How are you? Good evening and welcome to the city council meeting. Before Mayor Parker calls the meeting to order, we ple we ask that you please silence all electronic devices. Thank you. Thank you, Janette, and welcome. I will call our special called City Council meeting and election canvas to order and turn it back over to our city secretary. Mayor and council, you have received the certification of the tabulation of the official election results from Tarant County for the runoff election held on Saturday, June 7th, 2025 for the purpose of electing a C city council member from district 6 with the certified cumulative returns for such elections being shown on the screen. As a result of the election, the following person is hereby declared elected. Council member District 6, Mia Hall, with 57.09% of the vote. [Applause] Before council takes action on the resolution canvasing the returns, we do have one speaker, mayor, who signed up to speak on the resolution. Try that again. Okay. Thanks, Adrien. Adrien Smith, District 6. I am one with the people. Council elect Dr. Mia Hall, let me offer my congratulations on becoming the next council representative for District 6. Hopefully, who you were on the campaign trail will be reflected in this position given by the people of District 6. From the various political forums we both had an honor of being part of, you've gained insight and understanding from for some of the importance issues and concerns for district 6. Now is the time for execution. The people of district 6 have heard enough excuses from this governmental body. It's been stated that when it concerns Loki elections that everything is nonpartisan. Even Pinocchio thought he was a boy. And if you believe this, I have a bridge to sell you. Then there are the endorsements and friendships you have with some on the DAS. Which are which are you beholdened to more if either or which will you be beholden to more if either? Typically typically political endorsements come from individuals and groups seeking something in return for what they've contributed toward a campaign. This doesn't serve the interest of the people. Friends. Friends usually don't hold friends accountable for the decisions we make. There are moments of disagreement, but never real accountability. The people who make those the people who make those with political service aspirations desire desires a reality should never be disregarded for the likes of name donors or friendships. Nothing happens without the peoples. Again, council elect Dr. Millia Hall was an honor of being on the campaign trail with you and the other candidates. Um I'm here just to extend my congratulations but please understand that I'm someone who is very much present here in this space my voice my concerns and love for this city. So my expectations of you are just just to be yourself. Serve District 6 to the best of your ability. Thank you. [Music] Hello. There we go. Okay, at this time I can entertain a motion on the resolution of canvas returns. Motion in a second. Council, please vote. Motion carries. Thank you. And at this time, I'm going to ask um our fellow council member who's about to be sworn in, Mia Hall, to join me there um at the dis. And I'm also going to ask the honorable Glenn Lewis to join us as well. So, my role is simple here, Dr. Hall. I'm going to hand you this certificate of election and give you a warm welcome. Congratulations on behalf of the city of Fort Worth and Council District 6. We are very fortunate to have you. Congratulations. Very welcome. Husband and son join us up here. You place your hand on that Bible. I I I state your name. Dr. Hall do solemnly swear or affirm do solemnly swear or affirm that I will faithfully execute the duties that I will faithfully execute the duties of the office of city council member of Fort Worth, Texas of the off office office of city council member Fort Worth, Texas and will to the best of my ability and will to the best of my ability preserve preserve protect protect and defend the constitution and laws laws and and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of the United States and of this state and of this state. So help me God. So help me God. Congratulations. [Applause] [Applause] And Dr. Hall, at this time we'd love to offer you the floor if you'd like to deliver some remarks. That is assuming that your monitor is on and ready for a microphone. Not yet. See if that microphone will work for you, Mia. I think so. Perfect. Oh, yay. Okay, great. Okay, so typically y'all will get to know me. I do not like uh public speaking. It's not something that I desire to do. So tonight, um, rather than shoot from the hip, I thought I would prepare remarks because I knew that I would be nervous and that I would be overwhelmed. Um, but I now having officially taken the oath and sitting on this diet, um, I am I've got I got butterflies. I didn't have butterflies all day. So bear with me. I am so deeply honored honored to have earned the confidence of my neighbors across District 6 and honored to serve as your newly elected council woman. Let me be very clear. Um, this isn't just a title for me. I don't serve ceremonially. Um, this isn't a lateral move for me. This is a responsibility that I deeply uh take and something that truly lives within my heart. So, when I was first elected to Crowley ISD board of trustees, and it's hard to believe that that was 10 years ago, um, I never imagined that the day would come that I would be sitting here as a member of the Fort Worth City Council. But if I've learned anything over the years, it's that service has a way of expanding when your purpose is rooted in people. My life has always been guided by three core principles: integrity, service, and community. I've never been one to be um interested or concerned with politics for the sake of politics. And I'll say that again. I've never been one to be interested in with with politics for the sake of politics. It's always been about one thing, the people and the opportunities that we have to help improve their qualities of life. So, it's about what they're going through. It's what keeps them up at night and what they dream about and the outcomes for their families. And that's what drives me and that's what I will carry into this role every single day that I serve. So, before I go any further, because I um I don't want to be remiss and uh forget to thank anyone, which the other night I gave an Oscar award-winning thank you. So, I'll probably be a little bit briefer. Um but I did want to thank a few people by name. So, to my mom, Lynn Lewis, thank you. Thank you for your strength, your grace, and your wisdom. To my son, Xavier, you