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    Denton City Council

    • Mayor Gerard Hudspeth


      Gerard Hudspeth was born and raised in Denton, where he attended Denton High School and earned his bachelor's degree from UNT. After volunteering for many years on the Denton Planning and Zoning board, Gerard was elected to serve two terms on the City Council representing District 1. In 2019, his fellow Council Member’s selected him as Mayor Pro Tem and Gerard was elected Mayor in 2020.
       
      Gerard and his family have always had a passion for giving back to the community and that drive led Gerard to become a volunteer with both CASA and Mentor Denton to help serve at-risk kids and ensure they are provided every possible opportunity for success. Gerard is also active with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Denton Breakfast Kiwanis, Denton Chamber of Commerce, and the Denton Black Chamber of Commerce. Professionally, Gerard is the General Manager for a local business development company dedicated to helping grow small businesses.
       
      Gerard and his wife, Diane, have been married for over 14 years and are proud parents of four wonderful daughters. His favorite book is Joseph: A Man of Integrity and Forgiveness by Charles R. Swindoll.

      Committee Assignments: Agenda Committee, Economic Development Partnership Board, Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 2 Board, Lake Ray Roberts P&Z Commission, North Texas Commission, Denton County Behavioral Health Leadership Team, Denton County Homelessness Leadership Team, Regional Transportation Council.
    • Birdia Johnson, District 1


      Birdia Johnson has lived in Denton for over 40 years. She is a wife and mother of six children, who were all raised in Denton. In addition, she has been blessed with five beautiful grandchildren.

      For 23 years, she was an employee of her alma mater, University of North Texas, where she worked her way from food service worker to food service manager. While working full time, Birdia earned a Bachelor’s of Applied Arts and Science Degree from the University of North Texas in Criminal Justice. Following her time at UNT, she worked as a correction officer for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.

      Currently, as a retiree, Birdia is an avid volunteer. She has served a chairperson of the Martin L. King, Jr. Advisory Board, Vice-President of the Juneteenth Celebration Committee, Chair of the Juneteenth Celebration Parade, and chairperson of the Freedom Fund Scholarship Banquet for Denton County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

      Personally, Birdia serves the Community Liaison for Empowered Outreach Church. She also assists First Refuge Ministries distributing food to the community weekly. Mrs. Birdia Johnson enjoys serving the community in various capacities. Her personal motto is that God is in control so trust the process.

      Committee Assignments: Committee on Community Engagement, Community Partnership Committee, Development Code Review Committee, Discover Denton Advisory Board.
    • Connie Baker, District 2



      Connie Baker is a lifetime resident of Denton who attended Denton schools and DHS. He received an Associate of Arts Degree from Cook County College, now NCTC. He worked as for Denton County as a Deputy Constable and then Constable Pct. 1 for four years. He retired with 25 years of service. 

      Connie belongs to several community organizations that serve Denton and has held many different positions. He's been a member of the Denton Odd Fellow Lodge #82 for 36 years and was the Grand Master of Texas in 2007/2008. 

      He is a member of the following organizations:  Denton Chamber of Commerce, Denton Black Chamber, Denton Hi-Noon Lions Club, Denton County Historical Commission, Central Texas Historical Association, North Texas Marine Corp. League Detachment #862. He has also served on City of Denton Boards and Commissions committees for Traffic Safety Commission and the Zoning Board of Adjustments.

      Committee Assignments: Committee on the Environment, Community Partnership Committee, Downtown Denton TIF Reinvestment Zone No. 1 Board, Discover Denton Advisory Board.

    • Jesse Davis, District 3

      Jesse Davis, District 3

      Jesse Davis was elected to District 3 in May 2019 and is serving his first term. Prior to his election, Davis served as the inaugural chair of the City's Board of Ethics and as an officer of the Denton County Historical Commission. Davis is a lifelong Denton resident and a proud alum of Denton High School. He earned a B.A. in History and Political Science from the University of North Texas, where he served as Student Body President. After graduating from UNT, Davis served under U.S. Senator Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in her Washington, D.C., office as a senior staff assistant and Assistant Press Secretary. Davis earned his J.D. from Baylor School of Law, and for the past eight years has been an Assistant District Attorney for Denton County. Davis, his wife Diana, and their three children are active volunteers in their church and engaged members of the Denton community. Davis is the outgoing President of the Denton Evening Rotary Club, chair of the North Texas Children’s Choir board, and a Boy Scouts of America volunteer.

      Committee Assignments: Agenda Committee, Committee on the Environment, Council Airport Committee, Community Partnership Committee, Development Code Review Committee, Economic Development Partnership Board, Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 2 Board.

    • John Ryan, District 4

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      John Ryan was elected to District 4 in May 2017 and is serving his second term. He served as Mayor Pro Tem from June 2018 to May 2019.

      Committee Assignments: Audit/Finance Committee, Council Airport Committee, Mobility Committee, Development Code Review Committee, Discover Denton Advisory Board, Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition, Denton County Workforce Success Leadership Team, Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA), Regional Transportation Council.

    • Deb Armintor, At Large Place 5

      Deb Armintor, At Large Place 5


      Deb Armintor was elected to At Large Place 5 in June 2018 and is serving her first term. Deb has lived in Denton since 2002, after receiving her PhD. in eighteenth-century literature from Rice University in Houston. She is a tenured professor of English at UNT, and lives in the Nottingham Woods neighborhood with her husband Marshall and their children, Jonah and Shula. Before her election to City Council, Deb served on the Public Utilities Board and was active in the grassroots on a number of local issues.

      Committee Assignments: Audit/Finance Committee, Committee on Community Engagement, Mobility Committee. 

    • Paul Meltzer, At Large Place 6

      Paul Meltzer, At Large Place 6


      Paul Meltzer was elected to At Large Place 6 in May 2018 and is serving his first term. He previously served as Chair of the Oak Gateway Steering Committee and as Vice Chair of the Downtown TIF Board. Paul earned his BA in Philosophy at Wesleyan University in 1982 and his Master of Business Administration at the Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth College in 1989. He worked for thirty years primarily as a new product executive in both consumer products and services with stints at divisions of General Mills and Campbell Soup Company, ultimately retiring as Senior Vice President of Product Management at Insight Communications, through its acquisition in 2012 by Time-Warner Cable. He moved to Denton in 2008 when his wife began work as a UNT professor. He has been an active community volunteer in Denton since.

      Committee Assignments: Audit/Finance Committee, Committee on Community Engagement, Committee on the Environment, Council Airport Committee, Mobility Committee, Downtown Denton TIF Reinvestment Zone No. 1 Board.