Dawson candidates outline vision for city’s future ahead of local election

Dawson Ward III candidates

Caleb Harris

Caleb Harris said it’s time for Dawson to face its challenges head-on, and that starts with honest conversations and real leadership. 

“The city officials have a lot of problems,” Harris said. “I’ve been out campaigning; I’ve talked to a lot of people, a lot of bright people. There’s a lot of problems.”

He pointed to infrastructure concerns like roads, pipes, and gas lines as well as the need for more police officers. He emphasized that funding remains the biggest hurdle.

“If we don’t have the money to fund it, how are we going to fix it?” he said.

Harris has lived in Dawson for 24 years and is now raising his family in the city. He said the city has declined. He criticized the current city council for frequent disagreements that prevent progress.

“We need some people in there that’s going to agree to get stuff fixed and get stuff done,” he said.

Harris says younger residents are ready to step up, but they need support from older generations. He acknowledged recent tax increases and the lack of progress over the years.

“Dawson has gone downhill rapidly, and if it does not start getting fixed now we’re not going to have enough to fix,” he said. 

Sondra Walker

Incumbent Sondra Walker said she is a long-time Dawson resident with more than 30 years of community involvement with the Terrell County Sheriff’s Office, Family Connections, Downtown Development Authority and local churches. During her time on the City Council, she said she has worked on key issues like improving the public utility billing system and enhancing financial planning and budgeting.

“I have been committed to making our city a better place for all, not just some,” Walker said. “We live in a diverse community, and I believe all citizens should be treated fairly regardless of their social status.”

Walker said she is often seen as a tough council member because of her questioning, a reputation she embraces.

“Some have said I ask too many questions when I’m on city council. Some have said I am challenging — and yes, I am — when it comes to the business of our city,” she said. 

Walker said she is worried about transparency. She raised concerns about missed audits and lost funding opportunities due to lack of transparency and follow-through.

“We lose out on funding when we don’t submit on time,” she said. “Other cities get grants; they get playgrounds built.”

Walker said asking questions about the city’s financial practices has sometimes led others to label her as “not a team player.”

“Well, I want to play on the team that plays by the rules, and for the betterment of our citizens,” she said.

Walker stressed the importance of community voices in guiding her work and called for more public engagement. She acknowledged ongoing problems with housing, transportation, and poor street conditions, issues she says she’s tried to confront directly.

“We see roads or potholes that have been filled and painted over and over, yet they’re dug up again,” Walker said. “I have worked to address these issues head-on. The problems we face did not happen overnight and cannot be fixed overnight.”

Looking ahead, Walker emphasized goals like fair compensation for city employees, sustainable growth, and increased community involvement.

“Envision a city where every resident has access to quality of service, affordable housing, better streets, and opportunities for growth,” she said. “Re-electing me means I will continue to prioritize transparency and accountability in our government.”

She invited residents to attend city council meetings and become informed participants in local decisions.

Dawson Ward IV candidates

Latoya Johnson

Latoya Johnson said her roots in Dawson run deep, shaped by its people, schools, and traditions. Raised by the community — from local schools like Carver Elementary and Terrell Middle High to the neighborhoods filled with “Sunday dinners, too many plates and not enough chairs” — she said Dawson gave her the foundation for a life of service. 

Over the years, she said she’s quietly mentored young people, connected families to resources, and stepped up whenever needed.

“I’ve done this all not for praise but for service, because that’s who I am,” Johnson said. “Now I’m ready to take my commitment to a new level. I’m ready to represent Dawson as a whole.”

If elected, Johnson said her platform centers on servant leadership, stronger communication, and investing in youths. 

“I’m not coming with all the answers, but I’m coming ready to listen, ready to learn, and most importantly, ready to work,” Johnson said. “No fast solutions, just real conversations that lead to real results.”

She emphasized the need for transparency and better public communication, saying too many decisions are made without community input. Johnson proposed more accessible options like in-person town halls, virtual meetings, and informal sit-downs with residents.

