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VOTE411 Voter Guide

Tarrant County Commissioner, Precinct 4

Must be 18 years or older, a U.S. citizen, a resident of Texas, and a resident of the district represented. Responsible for representing the citizens of the district in which he/she is elected in the Tarrant County Commissioners Court, which conducts the general business of the county and oversees financial matters. Four-year term.

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  • Candidate picture

    Perla Bojorquez
    (Dem)

  • Candidate picture

    Nydia Cárdenas
    (Dem)

  • Candidate picture

    Cedric Kanyinda
    (Dem)

Biographical Information

Qualifications: What training, education, experience, and characteristics qualify you for this position?

Jails: What steps need to be taken for JPS and MHMR to adequately serve the inmates in the Tarrant County jails?

Public Input: How would you ensure adequate, timely, and comprehensive public input and transparency at Commissioners Court meetings?

Human Resources: What steps would you take to ensure that the human resource needs of county residents are met?

Elections: What measures should be taken to protect free and fair access to voting in Tarrant County while maintaining safe and secure elections?

Other Issues: What other issues do you believe will be most pressing in the county, and what is your position on these issues?

Campaign Phone 817-380-4370
Campaign Email PERLAFORTEXAS@GMAIL.COM
Campaign Website http://WWW.PERLAFORTEXAS.COM
Occupation RBT / COMMUNITY ADVOCATE
I have: 10+ years as a paralegal -> I can read, understand, and draft contracts and legal documents very well. Treasurer and office manager -> I am great with accounting and budgets. House District Coordinator and precinct chair for Tarrant County Democratic Party -> have been recruiting and training volunteers to help facilitate election duties and functions. Co-founder of a nonprofit -> I have been servicing communities county wide and hosting Know Your Rights sessions.
Inmates should be screened immediately and then referred for evaluation / assessments, and treatments. Communication needs to improve with the Sheriff's office to help keep JPS and MHMR informed on an inmate's mental health when they have a crises. Along with communication, they need access to provide increased safety checks for individuals with high risk behaviors. The Sheriff needs to implement better policies for his staff to be prepared to follow specific steps and know who to call.
I would ensure adequate, timely, and comprehensive public input by providing town halls and schedule community events for our constituents. Surveys are the easiest way to hear from constituents, but others need to talk in person. As the Co-founder of Indivisible 12, we are collaborating with the Justice Network of Tarrant County to host The People's Commissioners Court. Constituents get to come together, talk about pressing issues, organize topics, and comment at commissioners court eloquently.
Conduct regular community assessments to determine residents' needs are being met. Again, utilizing surveys or town halls to hear direct feedback from constituents. Being proactive about planning for emergencies. Improving communication, accountability, and transparency so that all county agencies are aware of the needs as well. Coordinate with other government agencies to ensure their collaboration can be counted on. Vote for better policies that adequately address housing and mental health.
Our elections administrator needs to be non-biased and transparent. He is in charge of recommending voting sites, and for the maintenance of our voting machines. Polling locations need to be secured for future elections by building trust with communities. We need more Public Service Announcements about any voting changes and laws that affect elections. I will keep our communities informed about election laws and polling locations.
Tarrant County has a huge problem with far-right extremism taking over our local government. I will use my knowledge of laws, statues, and policies to guide policies and decisions. While I can work with anyone, I will be focused on working for the people and servicing our communities and meeting their needs.
Campaign Phone 817-405-9302
Campaign Email info@vote4nydia.com
Campaign Website http://vote4nydia.com
Occupation Consultant & Leadership Coach
I'm a graduate of FWISD and was named Young Woman Volunteer of the Year. I earned degrees from Stanford (mechanical engineering) and Michigan (MBA), training me to navigate complex systems. As a leadership coach, I help build effective teams. I've created decision-making systems at tech startups, built coalitions across organizational silos, and facilitated community conversations. My approach: identify whose voices are missing, listen deeply to root causes, and design solutions collaboratively.
