Mark Cronenwett
2023 - Present
2026
1
Mark Cronenwett is a member of the Irving City Council in Texas, representing Place 5. He assumed office on June 20, 2023. His current term ends in 2026.
Cronenwett ran for election to the Irving City Council to represent Place 5 in Texas. He won in the general runoff election on June 10, 2023.
Cronenwett completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Mark Cronenwett was born in Monroe, Michigan. Cronenwett's professional experience includes working as an attorney. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Dallas in 1990 and a J.D. from Columbus School of Law in 1993.[1]
Elections
2023
See also: City elections in Irving, Texas (2023)
General runoff election
General runoff election for Irving City Council Place 5
Mark Cronenwett defeated Heather Stroup in the general runoff election for Irving City Council Place 5 on June 10, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mark Cronenwett (Nonpartisan)  | 56.0 | 839 |
 | Heather Stroup (Nonpartisan) | 44.0 | 660 | |
| Total votes: 1,499 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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General election
General election for Irving City Council Place 5
Mark Cronenwett and Heather Stroup advanced to a runoff. They defeated Matthew Varble, Jesse Koehler, and Anthony Stanford in the general election for Irving City Council Place 5 on May 6, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mark Cronenwett (Nonpartisan) | 40.7 | 738 |
| ✔ | | Heather Stroup (Nonpartisan) | 27.5 | 498 |
 | Matthew Varble (Nonpartisan) | 24.6 | 446 | |
 | Jesse Koehler (Nonpartisan) | 4.7 | 85 | |
 | Anthony Stanford (Nonpartisan) | 2.5 | 46 | |
| Total votes: 1,813 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Cronenwett in this election.
Campaign themes
2023
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Mark Cronenwett completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Cronenwett's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I was born and raised in Monroe, Michigan. An alumnus of the University of Dallas and Catholic University Law School, I practice as a financial services, business, and real estate litigator at Mackie, Wolf, Zientz & Mann. I returned to Irving 14 years ago to raise my family here and we are deeply invested in this city. I began my service to the community as a YMCA coach and later as a member of the Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau and La Buena Vida Foundation. I also served as Chairman of the Board of the Irving YMCA, Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 1, the Municipal Bond Commission and, up until last month, the Planning and Zoning Commission.
- First and foremost, I am an advocate for Irving families and I have formed my priorities to best serve them. The many Irving Board positions on which I have served have been critical to my learning the current and future needs of our city. My 14 years of service has also allowed me to build relationships with our city leaders and staff. A working relationship with City management is essential to successfully address the needs of my constituents and of all the residents of Irving.
- Police and Fire. Our City must provide the funds to retain and attract top-notch first responders. During the pandemic, our pay structure slid. We must regain our position as the preferred destination for police officers and firefighters by increasing pay to at least the 80th percentile of similar cities. This pay increase is currently before the City Council, and I will fully support it.
- Quality of Life. The redevelopment of Texas Stadium and Exxon Headquarters will have a tremendous impact on Irving's tax base. They are also prime locations for family-centered destinations, like what Epic is for Grand Prairie. Our city also needs more recreational venues and greenspace. District 5 would benefit from a rec center and library. I championed the construction of Levy Event Plaza where our city hosts many events, including our 4th of July celebration.
Resident input is essential for an effective government. The Democratic process relies on it. If elected, I intend to continue to engage with my constituents with face-to-face meetings and offer regular updates on issues facing the Council through email or an online platform dedicated to such.
The drastic increase in aggressive panhandling is a grave concern to the public safety of our residents. Panhandlers in the traffic medians present a danger not only to themselves, but to pedestrians and drivers who should be able to travel safely without being harassed or threatened. We need to pass an ordinance prohibiting this activity both to protect people from harm and also to prevent Irving from becoming a panhandler destination. As an attorney, I know that the Courts have held that panhandling is protected to some degree under the First Amendment, but cities can limit this conduct in the interest of public safety and the public good. If elected to Council, I will work with the City Attorney's office to develop an ordinance that provides the protections needed and would withstand legal scrutiny.
A city is nothing without a strong infrastructure. Having served as the Chair of the 2019 Bond Commission and Chair of Tax Increment Funding (TIF) District No. 1 before that, I extensively studied the City’s infrastructure assessments and learned what was needed to bring our streets, bridges, sewers, waterways, and public buildings to the level necessary to support our population for years to come. As the Chair of the Bond Commission, I successfully advocated for the sale of bonds to fund the construction and repairs of our streets and sidewalks. The City’s Road to the Future program has been successful in improving the condition of our streets. It is now in its second phase. I will support the completion of this second phase and formulating the third. The City’s budget
surplus at the end of the fiscal year should be used for street repair and construction.
Las Colinas, which is a significant portion of my District, is the economic engine for the City of Irving. Nine Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in or near Las Colinas and over 50 have regional offices here. Irving can continue to make itself a premier corporate destination by adequately funding the infrastructure needs of these companies; providing executive level housing; providing better educational offerings for the children of employees; maintaining Irving's competitive tax and utility rates; expanding our entertainment and restaurant offerings for the benefit of our residents and business visitors.
Educational options are vitally important, especially for our younger families seeking alternative learning environments for their children. I was instrumental in bringing Great Hearts Academy to Irving, and I coordinated with City leaders to identify the location of its first school building. There are waiting lists, hundreds long, of students hoping to get a spot in one of these schools. The demand is there. It is our responsibility to meet the demand so that all of our children are able to learn in a school that best suits their needs.
A city is nothing without a strong infrastructure. Having served as the Chair of the 2019 Bond Commission and Chair of Tax Increment Funding (TIF) District No. 1 before that, I extensively studied the City’s infrastructure assessments and learned what was needed to bring our streets, bridges, sewers, waterways, and public buildings to the level necessary to support our population for years to come. As the Chair of the Bond Commission, I successfully advocated for the sale of bonds to fund the construction and repairs of our streets and sidewalks. The City’s Road to the Future program has been successful in improving the condition of our streets. It is now in its second phase. I will support the completion of this second phase and formulating the third. The City’s budget surplus at the end of the fiscal year should be used for street repair and construction.
Honesty. Integrity. Love of the community.
The many Irving Board positions I have held have been critical to my learning the current and future needs of our city and have also allowed me to build relationships with our city leaders and staff. A working relationship with City management is essential to successfully address the needs of my constituents and of all the residents of Irving.
I was a paper boy from 4th grade through 7th grade in Monroe, Michigan. I still remember loading the bundles of newspapers onto onto my sled and trying to run my route before my fingers froze!
All the King's Men - I wrote my Senior Thesis in college on this work.
What is most beneficial is a track record of dedication and service to the community. I have served this community for 14 years and will continue to do so.
Families for Irving
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See also
2023 Elections
External links
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Candidate Irving City Council Place 5 |
Officeholder Irving City Council Place 5 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 4, 2023
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Oscar Ward |
Irving City Council Place 5 2023-Present |
Succeeded by - |
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