Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026
River Oaks Mayor & City Council Election 2026
1 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 5 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check
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How to vote · 11 days left
Last day to apply for a ballot by mail (Oct 23): the election office's noticeThese links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.
The candidates
Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.
Mayor
1 seat- Jill FoxMember of the River Oaks Parks Board since March 2024 and vice president of the Parks Foundation of River Oaks. She works as operations manager for a local nonprofit in early childhood learning and taught third grade in Fort Worth ISD from 2018 to 2021.5sourced
- Don IstookSelf-employed former bank vice president, commercial business owner and real estate developer. He has served on River Oaks' Storm Water, Zoning Board of Adjustments, Planning & Zoning and Economic Development Corporation committees.8sourced
City Council Place 5
1 seat- Ann BafficoCandidate for River Oaks City Council, Place 5, on the Nov. 3, 2026 Tarrant County ballot.1sourced
- Brent ForesterIncumbentRiver Oaks City Council member for Place 5 and the council's mayor pro tem.7sourced
- Susan StewartFormer City of River Oaks employee of ten years who earned City Secretary certification. She later served on the River Oaks Planning and Zoning Commission and has worked for a local public school district for the past decade.3sourced
All River Oaks voters elect the mayor and the Place 5 council member at large, each for a three-year term.
Also on your Nov 3 ballot
We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.
- Governor
- Greg Abbott · Republican Party
- Gina Hinojosa · Democratic Party
- Pat Dixon · Libertarian Party
- U.S. Senate
- Ken Paxton · Republican Party
- James Talarico · Democratic Party
- Ted Brown · Libertarian Party
- Also statewideLieutenant Governor · Attorney General · Comptroller of Public Accounts · Commissioner of the General Land Office · Commissioner of Agriculture · Railroad Commissioner · Chief Justice, Supreme Court · Justice, Supreme Court, Place 2, Unexpired Term · and 8 more
Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.
Already on the council, not on the ballot
Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.
What the next council decides
01Property taxes and budget4 sourced facts
Where it standsIn Aug. 2026 the council voted 5-0 to propose the voter-approval tax rate of $0.818931 per $100, up from the 2025 rate of $0.743991.
What's on the tableThe next council will set future tax rates and budgets, including how much to rebuild the general fund reserve.
- The proposed budget would be $156,422 in the black at a rate of $0.795791 and $259,422 in the black at the voter-approval rate of $0.818931. City of River Oaks · Aug 4, 2026
- The Aug. 4, 2026 budget discussion said that to build up general fund reserves the city needs to adopt the voter-approval tax rate. City of River Oaks · Aug 4, 2026
- The no-new-revenue tax rate for 2026 is $0.765778 per $100 of value. Fort Worth Star-Telegram legal notice
- At the proposed rate, the tax on the average homestead would rise from $1,453.81 to $1,692.07. Fort Worth Star-Telegram legal notice
02Zoning and development4 sourced facts
Where it standsIn March 2026 the council rezoned a single-family lot at 5641 Taylor Road to planned commercial for office use, and the Meandering Road extension is moving toward construction.
What's on the tableThe next council will rule on future rezoning requests and on how the city grows along River Oaks Boulevard and Meandering Road.
- The Planning & Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend denial of the 5641 Taylor Road rezoning request. City of River Oaks · Feb 23, 2026
- The council approved the 5641 Taylor Road rezoning 4-1, with John Claridge voting nay. City of River Oaks · Mar 3, 2026
- The Meandering Road extension is a new two-lane road with sidewalks from Roberts Cut Off to SH 183, and TxDOT agreed to take the lead on the project. City of River Oaks · Jul 7, 2026
- Construction on Meandering Road was expected to start between October and December 2026 and take about 18 months. City of River Oaks · Jan 20, 2026
03Water system3 sourced facts
Where it standsResidents have raised concerns about water color and odor, and the city has applied for a state grant for water plant upgrades.
What's on the tableThe next council will decide how to repair and pay for the water plant and how to respond to water quality complaints.
- The city said its water is safe to drink and that the color and earthy odor come from minerals stirred up by the turnover of its source water, Lake Worth. City of River Oaks · Sep 23, 2026
- In July 2026 the council voted to apply for a Texas Water Development Board grant covering 100% of water plant upgrades, including the clearwell roof and a pump replacement. City of River Oaks · Jul 21, 2026
- At an Aug. 2026 work session, an audience member said her water has a slight green tint. City of River Oaks · Aug 4, 2026
04Parks and the Event Center4 sourced facts
Where it standsNew playground equipment opened at McGee Park in 2026, and the city has applied for a state grant for more park improvements.
What's on the tableThe next council will decide how much local money to put into park projects and who oversees the Event Center grounds.
- The Economic Development Corporation voted to give $75,000 to the Parks Board for playground equipment at McGee Park. City of River Oaks · Feb 2, 2026
- The larger Texas Parks and Wildlife grant for McGee Park would cost $296,300, with $148,150 as the city's share. City of River Oaks · Jul 21, 2026
- The Economic Development Corporation qualified $150,000 in matching funds for the McGee Park grant in July 2026. City of River Oaks · Jul 27, 2026
- In July 2026 the council voted 3-2 to put the park on the Event Center grounds under the Parks Board. City of River Oaks · Jul 21, 2026
05Public input2 sourced facts
Where it standsThe city held a town hall meeting in January 2026 and has been redesigning its website.
What's on the tableThe next mayor and council will decide how often to meet residents outside council meetings and how to share city information.
- A town hall meeting was scheduled for Jan. 15, 2026, with a primary focus on the Trap-Neuter-Vaccine-Return program. City of River Oaks · Jan 6, 2026
- Mayor Darren Houk suggested scheduling town hall meetings maybe once a quarter. City of River Oaks · Jan 6, 2026
1 note on these statements
The mayor's seat is open: Darren Houk is not seeking reelection. Fort Worth Report · Oct 1, 2026
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Who matches you?
Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.
1. Should the city rezone single-family lots next to commercial areas for limited commercial use?
2. How much local money should River Oaks commit to win a state grant for McGee Park?
3. Should the Parks Board oversee the park on the Event Center grounds?
4. Should the mayor hold regular public forums outside council meetings?
Key dates
- Candidate filing deadlineRiver Oaks News, June 25, 2026 · Jun 25, 2026Aug 17, 2026
- Early voting beginsTarrant County Elections · Oct 15, 2026Oct 19, 2026
- Last day to apply for a ballot by mailTarrant County Elections · Oct 15, 2026Oct 23, 2026
- Early voting endsTarrant County Elections · Oct 15, 2026Oct 30, 2026
- Election DayTarrant County Elections · Oct 15, 2026Nov 3, 2026
The seat math
4 stay (not up this year): John Claridge, Steve Holland, Yolie Rodriguez, Leigh Ann Turner1 on this ballot
5 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.
- The City Council is made up of a mayor and five council members, all elected from the city at large. City of River Oaks Charter, Chapter 3
- Council members hold numbered places 1 through 5. City of River Oaks Charter, Chapter 3
- The mayor and each council member are elected at large by a majority of the voters voting. City of River Oaks Charter, Chapter 3
- The mayor presides at council meetings and votes only to break a tie. City of River Oaks Charter, Chapter 3
- The mayor and council members serve three-year terms. City of River Oaks Charter, Chapter 3
- The City Council adopted Resolution 1126-2024 in June 2024, moving the city's general election to the November uniform election date. City of River Oaks
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