues.’ He acknowledged the voters’ choice and accepted the results.
District 11 has been one of the most expensive and contentious races in this election cycle, largely due to ongoing debates over zoning and neighborhood rights.
The race intensified amidst a heated zoning conflict surrounding a proposed mixed-use development with nearly 800 units near Pepper Square, an aging retail strip mall. Roth received considerable support from those opposing the project and was present at City Council meetings to voice their concerns, while Kitner was notably absent.
Post-election, Roth indicated his intention to work collaboratively with residents to address these zoning disputes. He suggested that adjusting the development plans to potentially lower the number of units could help.
In an interview, Roth, 71, positioned himself as a vigilant figure for City Hall, drawing on his past experience of battling an affordable housing development adjacent to his Lake Highlands office. He sued both the developer and the city, claiming they were bypassing existing deed restrictions.
Roth expressed a commitment to eliminating wasteful spending and prioritizing infrastructure investments during his term.
The election campaign, however, has not been devoid of controversy. Roth has faced criticism from some quarters concerning the influence of partisan politics as seen in the negative tactics employed by certain support groups.
Damien LeVeck, the executive director of the nonprofit Dallas Hero, posted AI deepfake videos mocking Kitner on social media, a move that raised eyebrows among residents. LeVeck’s organization is backed by Monty Bennett, a prominent Republican donor.
Roth, however, distanced himself from such smear tactics, asserting, ‘Let me make it very clear, we are not authorizing, we are not approving, we are not endorsing negative personal attack campaigning.’
The election also showcased the divide between the candidates’ methods; Kitner, 49, a former chief operating officer of the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, capitalized on his experience as a Park and Recreation Board member. He played a significant role in introducing amenities like the nature trail at Valley View and the Northaven trail bridge for the district.
Support from outgoing council member Jaynie Schultz and other local officials highlighted Kitner’s campaign. While discussing his future plans, Kitner acknowledged that he would continue his part-time role with the chamber, despite potential concerns over conflict of interest.
He defended this decision, stating that the current council position salary of $60,000 was insufficient for supporting his family and lamenting that only the wealthy could feasibly afford to run for office.
Kitner managed to raise $165,000 during his campaign, receiving backing from the Dallas County Democratic Party and endorsements from numerous former elected officials, underscoring his bipartisan support.
Despite the outcome, both candidates addressed pressing issues within the district, underscoring the importance of public engagement and the need for effective governance as residents confront ongoing challenges, particularly surrounding zoning and neighborhood development.
image source from：https://www.dallasnews.com/news/elections/2025/06/07/bill-roth-leads-city-council-race-in-north-dallas-district-11-kitner-trailing/
