Bill Roth has officially taken on his role as the new representative for District 11 on the Dallas City Council after being sworn in on Monday.
He succeeds Jaynie Schulz, who chose not to seek reelection.
At 71 years old, Roth has resided in North Dallas for over 40 years, establishing a career as a commercial real estate broker.
He is actively involved in local nonprofit work, particularly with Jewish Family Service, yet this marks Roth’s first foray into holding public office after winning the 2025 city election.
During the election, Roth garnered considerable support from the Dallas County Republican Party and received significant campaign financing, totaling $114,000, along with a personal loan of $176,000 to his campaign.
Roth received endorsements from several notable figures, including District 12 council member Cara Mendelsohn, who previously served alongside him on a nonprofit board.
In the runoff election held on June 7, Roth defeated Jeff Kitner, a former member of the Park and Recreation Board, with 54% of the votes.
Kitner, who highlighted his extensive experience in the park and recreation arena and as COO of the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, was backed by the Dallas County Democratic Party and several former council members, including former Mayor Mike Rawlings.
Notably, U.S. Rep. Colin Allred and state Sen. Nathan Johnson were also among Kitner’s endorsers.
Prior to the runoff, Roth led in the May 3 election, and after a closely contested race, he secured vital endorsements from his former opponents, Mona Elshenawy and Kendal Richardson, who both endorsed him for the runoff.
The voter turnout for the runoff was noticeably higher, with 7,615 ballots cast as compared to 6,178 in the May election, according to unofficial results.
Roth has identified improving public safety as his top campaign priority, committing to advocating for the full funding of both the police and fire departments.
Positioning himself as a vigilant oversight figure for City Hall, he aims to root out wasteful spending and prioritize necessary infrastructure improvements.
With the rising cost of living, Roth believes that Dallas cannot increase taxes and instead focuses on attracting new businesses to expand the commercial tax base.
Moreover, he has expressed intentions to tackle homelessness in Dallas by advocating for housing solutions that include wraparound services while still adhering to existing city ordinances.
District 11, which Roth represents, lies along Hillcrest and Preston roads north of Royal Lane and has been a focal point for zoning debates and neighborhood rights.
A significant controversy arose from residents near the aging Pepper Square retail strip mall who opposed a proposed mixed-use redevelopment project, yet the plan was approved by the Dallas City Council in March.
Roth, who had rallied support against the project, voiced his concerns during the council’s discussions.
He argued that the proposed development would exacerbate traffic congestion and strain the neighborhood, stating, “This density feels excessive and does not fit with our community’s low-rise, family-oriented character.”
A key element of his campaign revolved around advocating for single-family zoning, and Roth has assured that he intends to negotiate the number of apartments in the Pepper Square development to fewer than 600 units.
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