A key part of her platform is focused on Dawson’s youth. Johnson plans to work with schools, parents, and the city to develop work-based learning programs that offer hands-on experience and mentorship.

“They are the promise for Dawson’s future,” she said. “If we invest in them, we’re investing in Dawson’s future.”

John Harris

John Harris, the Ward IV incumbent and long-time resident of Dawson said the city has seen real progress during his time as councilman — but there’s still much to do. He emphasized that lasting improvements require collaboration and majority support within the City Council.

“There’s a lot we got to do. You can’t do it unless you’ve got the right amount of votes … in the council chamber,” Harris said.

Harris said he’s always been committed to helping residents, no matter the time of day.

“I’ve always been there to help everybody; just give me a call. I don’t care who it was or what time it was,” he said.

Harris acknowledged that road conditions are a major concern for residents and admitted that past repair methods have fallen short. He said improvements are underway, with better materials and more thoughtful planning.

“Until we can get the pipes and the water leaks stopped, which is really probably 90% of everybody’s problem, the roads are terrible,” he said.

On other city issues, Harris noted that the city’s recreational decisions are limited because they fall under county control. Still, he remains optimistic about Dawson’s direction and said he is proud of his long-standing service.

“I’ve been in this town for 64 years. I’m not going anywhere,” Harris said. “We’ve had more growth in the last six years than we’ve ever had, and I think Dawson is going forward.”

Dawson mayoral candidates

Ada Lemons-McIntyre

Former Dawson Mayor Ada Lemons-McIntyre is running for another shot at serving the city as its mayor. Lemons-McIntyre said if she becomes mayor again, she’d have an “open-door policy.”

“If elected, I would like to develop a professional, honest relationship with all involved in the operations of the city of Dawson,” she said. “I will make myself available to the people that live here and have some type of connection to the city of Dawson. If you elect me, I will listen to the small complaints as well as the large complaints.”

Lemons-McIntyre listed several focuses for her mayoral platform: road infrastructure, on-time utility billing, proper maintenance around the city and fully staffing city departments among them. 

She said she’d like to see potholes filled, streets repaved and grass cut from ditches. She said she’d like to see blighted buildings that can’t be brought up to code or torn down. Lemons-McIntyre also said she’d like to subject city employees, including herself, to random drug tests. 

Johnny Jessie

Candidate Johnny Jessie gave a short speech during the candidate forum, emphasizing his deep roots in Dawson and his connection to a large number of the city’s residents. 

He pointed to Dawson’s “messed up roads” as one of his main concerns. 

“I will get Dawson to what it’s supposed to be,” he said. 

Robert Aaron (Incumbent)

Dawson Mayor Robert Aaron said he’s running for re-election to continue the vision for Dawson that he began six years ago. His priorities include more jobs, attracting businesses, relocating the fire department, and, most importantly, infrastructure. 

Aaron emphasized the need to fix the city’s outdated water system, making water lines larger. He also mentioned that the city hired an engineering company four years ago to identify bad water, sewer, and gas lines. 

“We need to repair these… before we do any paving,” he said.

Aaron said the city relies on community development block grants to complete large-scale infrastructure projects. He also highlighted major repairs underway, including to the water treatment plant. Aaron addressed pothole repairs, saying the city now handles them internally. He explained the city was divided into east and west sections for prioritizing repairs. 

“In the next three weeks, we will have repaired all the potholes in the city of Dawson,” Aaron said.

On business growth, Aaron noted improvements along Dawson’s Main Street. He credited collaboration with the City Council and chamber. 

“That part of town has built up a lot of businesses, and we still have more to come in,” Aaron said. “We do not collect enough money tax-wise … so we rely on businesses.”

Drawing on his experience as a school superintendent, Aaron described securing funds to improve education facilities like a complex at Terrell High School. 

“I can manage the money,” he said. “I know what it takes to lead, and if you let me back as the mayor of Dawson, I’ll use my expertise. I’ll have tenacity to do the things we need to do to make this city great.”