Transparency and accountability are a must: independent oversight, public reporting on every death, updated policies. Anthony Johnson Jr. showed a deeper failure: a Marine veteran with schizophrenia, turned away from a mental health facility for not being "violent enough," arrested hours later, then killed in jail. The state lacks facilities, so our jail warehouses people waiting for care. We need upstream investment in mental health services that prevent crises, not jails as hospitals.
I will ensure meaningful participation by making meetings easier to follow: displaying agenda item numbers on court screens so attendees can track discussions, follow up with speakers, ensure accessible materials, offer virtual options, incorporate best practices like advance agenda reviews and community conversations throughout Precinct 4. I will optimize public comment timing and work with staff on the best cadence. Transparency means showing how community voices influenced outcomes.
Recent changes revealed urgent unmet needs. Services were outsourced and a new application portal was overwhelmed in four hours and had to be shut down. I will restore robust county-run human services: mental health care, rental assistance, healthcare access, emergency support. These investments catch people before crisis, preventing homelessness and incarceration while being more cost-effective. Real public safety comes from ensuring residents can stay stable and healthy.
Having observed mail ballot processing and worked as an election clerk, I’m confident in our elections. The real threat is access: the court closed over 100 polling locations inside Loop 820, disproportionately impacting Black and brown neighborhoods and people who rely on public transit or multiple jobs. I'll restore adequate polling sites, address voter confusion from redistricting, coordinate with municipalities, and expand access. Safe elections and high participation aren't competing goals.
Maintaining roads, bridges, and drainage while managing rapid growth responsibly. Addressing why we send more youth to prison than any Texas county. We need intervention programs, not incarceration. Establishing a public defender's office for equal justice. Resisting state-mandated 287(g) that destroys families. Fighting for appraisal reform because tax cuts don't stop rising valuations from forcing families out. These challenges require collaborative, evidence-based solutions.
Campaign Phone 8178419990
Campaign Email votecedric@gmail.com
Campaign Website http://www.votecedric.com
Occupation Entrepreneur
I've lived in Precinct 4 for years as a resident, husband, and father of two. I experience the same challenges you do—traffic congestion, deteriorating roads, and the struggle to access responsive government. In 2022, I ran a grassroots campaign that earned 65,000 votes (42%) despite being outspent 30-to-1, demonstrating my ability to connect with diverse voters and build coalitions. Education: MBA from Texas Woman's, Master of Financial Engineering, and Bachelor in Biology
JPS and MHMR need adequate funding, better coordination with jail staff, and expanded mental health services. We must ensure timely medical care for inmates, proper medication management, and discharge planning that connects people to community resources. Mental health crises shouldn't be criminalized—we need diversion programs that get people treatment instead of jail time. The county must prioritize healthcare infrastructure and staff training to meet constitutional standards.
I'll advocate for accessible meeting times, robust public comment periods, and clear agendas posted well in advance. Commissioners Court should live-stream meetings with archived recordings and provide meeting materials online before votes. Have regular town halls, maintain responsive constituent services, and use newsletters and social media to explain complex issues. Transparency isn't optional—residents deserve to know how their tax dollars are spent and have real opportunities to be heard
I'll ensure adequate staffing for essential services—from road crews to social workers to first responders. I'll prioritize hiring and retaining qualified employees. We need competitive wages to attract talent, proper training, and a workplace culture free from partisan interference. County government should serve people efficiently—that requires investing in our workforce.
Expand early voting locations and hours to reduce wait times. Ensure adequate poll workers and resources at every voting site. Maintain secure ballot handling with transparent chain-of-custody procedures. Protect voters from intimidation while ensuring election integrity through proper ID verification and auditable systems. Voting should be accessible AND secure—these aren't competing values. Every eligible voter deserves convenient access to cast their ballot safely and confidently.
Beyond infrastructure, I'm focused on affordable housing—growth is pricing out working families. We need smart zoning and development policies. Public health is critical—ensuring JPS can serve our growing population. Economic development must benefit all communities, not just wealthy areas. Climate resilience matters—better drainage to prevent flooding, tree preservation to reduce heat islands. Strong infrastructure, housing, healthcare, and sustainable growth all contribute to quality of life.