Tom Ward
Biographical Age: 63 Family: Daughter Madison; Son-in-law - Jack Lundry; Granddaughters - Emerson and Ellison Current residence city: DeKalb How long have you resided there? 20+ years Top three degrees and/ or educational achievements: B.S. from UT-Arlington Current job/employer and your top three occupational achievements: Air Traffic Controller, FAA-Fort Worth ARTCC- Retired Political Why do you want the office you are seeking? To facilitate moving the city forward and trying to improve the quality of life for citizens.
What qualifies you to hold the office you are seeking? As an ATC, I was accustomed to dealing with stressful situations with imminent consequences. I also briefed local pilot groups on new procedures and chart changes as they came out.
What will be your top priority/priorities elected into office and how do you plan to address them? Seeing that the HWY 82 expansion goes as smoothly as possible, rebuilding Grizzly Drive with the Texas DOT and completion of the $7 million infrastructure plan.
What do you see as the major needs in your city? Affordable housing If you could initiate one change, what would it be? Trying to attract new businesses after the HWY 82 expansion As an elected official, your constituents expect transparency. What are your views on transparency in government, and how could your position improve in this area? I’m very much for transparency in government. We are transparent in the city council. The way to improve transparency is to get involved and see what’s going on and not read it on social media.
Marjorie Roberts
Biographical Age: 64 Family: God comes first always. I have lifelong friends and family here in De Kalb. I have two children, both are doing great all because I raised them in the Methodist Church in Dekalb. DeKalb Schools gave them a great start in an educational- backgrounds. My daughter is in the medical profession. My son is serving his country. I have six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren. My father, a sister and brother, and nephew are still residing inside of DeKalb, Texas.
Current Residence: DeKalb, Texas How long have you lived there? 30+ years Top three degrees and/ or educational achievements: B.S. Degree from East Texas State University — Dean’s List
•Associate degree from Texarkana Community College — Dean’s List
•Certified Public Housing Manager; HUD certified Grant Writing; multiple commendations and NAHRO awards for public housing programs, reports, and resident education initiatives I recently retired and lifted my head to become involved again in civics. I am deeply concerned about De Kalb.
Current job/employer and your top three occupational achievements: Candidate for DeKalb City Council, Seat 2; municipal finance researcher; community advocate; owner of GORTHOS LLC.
Top achievements: 1.Conducted extensive review of municipal budgets, audits, and debt structures to improve public understanding.
2.Developed clear, accessible explanations of city processes for residents seeking transparency.
3.Applied forensic document comparison skills to identify inconsistencies and explain them to citizens.
Additional recent work: Reviewed budgets and audits, EDC B expense reports, Deed of Trust documents, the 2025 City of DeKalb Audit Reports (both versions), and email threads regarding transfers and loan activity. Examined all available agendas and corresponding minutes for accuracy and completeness. Operate GORTHOS LLC; authored and self-published a book. I offered to write a grant to expand my business — a project that would have cost the city nothing and created jobs — but the offer was declined. Without questions.
Political Why do you want the office you are seeking? I am running to bring clarity, accountability, and steady leadership to DeKalb’s city government. My approach is grounded in service, accuracy, and a deep belief that our community deserves transparent systems and trustworthy public records. I believe in Integrity over Influence. I want jobs, opportunity, and ownership to return to the people of De Kalb.
What qualifies you to hold the office you are seeking? The legal qualifications are simple: be over 18, have a high school diploma, and reside in De Kalb, Texas. I meet those requirements.
Beyond that, I bring experience and education far above what is required, including:
•Forensic document comparison and evidence preservation
•Municipal budget and debt structure analysis
•Pattern recognition in financial and administrative records
•Clear, accessible communication with diverse audiences
•Calm, disciplined leadership in high pressure or confusing situations •A strong commitment to lawful, transparent, process driven governance My age is experience, and my education is preparation.
What will be your top priority/priorities elected into office and how do you plan to address them? Without transparency and clarity in the records currently provided, a comprehensive review of each area is necessary. De Kalb is in financial trouble. The city has significant loans and debts coming due. We also have a spending problem, and as a result, water rates have increased — and continue to rise.
I already know the first solution I would recommend: restore integrity, accuracy, and accountability in financial reporting and decision making.
I believe in Integrity over Influence.
Infrastructure questions must be addressed honestly.. I believe the large number of grants — and the lack of proper oversight — reduced the value of those awards by astounding amounts. Planning is essential, and joining elite organizations costs money we do not have. We need to take De Kalb back. I care deeply about this town.
What do you see as the major needs in your city? De Kalb needs to become solvent again. We need to repair our roads — not just a few of them. Grants must be reviewed for compliance and effectiveness.
Most importantly, we must include the people who actually live within the city limits and the 75559-zip code. Their voices matter.
We need an open forum where I care deeply about this town. Citizens can speak and receive responses from the council. That does not happen now. In 2019, the current mayor ordered — without resolution — that citizens be limited to three minutes and that the council should not discuss anything with citizens during open forum.
We need new people who honor De Kalb’s past and work for the people who depend on us to guide this town into the future.
We need De Kalb back. If you could initiate one change, what would it be? If I could initiate one change, it would be to restore full transparency and accountability in every part of De Kalb’s city government. Decisions should be made in the open, records should be accurate and accessible, and the people should never be shut out of the process. Transparency protects both the citizens and the council. When information is clear and honest, trust can grow again. My goal is to turn the lights back on in De Kalb’s government so our community can see exactly how decisions are made and where our money is going.
As an elected official, your constituents expect transparency. What are your views on transparency in government, and how could your position improve in this area? De Kalb’s city council often acts without regard for what the people are saying. Transparency protects both the people and the council.
I see a clear lack of transparency.
I recommend: A full media station so everyone can watch council meetings on demand. No closed doors to the meeting room---it belongs to the people. Strict adherence to the Secretary of State guidelines. Open, honest communication with residents.
I already work for the people, and I will continue to do so.
It matters that things happen in the light of day. De Kalb needs a transparent government. I will turn the lights on.
