Business owner and city of Tyler Planning and Zoning Board member Pamela Phoenix announces her candidacy on Wed. Jan. 16, 2019 for the District 3 City Council seat in the May election. She is supported by current council Ed Moore, left, her husband Dwayne Phoenix, center, and former councilman Dr. Ralph Caraway, at right. (Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Business owner and city of Tyler Planning and Zoning Commission Board member Pamela Phoenix has announced her candidacy for the District 3 City Council seat in the May election.

Current Councilman Ed Moore, who cannot run due to term limits, is vacating the seat.

At a Wednesday news conference, Moore, along with former Councilman Pastor Ralph Caraway and Phoenix’s husband, Dwayne Phoenix, stood alongside her as she talked about her reasons for running for the seat and discussed her views on what it means to serve on the City Council.

“Being a city councilperson is a vital position in which you are the liaison between the people and government,” she said. “You are their voice, and it is my goal to work and help educate the people on what the city has and how it works so that they can maximize their use of its services.

“The result is building — building relationships, building foundations of knowledge and building learned systems for the community,” Phoenix said. 

If elected, Phoenix, 54, said she hoped to preserve, transform, expand and continue to build on Moore’s accomplishments.

“Preserve by preserving the historic value of our community, such as Woldert Park; transform by transforming blighted property through the (Housing Infill Program), thereby increasing property value and helping deter vandalism; expand, by expanding the infrastructure in our community, specifically our district; and continue, by continuing to follow through on Councilman Moore’s accomplishments, such as the MLK street project and drainage,” she said.

In a news release sent out ahead of the event, Phoenix said, “I believe my extensive legal, business and nonprofit experience, in addition to the diverse background obtained from serving on the Planning and Zoning Commission, Smith County Appraisal Review Board, Tools 4 Life Outreach, East Texas Medical Academy and Black Nurses Rock, would aid as an asset to the already expert council team that we presently have in service.

“After prayerful consideration and discussions with my husband and family, I decided to accept this outstanding honor presently before me,” she added.

Additionally, the news release says that Phoenix is a field agent for Nationwide Eviction and co-owns Phoenix Special Cakes, New Tylienian Catering and Phoenix Wholesale Seafood with her husband.

She has three children, Juan, Jasmine and Jewel; a daughter-in-law, Sariah; and seven grandchildren. Phoenix is a graduate of Loyola University in New Orleans, where she received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. 

Phoenix is a licensed minister and has a master’s degree in biblical studies from Bread of Life Theological Seminary. She is pursuing a doctorate in biblical studies at Faith Christian Bible College.

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