Maxie Johnson was sworn in Monday to represent District 4 around south Oak Cliff on the Dallas City Council. Johnson previously served on the Dallas Independent School District board of trustees, but he left the school board to work in City Hall.
What were Johnson’s top campaign issues?
Johnson, 47, is a pastor at New Morning Star Baptist Church in West Dallas. He campaigned on his experience in community organizing and as a Dallas school board trustee since 2019.
Before becoming an elected official, Johnson served as PTA president and worked with the South Oak Cliff Alumni Association. He is a graduate of Dallas ISD.
Johnson said his top priority would be public safety and economic development, along with services for seniors. He previously ran for the seat in 2021 but lost to Arnold in a runoff.
In The Dallas Morning News’ voter guide, Johnson said he supported increasing the pension fund to support additional police officers and promoting fiscal transparency.
What is Johnson’s previous experience in government?
Before entering City Hall, Johnson represented District 5 as a school board trustee for six years, which includes parts of West Dallas, Oak Lawn, the cities of Wilmer and Hutchins, and portions of eastern and southern Oak Cliff.
Johnson supported Byron Sanders as his replacement in the school board election, and Sanders is Johnson’s successor as the District 5 trustee.
Who did Johnson defeat in the election?
Johnson will bring new leadership to City Hall. The district’s incumbent, Carolyn King Arnold, reached her term limit. She is one of four incumbents who did not return to the ballot this year.
Two other candidates were competing to succeed Arnold: Kebran Alexander, a communications department worker at the Dallas County sheriff’s office, and first grade teacher Avis Hardaman. Arnold endorsed Alexander in the days leading up to the election.
But Johnson managed nearly 75% of the vote. He was followed by Alexander with around 21% of votes.
Johnson raised more than 10 times the money Alexander did, receiving donations from former elected officials such as Mayor Mike Rawlings and former council members Diane Ragsdale, Adam McGough and Philip Kingston.
A new political action committee called Revitalize Dallas also sent out mailers in support of Johnson as Election Day neared. The effort was funded by short-term homestay platform Airbnb, which contributed around $500,000 to several City Council candidates, according to the latest election filings.
Airbnb has much at stake in an ongoing fight between the city and short-term rental operators. The city reignited a legal fight it lost earlier this year against ordinances that all but banned short-term rentals in single-family neighborhoods. Arnold voted for the ban.
What issues are important to District 4?
District 4 encompasses south Oak Cliff and the area around the Dallas Zoo. The district includes historic neighborhoods like Cedar Crest.
The new representative faces key redevelopment projects in District 4, including the construction of Halperin Park, a deck park over Interstate 35E, and revitalization efforts in areas like the Tenth Street Historic District.
Halperin Park, recently renamed from Southern Gateway Park, is set to open in spring 2026. When I-35E was built, it disconnected communities from downtown and bulldozed homes. The park is seen as a bridge for neighborhoods in Oak Cliff.