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On June 13, Denton voters can cast their ballot for either Chris Watts or Brian Beck as the city’s new mayor.
The big picture
The race for Denton’s mayor advanced to a runoff election after no candidate received at least 50% of the vote during the May 2 local election.
Beck and Watts were the candidates who received the most votes out of the four candidates who initially ran, according to previous reporting.
Watts secured 44.22% of the votes while Beck received 34.02% of the ballots cast. The pair advanced to the runoff over Shannon Childs and Angela Brewer.
June 13, or election day, is the final day Denton voters can cast a ballot in the mayoral runoff.
What else?
The original version of this election questionnaire was published March 12 ahead of the May 2 local election. This Q&A was updated to remove the two candidates who did not advance to the June 13 runoff, but candidates' answers were not changed from the originally published article.
Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been minimally edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines or for style and clarity.
Denton mayor (2014-20), served as council member (District 4, 2007-13), at-large Place 6 (2022-24)
Why are you running for office?
I believe the city is at a critical moment and requires experienced leadership to address mounting challenges. I will restore effective council governance by prioritizing essential services, infrastructure, affordable housing, economic mobility and fiscal responsibility. I have the experience and track record to accomplish these goals.
What are the biggest challenges facing the city?
Denton is experiencing higher property taxes, rising utility costs and growing debt with homeowners bearing much of the burden. Capital projects frequently exceed budgets and face delays. We need to review negotiation strategies and refocus council culture on delivering core services.
How do you plan to address the issues?
We must improve the budget process, review wholesale electricity costs and find efficiencies in construction projects. As mayor, I will lead cultural change with a proven record of problem solving, stakeholder engagement and effective implementation.
What would your top priorities be?
Top priority is to return council to a culture of effective, efficient governance. Stabilize the budget. Increase transparency with fewer closed sessions regarding energy costs. Prioritize bond funded projects to better manage our debt. Create policies to begin using the affordable housing bond funds approved by the voters.
Computational biologist, Mayor Pro Tem, Development Code Review Committee, Downtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Board
Why are you running for office?
Denton is at a crossroads. After five years serving on City Council, I have experience in what needs fixing and putting innovative solutions in place. I’m running for mayor to keep Denton affordable, protect our environment, strengthen infrastructure and champion the creativity and innovation that make our city special.
What are the biggest challenges facing the city?
Denton’s biggest challenges are keeping our city affordable, maintaining and upgrading aging infrastructure, supporting a creative economy and preparing for rapid technological change. We must manage growth responsibly while protecting neighborhoods, strengthening public services and ensuring Denton remains a place where families, students and workers can thrive with local careers.
How do you plan to address these issues?
My approach focuses on practical solutions: fair, tiered utility rates and diverse and neighborhood-compatible housing to protect affordability; strategic infrastructure investment and resilient energy systems; partnerships that strengthen Denton’s arts and music economy; and supporting innovation through research and education institutions, particularly UNT, TWU, NCTC and LaGrone.
What would your top priorities be if you are elected?
My top priorities are keeping Denton affordable for working families, investing in reliable infrastructure like streets and utilities, protecting and expanding parks and natural spaces and strengthening Denton’s culture of creativity and innovation. I will focus on transparent leadership, data-driven decisions and building partnerships that move our city forward.