inspire me so much more than you know. And between you and your dad, I was reminded every day that no matter how tough the road got, I never had to walk it alone. And to my husband, my partner in life and in per purpose, um I call him Hall. I love you Hall. And you know, we just celebrated 24 incredible years of marriage. It's hard to believe that, too, last week. and you have consistently been my calm in the storm, my sounding board, and of course my biggest cheerleader. So know that I thank God every day that he gave um me an incredible partner in you and to do this thing we call life. And to Kendall, y'all know Kendall, my sidekick, right? Uh my entire and my entire campaign team, all I can say is it was really hard. It was a hard fought win, but we did it, you guys. And to all of my neighbors across District 6, whether or not you voted for me, I am grateful. I'm grateful for your voice. I'm grateful for your trust. And I'm grateful for the opportun opportunity to earn your respect through action and accountability. I often talk about the promise of District 6. I said the promise of District 6 a lot on the campaign trail. And I want to be very clear that I believe in that promise. And that promise is very real. We are a district rich in diversity, full of history, and we are bursting with potential. From our thriving schools to our growing rooftops, from the economic corridors along the Chisum Trail to the quiet resilience of the Lake Ko community, District 6 is Fort Worth at its very best. And as your councilwoman, I make you the commitment that you can always count on me. Count on me to put aside petty partisan politics in an effort to ensure that you, our neighbors, receive nothing but the best representation. Count on me to have a team that will always be accessible, responsive, and laser focused on making city hall work for you. And most importantly, count on me to make sure that as Fort Worth continues to grow, that District 6 grows along with it. Not behind it, not around it, but alongside it. I've lived in District 6 for over 20 years, two decades. I've seen our progress and I know our potential. But I also understand the challenges ahead and I am not afraid of them. The future, the future of our district and our city demands bold, compassionate leadership, and you can guarantee that I'm ready to lead. So, this moment isn't just the end of a campaign, but praise God that it is. It's the beginning of a commitment. A commitment to all of you, to our families, and to our future. Let's get to work together. Thank you and may God continue to bless the great city of Fort Worth. Thank you guys. Thank you, Council Member Hall. And I think a few council members like to say a few things. Council member Nettles. Thank you, Mayor. Um want to take this opportunity to congratulate Dr. Mia Hall and welcome her to the Forward City Council. It has been a true honor to get to know you over the past few year couple years uh doing your bid for commissioner and I have loved to see your tenacity uh to continue to run and support your commit your community even when you don't have the support of others and coming to this DAS in such a time that our country our nation our state and even this city is in is a pivotal moment for how the city is going to be moving forward And so we are super excited to add you to the piece of the puzzle to continue to move the city of Fort Worth forward. Uh to support diversity inclusion, to support our residents. When I say residents, I mean our residents, not just citizens, but residents of Fort Worth uh to move them forward. And so uh I love your family, your husband, your son, and all those who are here. And I want to take a point of privilege also to acknowledge uh former Commissioner Brooks is in the house. uh trustee um is in the back as well that are here also in support of you. You have a group of people that's willing to push you forward. And so welcome again uh to the forward city council and I admonish all of you who are here uh y'all stay till 6 o'clock so y'all can watch her uh hear some of these comments that doing public comment. All right, she's telling y'all to go ahead and leave. No, I'm telling y'all to stay. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Council Nettles. Any other comments from council members? Council member Beck. I just want to take this moment to welcome you to to this dis. Um it's a historic day for Fort Worth. Something I've been very excited about since your run. Um and that is for the first time in Fort Worth's history, we have a majority women here on council. So, thank you for being that historic vote and I look forward to um working with you to make this city better and to serve on this historic um council with you. So, welcome and good luck. Buckle up. Thank you, Council Member Beck. Council member Peoples. And that's elder. And so Webster defines elder, that's me, as one or more of a group of associated people of a greater age. And I am so Mia, I have the honor of being called Aunt Deb by you. It is a title that I treasure and I don't take that lightly. From the first time that we met and we start working together, it means to me that you are willing to listen to me even if I'm wrong and then go and make your own decisions. It means to me that you are willing to be coached and also to return the favor by coaching me. It means to me that you are willing to be a part of a team. And so as we sit here, five and six, girl, we gonna have a good time. Thank you, Council Member Peoples. Uh, I will also echo with my colleagues. We're so excited for you, Mia. It's been a joy to get to know you over the last several years in so many different capacities. If you read Mia's resume, not only has she been a public servant on the Crowley ISD school board, which you've been very passionate leader there, but in so many other capacities. Um, this job will segue perfectly into your service and really tenacity to make Fort Worth a great place to live and for your family as well. Um, the other thing I think that's important to know about Dr. Hall is she's um, as Deborah alluded to, she's a great listener and she's one of those people that you can really speak truth to and back and forth and have a great dialogue, which I tremendously appreciate. So, we are thrilled for you and and more excited for the constituents of district 6. They get to see you roll up your sleeves and get to work immediately. Welcome to the four city council. We're happy to have you. [Applause] Council, if there are no other comments um at this time, we will adjourn the meeting and we will be brief and come back with you for public comment session at 6 pm. Thank you.