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In a historic moment for the city, Elizabeth Villafranca and Omar Roman were sworn into the Farmers Branch City Council on Tuesday, May 20, marking the first time two Hispanic representatives will serve simultaneously on the council.
Villafranca, who won the District 4 seat in the May 3 general election, and Roman, who secured a second term representing District 1, took their oaths of office before a packed audience at City Hall.
The ceremony drew several notable attendees, including former mayors John Dodd and Robert Dye, as well as Dallas County Commissioner Andy Sommerman.
Villafranca, appearing at her first swearing-in as an elected official, expressed gratitude to residents who supported her campaign.
"I am so honored and so humbled to stand before you as the newly elected representative on the Farmers Branch City Council," Villafranca said. "Thank you to every resident, volunteer, supporter and voter who made this possible."
The newly elected councilwoman emphasized community engagement, encouraging residents to consider serving on boards and commissions.
"Your ideas, your involvement and your voice are what makes Farmers Branch a great place to live," she said. "There is no 'them and us' in Farmers Branch. There is only us."
Roman, who was sworn in by his former high school teacher, reflected on his first three years in office and the challenges faced during his recent re-election campaign.
"The attacks on my identity, the attacks on my family and the attacks on our community were relentless," Roman said, referencing the campaign period. "Instead of letting it break us down or responding with negativity, we used it as the fuel we needed to get out the vote."
Roman won his re-election with 63 percent of the vote, a victory he characterized as sending "a loud and clear message that hate, fear and division have no place within our city."
The returning councilman outlined his accomplishments during his first term, including initiatives that "strengthened community bonds, improved safety and security in our neighborhoods, put more money back in your pockets through tax cuts, upgraded neighborhood amenities, made our city more inclusive and welcoming to people of all backgrounds, cleaned up our streets and public spaces, and repaired our roads, creeks and water infrastructure."
Roman emphasized the historic nature of having two Hispanic representatives on the council, noting they will represent the city's 54-percent Hispanic population.
"This marks a historical moment in Farmer's Branch history, whereby for the first time in our city's history, we have two elected Hispanic representatives," Roman said.
Both council members stressed the importance of continued community involvement and promised to serve all residents regardless of background.
The swearing-in ceremony concluded with the presentation of official city council certificates to both representatives, formally beginning their terms of service.
