This year, four-term District 1 council member Andrea Barefield faces a challenge from Rachel E. Pate, vice-president for economic development for the CenTex African American Chamber of Commerce.
At the heart of the race, debate over city spending priorities, communication with residents and economic development.
District 1 includes East Waco, plus the Timbercrest, Cameron Park and Oakwood neighborhoods.
District Communication
Pate, an East Waco native, said she and her neighbors have watched development occur around the community with little input.
"When I talk to residents about amenities, programs, opportunities, connections – many of them are like ‘this is new information to me’," Pate said.
Pate said if she was elected, she would work to improve communication with residents in the district. She says she’d even like to see Town Hall meetings return to the district.
It’s a criticism Barefield says is unfounded.
"I started a quarterly meeting called “On on the One”," Barefield said. "We went all over the district, and I specifically did topics, but open the floor for “one-on-ones on the one” – y’know what are we talking about, what do you need?"
She says she also makes a point to be at neighborhood association meetings and gather stakeholders before big developments in the district.
Redevelopment & Gentrification
As Waco has grown rapidly over the last decade, redevelopment along the Elm Avenue corridor has raised concerns about displacement in the city’s historically black neighborhoods. Both Barefield and Pate say its important to honor the history of East Waco in future development, but differ in opinions about how to do that.
"It means we have to honor that work [that came before]," Pate explained. "That looks like talking to your residents, talking to your small businesses, putting their voice into how we rebuild instead of gentrify the community."
Pate argues that isn’t happening now, and instead development is often geared towards visitors and future residents.
Barefield said she has consistently worked to bring new businesses and affordable housing to the district. In her first year on Council, Barefield put a moratorium on selling city-owned properties in District 1.
"I said let’s make a list, get a map, so we can see what we have and maybe we can build neighborhoods with what we own," Barefield explained.
She said much of that land was set aside for affordable housing initiatives, like land banking.
Barefield has been influential in other redevelopment efforts in the district, like the Elm Avenue redevelopment and Bridge Street Plaza construction.
Of the new STEAM Center, she says the development offers an opportunity for advancement for all residents.
"If the city can provide a space that is accessible for all residents, regardless of their financial placement, why would you not want that?"
She says the Farmers Market moving to Bridge Street has also helped solve a food insecurity problem for the district, while they work to bring in a more permanent solution, like a grocery store.
Adressing Poverty & Nonprofit Spending
According to a Prosper Waco Snapshot from 2024, District 1 has the highest rate of poverty in Waco, mostly in the Carver neighborhood. Both Barefield and Pate agree that’s an issue but again differ on how to solve it.
Barefield said in her time on council, she has worked to bring in higher-paying jobs that East Waco residents can benefit from.
"What we did was stop incentivizing companies that aren’t paying well," Barefield said.
She was also influential in raising the city's minimum wage to $15/hour.
"We can’t ask other people to do better and we’re not doing better," she explained.
Pate says those are helpful tools, but the city should be working directly with community nonprofits that help provide workforce development and have a better understanding of the communities’ needs.
"We have great nonprofits on the ground that work to support businesses, residents, provide direct services and honestly, can really identify and know what the ground looks like," she said.
Pate said the city council should be pouring into those organizations, not cutting funding as they decided to do in 2025.
Pate’s employer, the Cen-Tex African American Chamber of Commerce, was among seven agencies that saw city funding cuts last year.
While Barefiled says those nonprofits are vital to the community, the decision was necessary given budget pressures.
"I don’t think that I feel comfortable, that the council feels comfortable, with cutting the must-do – your police, your fire, your water, your utilities – to fund nonprofits," Barefield said.
You can listen to Andrea Barefield's full conversation below:
And you can listen to Rachel E Pate's full conversation here:
