April 17, 2025 • 22 mins
Are you ready for early voting or election day? Every vote plays a critical role in shaping the future of Dallas—and the time to get informed is now. In this episode of Behind the Ballot, we introduce you to Machelle Wells, candidate for Dallas City Council District 6. With a deep commitment to service and a passion for community, Machelle shares her vision for bringing authentic, people-first leadership to City Hall. Her journey is just one of many we’ll highlight in the lead-up to the election, so stay tuned as we continue to spotlight the voices working to move Dallas forward.
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Episode Transcript
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Sarah Zubiate Bennett (00:00):
Hi, everyone. I'm Sarah Zubiate
Bennett, and I'm thrilled tointroduce to you some of our
inspiring new voices stepping upto serve our community on the
Dallas City Council. Today,we're spotlighting a candidate
in District 6, Machelle Wells.With a servant's heart and a
mission driven spirit, Machelleis ready to bring positive
change straight to MarillaStreet. Her passion, her
(00:21):
purpose, and her story are onesyou don't wanna miss. Early
voting kicks off April 22, andelection day is May 3. So mark
your calendars and of course,don't forget to like, subscribe,
and share this episode with yourfriends. Thanks so much for
joining and let's get to it.
(00:43):
Machelle, thank you for beinghere with me. I know that you
are one of several candidatesfor the district's city council
position. How do you feel aboutthat?
Machelle Wells (00:55):
I'm excited. Yeah. I feel like this is
something that I'm supposed tobe doing. I feel like this is
something that I'm made for. AndI'm excited just to make an
impact. I know differentresidents that I've talked to,
especially in the community thatI live in, they are pumped that
I'm running. And so I'm justhere just to be a voice.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (01:17):
And I believe that you're onto
something because there are somany candidates in your race.
I've received messages fromseveral people about you in
particular, which is why out ofall those people, I thought,
okay, I need to interview thisMachelle. She seems
Machelle Wells (01:36):
I appreciate that.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (01:37):
Just like a very intelligent, bright,
capable servant leader, as yourefer to yourself, which I
really like. And can you tell mejust some of the things within
your community that haveinspired you to want to run?
What was your turning point?
Machelle Wells (01:52):
I would say that just where I live in general. So
I do live in the Trinity Grovesarea. I do live in one of the
new builds.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (02:00):
Uh-huh.
Machelle Wells (02:01):
And in one night, we had 35 break ins. Just
two months ago in December 2024,we had someone also break into
our secure bike room and stealeveryone's motorized scooters,
everyone's electric bikes,everyone's bikes. They got away
(02:23):
with thousands and thousands ofdollars. Previously, we've had
even 20, I think it was like 24break ins and then we had 17. So
it's like it just keepsescalating. So it's not the best
area just because we don't havepolice officers. We don't have
(02:43):
law enforcement.
So I'm huge with getting thatgoing with Proposition U. We we
need to have this here. It tookeven a few months for the police
to be able to acknowledge and tocome out and actually do
something because it was just sofrequent that my my apartment
(03:03):
manager just kept reaching outand reaching out. And finally,
we finally were able to get somehelp and get some cameras and
get like a car out there just tosit to kind of deter people
away. But it was it was astruggle for a while.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (03:18):
Yeah. I absolutely understand that. And
it's so interesting because alot of the public discourse
especially surrounding theTrinity Groves area.
Machelle Wells (03:24):
Right.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (03:25):
Is very positive. It's like, oh, this
burgeoning area with so muchattraction. But then, it's my
constant harp, is it's not safe.
Machelle Wells (03:34):
Right. It's not safe. I mean, it's sure. It has
so much potential. And again, toreiterate the point that I
continue making, which is if wewant Dallas to be a Mecca of the
world Right. For the world, wemust have safety. And I mean,
women it seems like have tograpple with that safety a
little bit more because eventhough bikes were stolen, things
(03:57):
of that nature happen, a guyisn't gonna sit there in
paranoia before leaving theirplace.
Right. And think, what's gonnahappen to me on the street? I
mean, I'm generalizing. Mostmen, right, wouldn't have to
really consider that. But women,especially petite women like us,
of course, it's something thatwe grapple with and worry about.
(04:20):
I'm so glad to hear that thatyou are stepping forward as a
champion for change. And I meanthe event we were at last night,
right? I mean I know Cara said,that it (Prop U) wasn't well
written. Okay. Well, what washappening wasn't working. But
I'm glad and I'm grateful to Godthat it passed. And that it's
now law. And I think there'sgonna have to be some
(04:42):
unfortunate pressure from Heroapplied to the city because
they're just not complying.
Right.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (04:48):
With what is now law. And so can you talk
to me about what types ofconversations you've had? I've
heard that you had a reallycompelling conversation with the
DPA.
Machelle Wells (05:00):
I did. Yeah.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (05:01):
Can you tell viewers and listeners what
that was like?
Machelle Wells (05:05):
Yes. Well, first I must say that my heart goes
out to the police officers, tothe firefighters, and the whole
pension issue. I will tell you,after I finished that interview,
I could not sleep that night. Itossed, turned, tossed, turned,
tossed, turned, maybe slept twohours. Because I just I was so
(05:29):
just heavy hearted that theyhave been struggling and
fighting on their ownessentially to be able to
provide for their families.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (05:42):
And no one has their back.
Machelle Wells (05:43):
Exactly. And it's just mind boggling. That
you can hold a city positionwhen you say you're supposed to
be for the people. And donothing for the people that
barely even get really paid foranything. For the amount of what
they do. I mean, they're likebodyguards for us in the city.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (06:04):
Mhmm.
Machelle Wells (06:05):
And they deserve to get paid. They deserve their
pension to be handled. And tojust sit back and say, not my
problem? It's demonic. So I wenton a ride along.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (06:16):
Uh-huh.
Machelle Wells (06:16):
With a sergeant.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (06:17):
Uh-huh.
Machelle Wells (06:18):
And so it was eye opening. I was in the police
car for eight hours. So I'llstart from the beginning,
actually. So when I first got toto the police station, and I
went into their, I guess, theirroll call area where they're
just kind of their first initialmeeting. And there was less than
(06:40):
half the room occupied. In thatspace. And it it was a fairly
big room. I mean, it wasn't likesuper small. It was like a
normal a normal sized classroom.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (06:51):
Mhmm. I was just surprised. We really
don't have that many police thatthat were going for that two to
10PM shift. And so I got to thepolice car and they showed me
the screen and how they answercalls. There was I wanna say, I
(07:14):
I believe it looked like about50 calls that were still pending
even from the night before.Gosh. And I was coming in at
2PM. And they still had they hadcalls pending from the night
before. And I was like, what?Why why are they still pending?
This is what under 11PM. Youknow, 10:30PM. They said because
(07:39):
we don't have enough police. Yousaw how many people were not in
that room. Yeah. And he said,and that's the shift. Nobody's
on spring break right now.
It's a crisis. And you heardCara last night talking about
how so many people are gonna beretiring, leaving the force and
she's like, we are facing aproblem.
Machelle Wells (07:59):
Well
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (08:00):
A big problem.
Machelle Wells (08:01):
Yes.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (08:01):
And right now it's a problem and it's just
gonna get worse.
Machelle Wells (08:04):
Yeah. I mean it's a huge problem when I had
my interview with the DallasPolice Association.
And and that's why, like, myheart was very broken over the
pension, but then just to be inthe room and see their faces and
hear their stories on on how,like, people are quitting left
and right. And their back isagainst the wall Because they
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (08:27):
don't Why do they wanna work in those
conditions? Exactly. And theydon't know what to do. And I
just I mean, I I literally Icould feel like my face started
getting hot. I could feel theemotions start to come. I wasn't
in like full blown tears, but itwas... It was it was creeping.
One of the things that they didat one of the comments that I I
(08:51):
received was, I know thisdoesn't necessarily like affect
you but it affects us. And so, Ilet them say what they had to
say but I was like, hold on asecond. Yeah. I was like, know
you don't know me and you'reused to all these other
candidates coming in herebecause they wanna win. And I
said, but it does affect me. Itaffects me emotionally.
Machelle Wells (09:12):
Yep. You not you know, being here affects me.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (09:15):
Yeah. But what do you believe drives you?
What kind of your what kind ofstories from your past do you
think have built you and shapedyou to stand in the fire more
than most?
Machelle Wells (09:29):
Well, I would say even just recently, I just
got out of ICU seven weeks ago.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (09:36):
Oh. I'm so sorry.
Machelle Wells (09:38):
Yeah. And so, just a wild story, but I've been
really sick for the last I thinkit was like seven months before
I end up having surgery and theyfound out what was going on. But
I had forty six fibroid tumorsremoved from my body and I still
have it. I have a c section cutand it's still healing. I
(10:02):
basically bled to death for thelongest time not knowing that I
was essentially dying. And thenend up going to the hospital
having four blood transfusions.And that's kind of when I found
out like what was going on. Ihad a lot of internal bleeding.
So I ended up scheduling asurgery within a couple of
(10:23):
months after that, but stillneeding to preserve my life,
going back and forth from hometo hospital, staying at the
hospital, getting hooked up tomachines just to save my life.
And so, even in the middle ofall of this, I really felt in my
heart that I that I needed torun for office. Because enough
(10:43):
was enough. And if not me, thenwho? Yeah, I have a lot of
tumors in my body and they needto come out. But I I came out of
ICU swinging. And I will tellyou this that whenever I was I
was in there because surgerykinda took a turn for the worse,
(11:04):
that's why I end up in ICU. Iend up having to have more blood
transfusions but I was gettingtext messages like, you know,
you should just quit. This ismaybe God's way of telling you
to stop. But I will tell you, itwas I remember it vividly. It
was about three in the morning.The nurse came in to give me my
second bag of blood. And I heardI heard in my spirit, run the
(11:29):
race set before you. And I knewI can't quit. And it doesn't
matter what it looks like. Itdoesn't matter that recovery is
gonna take months. It doesn'tmatter any of that. I mean, I
really just started campaigningmaybe four weeks ago because I
could barely even get out ofbed. I mean, it was a struggle
(11:49):
just to get down the city hallto Yeah.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (11:53):
I'm sorry.
Machelle Wells (11:54):
But that is that that is what drives me and then
here I am standing, I'm talking.You have to keep going and just
and again, it's my faith.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (12:03):
I get that entirely. I've always just
kind of had an internal engineas well. And I'm sorry that
you've been battling that, but Ipray that you continue to find
the strength Yeah. To marchforward and proceed forward
because, yes, people are sick ofit. People are sick of it. Have
you spent any time block walkingand speaking to the constituents
(12:27):
at this point?
Machelle Wells (12:28):
Yes. I've done a lot of block walking and a lot
of speaking and it's the samething over and over again that
people don't feel safe. Theywanna be able to have children,
especially the youngergeneration that has moved into
my district. And I've I'veliterally been told by a woman
(12:48):
that just found out, she's alawyer, just found out that she
was pregnant. And she said, Iwant to be able to have my baby
here but I don't know if we canstay in this house in this area.
We have gunshots going off. Ihear them too. I thought there
were fireworks in the beginning.
We have gunshots going off. Idon't feel safe that my kids
would be running around. And andit's it's a big issue. Another
(13:12):
thing that I hear especiallyspecifically also from the black
community is that they feelforgotten.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (13:19):
Of course.
Machelle Wells (13:20):
They feel that nobody hears them.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (13:23):
Of course.
Machelle Wells (13:23):
Nobody has their voice. And they're just kinda
overlooked because the the onesI've spoken to live in, you
know, section eight housing. Butthey're still people.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (13:34):
That's right.
Machelle Wells (13:36):
They still deserve respect. They still
deserve the same things.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (13:40):
Mhmm. Can you tell me a little bit about
what you know, at least at thispoint, has happened within your
district's leadership as itexists today, and how you
believe that they have notadequately represented the
constituents in district 6?
Machelle Wells (14:01):
Yes, absolutely. So in District 6, we have a lot
of gentrification. So meaningthat people are getting priced
out of their homes because theirtaxes have become too expensive
for them to afford. Forinstance, I met a man, we'll
call him Mr. Percy. And he livesabout two streets behind me.
Okay. And his taxes went from$400 to $1,200 all within like
(14:28):
an unreasonable amount of time.And he told me, he said, I am
struggling to be able to pay forfor where I live. I mean, that
is a massive jump if you're on afixed income.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (14:44):
Of course.
Machelle Wells (14:45):
Of and he's like, my family has owned this
house for years. It was like hisgrandmother's and then his
parents and then now it's his.And he can't even afford to fix
the the porch that we werestanding on. I mean, was
leaning. And so I just feel andand and then I've I've heard
that so many times.
If you can fix these these taxesthen then we'll vote for you.
(15:11):
And so I see that there there'snot any solutions that has been
brought to them to help. Andthen we wanna talk about
homestead. Well, the homesteadexemption right now is at a
hundred thousand. Right. Isuggest we boost it to a hundred
and 50,000. And not a lot ofpeople necessarily know about
(15:35):
the homestead but I also feellike it's not presented as well,
especially to my lower incomeresidents. Because they're not
necessarily on the computerresearching. I mean, I'm at I'm
good at doing that. I have aprelaw background. So I I can do
that, but but my heart is reallyto find solutions. So there are
(15:57):
different avenues. We can cutspending. We can cut waste that
has been going on and to helplower those taxes because the
reason why they're up is notnecessarily just property value.
You can still increase propertyvalue without having to raise
taxes. Taxes help pay for thecity. Taxes help pay for things
(16:18):
that need to be done in thecity. So if we just cut some of
that spending, we can start tolower some of that. We can
justify that to where people canactually feel it in their
wallets. On top of that, there'salso community land trust. That
is that is an option if somebodyso chooses that can be done as
well. So I just feel like therehasn't been a lot of deep diving
(16:43):
into helping people tonecessarily stay in their homes.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (16:47):
How are you telling them your future,
your safety Right. Is not, itdoes not live in your complaints
and conversations with me.Right. It lives at that ballot
box. Will you promise me andgive me your word that you're
gonna actually get out and vote?Are you having those
conversations?
Machelle Wells (17:08):
Well, they're actually having that those
conversations with me. And and Iwill tell you what I what I have
found is that more of the lowerincome Mhmm. Individuals, they
are the ones that actually wantto vote.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (17:20):
Really?
Machelle Wells (17:22):
Yes. Yes.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett: None of the data that I've seen (17:24):
undefined
supports that.
Machelle Wells (17:26):
Really? I am I I and again, I don't know how far
back but but based off of megoing into the lower income
areas because I've spent I'vespent most of my time actually
there. Good. And the reason whyI spoke with that lawyer is
because it was a newdevelopment. Within a long term
existing
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (17:46):
Okay.
Machelle Wells (17:46):
Residential area, if that makes sense. So
I'm like, I'm already over here.I might as well just walk across
the street, you know, bang onthe doors with the new houses.
And of course, they love me.They're excited that I'm running
because they don't like thegunshots. Of course. And but no,
I will tell you and and I'vebeen invited to come in in their
house. I've prayed for them aswell. The section eight housing,
like the housing area that I'vegone into. Yes. And they're the
(18:09):
ones that I mean, you can see itin their eyes. We're not heard.
We were promised whatever.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (18:16):
Mhmm.
Machelle Wells (18:16):
And those promises got broken. What yeah.
What are you gonna do for us?Are you are you for me? And I'm
like, I'm absolutely for you. Imean, I've been doing missions
for years. I've been in thirdworld countries. I've been in 63
countries. So I my heart I Idon't see rich, poor, you know,
I mean, if that makes sense. Idon't I don't see any of that.
(18:37):
So I just see a person that'shurting and needs help and I'm
here to help you the best waythat I can. And if I can't
figure it out, there's a lot ofother smart people that can help
me.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (18:48):
Sure.
Machelle Wells (18:48):
Because they've already done all this.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (18:50):
Sure. I get that and that humility is
important. But I love that youhave actually done a lot of
extensive missionary work.Because this is kind of a form
of that. Right. Because as youknow you're going you would be
going and venturing into abattleground. It's different,
(19:14):
but it's similar. Right. Can youtell me how you think a lot of
that missionary work that you'vebeen a part of will serve you
well if you're elected?
Machelle Wells (19:22):
Yeah. Absolutely. So I've like I said,
I've been to 63 countries, soevery area is gonna be
different. I have built feedingprograms for displaced children
that have their families wereliterally murdered in front of
them. Their sisters were rapedin front of them.
And so just to give them abetter life or at least put food
in their belly, I was so movedby that to be able to develop
(19:46):
those things. I've gone intoover 2,000 communities and have
impacted them starting programswith our youth and our young
adults to make sure that thatthat they're equipped on how to
impact their school, their city,their their overall, their their
nation, their their area ofwhere they live. And so what I'm
(20:09):
really passionate about is beingable to figure out how to help
people and then coming up withthose solutions. So you ask
about how has missions helped?Well, I've been around so many
different diverse groups ofpeople that I bring more of a
worldly type of perspective.
(20:31):
I get it. Versus just Dallas,the politics of Dallas. Sure.
The politics of even District 6.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (20:38):
So small.
Machelle Wells (20:40):
Yes. Exactly.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (20:41):
I get it.
Machelle Wells (20:41):
And so people have asked me, have you served
on committees, you know, here orthere? Well, I've been traveling
and helping other people. Andit's it's people are they still
want shelter. They still needfood. They need water. They want
security and they want theirchildren to thrive. All over the
world. That's what they want.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (21:01):
Exactly.
Machelle Wells (21:01):
So you just figure out how to help them in
the capacity of that thatcountry or in that area. It's a
lot easier to do stuff in TheUnited States than it is
overseas. There's no money.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (21:14):
Exactly.
Machelle Wells (21:15):
You have to obviously raise funds and then
when you do, you don't eventhere's no guarantee. That what
you send over there That's forsystem. Will even get there.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (21:24):
That's right.
Machelle Wells (21:26):
At least we have our customs are a lot better in
The US Yeah. Than it isoverseas.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (21:32):
Yeah.
Machelle Wells (21:32):
So, having to deal with that and having the
wisdom to figure out how tobypass that is you don't have to
do that here. I just feel likeit's just caused me to have to
think in a more of a reactionaryway, sometimes really quickly to
figure out what's going on.Because when you get a call and
(21:54):
saying, hey, so they're notgoing to allow tubs of clothing
for for the kids to bedelivered.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (22:05):
Yeah. Thank you for sharing all of
this. Yes. I mean it it has tobe circulated. It has to get
out.
And I think the more of theseconversations that we have
getting out into the citytogether, I think just, you
know, just arm and arm havingthese conversations with people
with constituents who are opento speaking to someone like me
(22:29):
could just be a true change forwhat's being for what's being
done. Thank you.
Machelle Wells (22:37):
Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for having
me.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (22:39):
Yeah. Of course. Thank you for being
here.
Hi, everyone. I'm Sarah Zubiate
Bennett, and I'm thrilled tointroduce to you some of our
inspiring new voices stepping upto serve our community on the
Dallas City Council. Today,we're spotlighting a candidate
in District 6, Machelle Wells.With a servant's heart and a
mission driven spirit, Machelleis ready to bring positive
change straight to MarillaStreet. Her passion, her
(00:21):
purpose, and her story are onesyou don't wanna miss. Early
voting kicks off April 22, andelection day is May 3. So mark
your calendars and of course,don't forget to like, subscribe,
and share this episode with yourfriends. Thanks so much for
joining and let's get to it.
(00:43):
Machelle, thank you for beinghere with me. I know that you
are one of several candidatesfor the district's city council
position. How do you feel aboutthat?
Machelle Wells (00:55):
I'm excited. Yeah. I feel like this is
something that I'm supposed tobe doing. I feel like this is
something that I'm made for. AndI'm excited just to make an
impact. I know differentresidents that I've talked to,
especially in the community thatI live in, they are pumped that
I'm running. And so I'm justhere just to be a voice.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (01:17):
And I believe that you're onto
something because there are somany candidates in your race.
I've received messages fromseveral people about you in
particular, which is why out ofall those people, I thought,
okay, I need to interview thisMachelle. She seems
Machelle Wells (01:36):
I appreciate that.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (01:37):
Just like a very intelligent, bright,
capable servant leader, as yourefer to yourself, which I
really like. And can you tell mejust some of the things within
your community that haveinspired you to want to run?
What was your turning point?
Machelle Wells (01:52):
I would say that just where I live in general. So
I do live in the Trinity Grovesarea. I do live in one of the
new builds.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (02:00):
Uh-huh.
Machelle Wells (02:01):
And in one night, we had 35 break ins. Just
two months ago in December 2024,we had someone also break into
our secure bike room and stealeveryone's motorized scooters,
everyone's electric bikes,everyone's bikes. They got away
(02:23):
with thousands and thousands ofdollars. Previously, we've had
even 20, I think it was like 24break ins and then we had 17. So
it's like it just keepsescalating. So it's not the best
area just because we don't havepolice officers. We don't have
(02:43):
law enforcement.
So I'm huge with getting thatgoing with Proposition U. We we
need to have this here. It tookeven a few months for the police
to be able to acknowledge and tocome out and actually do
something because it was just sofrequent that my my apartment
(03:03):
manager just kept reaching outand reaching out. And finally,
we finally were able to get somehelp and get some cameras and
get like a car out there just tosit to kind of deter people
away. But it was it was astruggle for a while.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (03:18):
Yeah. I absolutely understand that. And
it's so interesting because alot of the public discourse
especially surrounding theTrinity Groves area.
Machelle Wells (03:24):
Right.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (03:25):
Is very positive. It's like, oh, this
burgeoning area with so muchattraction. But then, it's my
constant harp, is it's not safe.
Machelle Wells (03:34):
Right. It's not safe. I mean, it's sure. It has
so much potential. And again, toreiterate the point that I
continue making, which is if wewant Dallas to be a Mecca of the
world Right. For the world, wemust have safety. And I mean,
women it seems like have tograpple with that safety a
little bit more because eventhough bikes were stolen, things
(03:57):
of that nature happen, a guyisn't gonna sit there in
paranoia before leaving theirplace.
Right. And think, what's gonnahappen to me on the street? I
mean, I'm generalizing. Mostmen, right, wouldn't have to
really consider that. But women,especially petite women like us,
of course, it's something thatwe grapple with and worry about.
(04:20):
I'm so glad to hear that thatyou are stepping forward as a
champion for change. And I meanthe event we were at last night,
right? I mean I know Cara said,that it (Prop U) wasn't well
written. Okay. Well, what washappening wasn't working. But
I'm glad and I'm grateful to Godthat it passed. And that it's
now law. And I think there'sgonna have to be some
(04:42):
unfortunate pressure from Heroapplied to the city because
they're just not complying.
Right.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (04:48):
With what is now law. And so can you talk
to me about what types ofconversations you've had? I've
heard that you had a reallycompelling conversation with the
DPA.
Machelle Wells (05:00):
I did. Yeah.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (05:01):
Can you tell viewers and listeners what
that was like?
Machelle Wells (05:05):
Yes. Well, first I must say that my heart goes
out to the police officers, tothe firefighters, and the whole
pension issue. I will tell you,after I finished that interview,
I could not sleep that night. Itossed, turned, tossed, turned,
tossed, turned, maybe slept twohours. Because I just I was so
(05:29):
just heavy hearted that theyhave been struggling and
fighting on their ownessentially to be able to
provide for their families.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (05:42):
And no one has their back.
Machelle Wells (05:43):
Exactly. And it's just mind boggling. That
you can hold a city positionwhen you say you're supposed to
be for the people. And donothing for the people that
barely even get really paid foranything. For the amount of what
they do. I mean, they're likebodyguards for us in the city.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (06:04):
Mhmm.
Machelle Wells (06:05):
And they deserve to get paid. They deserve their
pension to be handled. And tojust sit back and say, not my
problem? It's demonic. So I wenton a ride along.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (06:16):
Uh-huh.
Machelle Wells (06:16):
With a sergeant.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (06:17):
Uh-huh.
Machelle Wells (06:18):
And so it was eye opening. I was in the police
car for eight hours. So I'llstart from the beginning,
actually. So when I first got toto the police station, and I
went into their, I guess, theirroll call area where they're
just kind of their first initialmeeting. And there was less than
(06:40):
half the room occupied. In thatspace. And it it was a fairly
big room. I mean, it wasn't likesuper small. It was like a
normal a normal sized classroom.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (06:51):
Mhmm. I was just surprised. We really
don't have that many police thatthat were going for that two to
10PM shift. And so I got to thepolice car and they showed me
the screen and how they answercalls. There was I wanna say, I
(07:14):
I believe it looked like about50 calls that were still pending
even from the night before.Gosh. And I was coming in at
2PM. And they still had they hadcalls pending from the night
before. And I was like, what?Why why are they still pending?
This is what under 11PM. Youknow, 10:30PM. They said because
(07:39):
we don't have enough police. Yousaw how many people were not in
that room. Yeah. And he said,and that's the shift. Nobody's
on spring break right now.
It's a crisis. And you heardCara last night talking about
how so many people are gonna beretiring, leaving the force and
she's like, we are facing aproblem.
Machelle Wells (07:59):
Well
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (08:00):
A big problem.
Machelle Wells (08:01):
Yes.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (08:01):
And right now it's a problem and it's just
gonna get worse.
Machelle Wells (08:04):
Yeah. I mean it's a huge problem when I had
my interview with the DallasPolice Association.
And and that's why, like, myheart was very broken over the
pension, but then just to be inthe room and see their faces and
hear their stories on on how,like, people are quitting left
and right. And their back isagainst the wall Because they
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (08:27):
don't Why do they wanna work in those
conditions? Exactly. And theydon't know what to do. And I
just I mean, I I literally Icould feel like my face started
getting hot. I could feel theemotions start to come. I wasn't
in like full blown tears, but itwas... It was it was creeping.
One of the things that they didat one of the comments that I I
(08:51):
received was, I know thisdoesn't necessarily like affect
you but it affects us. And so, Ilet them say what they had to
say but I was like, hold on asecond. Yeah. I was like, know
you don't know me and you'reused to all these other
candidates coming in herebecause they wanna win. And I
said, but it does affect me. Itaffects me emotionally.
Machelle Wells (09:12):
Yep. You not you know, being here affects me.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (09:15):
Yeah. But what do you believe drives you?
What kind of your what kind ofstories from your past do you
think have built you and shapedyou to stand in the fire more
than most?
Machelle Wells (09:29):
Well, I would say even just recently, I just
got out of ICU seven weeks ago.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (09:36):
Oh. I'm so sorry.
Machelle Wells (09:38):
Yeah. And so, just a wild story, but I've been
really sick for the last I thinkit was like seven months before
I end up having surgery and theyfound out what was going on. But
I had forty six fibroid tumorsremoved from my body and I still
have it. I have a c section cutand it's still healing. I
(10:02):
basically bled to death for thelongest time not knowing that I
was essentially dying. And thenend up going to the hospital
having four blood transfusions.And that's kind of when I found
out like what was going on. Ihad a lot of internal bleeding.
So I ended up scheduling asurgery within a couple of
(10:23):
months after that, but stillneeding to preserve my life,
going back and forth from hometo hospital, staying at the
hospital, getting hooked up tomachines just to save my life.
And so, even in the middle ofall of this, I really felt in my
heart that I that I needed torun for office. Because enough
(10:43):
was enough. And if not me, thenwho? Yeah, I have a lot of
tumors in my body and they needto come out. But I I came out of
ICU swinging. And I will tellyou this that whenever I was I
was in there because surgerykinda took a turn for the worse,
(11:04):
that's why I end up in ICU. Iend up having to have more blood
transfusions but I was gettingtext messages like, you know,
you should just quit. This ismaybe God's way of telling you
to stop. But I will tell you, itwas I remember it vividly. It
was about three in the morning.The nurse came in to give me my
second bag of blood. And I heardI heard in my spirit, run the
(11:29):
race set before you. And I knewI can't quit. And it doesn't
matter what it looks like. Itdoesn't matter that recovery is
gonna take months. It doesn'tmatter any of that. I mean, I
really just started campaigningmaybe four weeks ago because I
could barely even get out ofbed. I mean, it was a struggle
(11:49):
just to get down the city hallto Yeah.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (11:53):
I'm sorry.
Machelle Wells (11:54):
But that is that that is what drives me and then
here I am standing, I'm talking.You have to keep going and just
and again, it's my faith.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (12:03):
I get that entirely. I've always just
kind of had an internal engineas well. And I'm sorry that
you've been battling that, but Ipray that you continue to find
the strength Yeah. To marchforward and proceed forward
because, yes, people are sick ofit. People are sick of it. Have
you spent any time block walkingand speaking to the constituents
(12:27):
at this point?
Machelle Wells (12:28):
Yes. I've done a lot of block walking and a lot
of speaking and it's the samething over and over again that
people don't feel safe. Theywanna be able to have children,
especially the youngergeneration that has moved into
my district. And I've I'veliterally been told by a woman
(12:48):
that just found out, she's alawyer, just found out that she
was pregnant. And she said, Iwant to be able to have my baby
here but I don't know if we canstay in this house in this area.
We have gunshots going off. Ihear them too. I thought there
were fireworks in the beginning.
We have gunshots going off. Idon't feel safe that my kids
would be running around. And andit's it's a big issue. Another
(13:12):
thing that I hear especiallyspecifically also from the black
community is that they feelforgotten.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (13:19):
Of course.
Machelle Wells (13:20):
They feel that nobody hears them.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (13:23):
Of course.
Machelle Wells (13:23):
Nobody has their voice. And they're just kinda
overlooked because the the onesI've spoken to live in, you
know, section eight housing. Butthey're still people.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (13:34):
That's right.
Machelle Wells (13:36):
They still deserve respect. They still
deserve the same things.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (13:40):
Mhmm. Can you tell me a little bit about
what you know, at least at thispoint, has happened within your
district's leadership as itexists today, and how you
believe that they have notadequately represented the
constituents in district 6?
Machelle Wells (14:01):
Yes, absolutely. So in District 6, we have a lot
of gentrification. So meaningthat people are getting priced
out of their homes because theirtaxes have become too expensive
for them to afford. Forinstance, I met a man, we'll
call him Mr. Percy. And he livesabout two streets behind me.
Okay. And his taxes went from$400 to $1,200 all within like
(14:28):
an unreasonable amount of time.And he told me, he said, I am
struggling to be able to pay forfor where I live. I mean, that
is a massive jump if you're on afixed income.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (14:44):
Of course.
Machelle Wells (14:45):
Of and he's like, my family has owned this
house for years. It was like hisgrandmother's and then his
parents and then now it's his.And he can't even afford to fix
the the porch that we werestanding on. I mean, was
leaning. And so I just feel andand and then I've I've heard
that so many times.
If you can fix these these taxesthen then we'll vote for you.
(15:11):
And so I see that there there'snot any solutions that has been
brought to them to help. Andthen we wanna talk about
homestead. Well, the homesteadexemption right now is at a
hundred thousand. Right. Isuggest we boost it to a hundred
and 50,000. And not a lot ofpeople necessarily know about
(15:35):
the homestead but I also feellike it's not presented as well,
especially to my lower incomeresidents. Because they're not
necessarily on the computerresearching. I mean, I'm at I'm
good at doing that. I have aprelaw background. So I I can do
that, but but my heart is reallyto find solutions. So there are
(15:57):
different avenues. We can cutspending. We can cut waste that
has been going on and to helplower those taxes because the
reason why they're up is notnecessarily just property value.
You can still increase propertyvalue without having to raise
taxes. Taxes help pay for thecity. Taxes help pay for things
(16:18):
that need to be done in thecity. So if we just cut some of
that spending, we can start tolower some of that. We can
justify that to where people canactually feel it in their
wallets. On top of that, there'salso community land trust. That
is that is an option if somebodyso chooses that can be done as
well. So I just feel like therehasn't been a lot of deep diving
(16:43):
into helping people tonecessarily stay in their homes.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (16:47):
How are you telling them your future,
your safety Right. Is not, itdoes not live in your complaints
and conversations with me.Right. It lives at that ballot
box. Will you promise me andgive me your word that you're
gonna actually get out and vote?Are you having those
conversations?
Machelle Wells (17:08):
Well, they're actually having that those
conversations with me. And and Iwill tell you what I what I have
found is that more of the lowerincome Mhmm. Individuals, they
are the ones that actually wantto vote.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (17:20):
Really?
Machelle Wells (17:22):
Yes. Yes.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett: None of the data that I've seen (17:24):
undefined
supports that.
Machelle Wells (17:26):
Really? I am I I and again, I don't know how far
back but but based off of megoing into the lower income
areas because I've spent I'vespent most of my time actually
there. Good. And the reason whyI spoke with that lawyer is
because it was a newdevelopment. Within a long term
existing
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (17:46):
Okay.
Machelle Wells (17:46):
Residential area, if that makes sense. So
I'm like, I'm already over here.I might as well just walk across
the street, you know, bang onthe doors with the new houses.
And of course, they love me.They're excited that I'm running
because they don't like thegunshots. Of course. And but no,
I will tell you and and I'vebeen invited to come in in their
house. I've prayed for them aswell. The section eight housing,
like the housing area that I'vegone into. Yes. And they're the
(18:09):
ones that I mean, you can see itin their eyes. We're not heard.
We were promised whatever.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (18:16):
Mhmm.
Machelle Wells (18:16):
And those promises got broken. What yeah.
What are you gonna do for us?Are you are you for me? And I'm
like, I'm absolutely for you. Imean, I've been doing missions
for years. I've been in thirdworld countries. I've been in 63
countries. So I my heart I Idon't see rich, poor, you know,
I mean, if that makes sense. Idon't I don't see any of that.
(18:37):
So I just see a person that'shurting and needs help and I'm
here to help you the best waythat I can. And if I can't
figure it out, there's a lot ofother smart people that can help
me.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (18:48):
Sure.
Machelle Wells (18:48):
Because they've already done all this.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (18:50):
Sure. I get that and that humility is
important. But I love that youhave actually done a lot of
extensive missionary work.Because this is kind of a form
of that. Right. Because as youknow you're going you would be
going and venturing into abattleground. It's different,
(19:14):
but it's similar. Right. Can youtell me how you think a lot of
that missionary work that you'vebeen a part of will serve you
well if you're elected?
Machelle Wells (19:22):
Yeah. Absolutely. So I've like I said,
I've been to 63 countries, soevery area is gonna be
different. I have built feedingprograms for displaced children
that have their families wereliterally murdered in front of
them. Their sisters were rapedin front of them.
And so just to give them abetter life or at least put food
in their belly, I was so movedby that to be able to develop
(19:46):
those things. I've gone intoover 2,000 communities and have
impacted them starting programswith our youth and our young
adults to make sure that thatthat they're equipped on how to
impact their school, their city,their their overall, their their
nation, their their area ofwhere they live. And so what I'm
(20:09):
really passionate about is beingable to figure out how to help
people and then coming up withthose solutions. So you ask
about how has missions helped?Well, I've been around so many
different diverse groups ofpeople that I bring more of a
worldly type of perspective.
(20:31):
I get it. Versus just Dallas,the politics of Dallas. Sure.
The politics of even District 6.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (20:38):
So small.
Machelle Wells (20:40):
Yes. Exactly.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (20:41):
I get it.
Machelle Wells (20:41):
And so people have asked me, have you served
on committees, you know, here orthere? Well, I've been traveling
and helping other people. Andit's it's people are they still
want shelter. They still needfood. They need water. They want
security and they want theirchildren to thrive. All over the
world. That's what they want.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (21:01):
Exactly.
Machelle Wells (21:01):
So you just figure out how to help them in
the capacity of that thatcountry or in that area. It's a
lot easier to do stuff in TheUnited States than it is
overseas. There's no money.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (21:14):
Exactly.
Machelle Wells (21:15):
You have to obviously raise funds and then
when you do, you don't eventhere's no guarantee. That what
you send over there That's forsystem. Will even get there.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (21:24):
That's right.
Machelle Wells (21:26):
At least we have our customs are a lot better in
The US Yeah. Than it isoverseas.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (21:32):
Yeah.
Machelle Wells (21:32):
So, having to deal with that and having the
wisdom to figure out how tobypass that is you don't have to
do that here. I just feel likeit's just caused me to have to
think in a more of a reactionaryway, sometimes really quickly to
figure out what's going on.Because when you get a call and
(21:54):
saying, hey, so they're notgoing to allow tubs of clothing
for for the kids to bedelivered.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (22:05):
Yeah. Thank you for sharing all of
this. Yes. I mean it it has tobe circulated. It has to get
out.
And I think the more of theseconversations that we have
getting out into the citytogether, I think just, you
know, just arm and arm havingthese conversations with people
with constituents who are opento speaking to someone like me
(22:29):
could just be a true change forwhat's being for what's being
done. Thank you.
Machelle Wells (22:37):
Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for having
me.
Sarah Zubiate Bennett (22:39):
Yeah. Of course. Thank you for being
here.
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