# Richardson Councilman Dan Barrios Steps Down to Focus on U.S. House Bid
**Place 3 representative’s exit sets stage for council to fill vacant seat ahead of city’s budget season**
A Richardson City Council member has announced he is stepping away from local office to pursue a seat in the United States Congress, marking the end of a three-year tenure representing one of the city’s four district seats.
Dan Barrios, who has represented Place 3 on the Richardson City Council, told fellow council members and residents at Monday night’s meeting that he would be resigning his post to devote himself fully to his campaign for Texas’ 32nd Congressional District, which covers Richardson and Plano.
## A Difficult but Deliberate Decision
,Barrios explained that after careful thought, he decided to step down from the council so he could commit his complete attention to his congressional campaign., He reflected on his time in local government with evident emotion, telling those gathered that ,serving the residents of Richardson on the City Council had been one of the greatest honors of his life.,
Rather than departing immediately, Barrios structured his exit strategically. ,His resignation will not take effect until the council appoints someone to fill his seat., According to Barrios, ,the timing was designed to preserve continuity through the city’s upcoming budget approval process while allowing for a deliberate appointment process that invites public input.,
## From Local Volunteer to Congressional Candidate
,Barrios was elected to represent City Council Place 3 in May 2023., Before entering elected office, ,he spent years as a dedicated volunteer with numerous nonprofits and community organizations, counting himself among the alumni of Leadership North Texas, Richardson CARES, and the Richardson Citizen Police Academy., ,He and his family remain active members at First United Methodist Church Richardson, where Barrios has served in ministries addressing homelessness and supporting single parents, among other roles.,
His path to public service also included ,a stint with the American Red Cross spanning more than a decade in various local and national volunteer leadership positions, including as a shelter manager and instructor., ,Barrios has called Richardson’s Place 3 district home since 2008, residing in the Cottonwood Heights neighborhood with his wife, son, mother and dog.,
Barrios formally entered the congressional race in December, positioning himself in a contest that would prove pivotal not only for his own political future but for Richardson’s city charter. ,He announced his candidacy for District 32 of the U.S. House in December, a seat that encompasses both Richardson and Plano., ,He went on to win the Democratic primary in March and is now positioned to face Republican challenger Jace Yarbrough in the November general election.,
## Charter Fight Preceded the Resignation
Barrios’ departure comes months after a contentious debate on the council over whether elected officials should be forced to resign immediately upon announcing a run for higher office. ,Council had initially approved a retroactive resign-to-run provision that would have required any council member or mayor announcing a bid for another elected office to resign automatically — a rule that, if passed, would have forced Barrios out immediately given his December congressional announcement.,
The proposal drew significant public backlash. ,Richardson residents turned out at council meetings in early February to oppose the retroactive provision, with one resident calling the effect of the measure undemocratic., Ultimately, ,after more than 15 residents voiced opposition, the council voted 5-2 to revise the amendment so it would apply only prospectively rather than retroactively., That change meant ,the rule would not apply to Barrios and would only affect council members who announce candidacies after the May election.,
Not every council member agreed with softening the rule. ,Council member Curtis Dorian voted against the change., Others expressed concern about how the debate itself might affect an unrelated ballot measure. ,Council member Joe Corcoran warned that bringing a controversial proposition to the ballot alongside the city’s broader charter and bond election could become a significant distraction from everything else voters would be deciding.,
## What Comes Next for Richardson
With Barrios’ resignation now formally announced, attention turns to how the city will replace him. ,Council had already approved in April a 12-week process designed to fill a single vacancy on the council, anticipating this scenario., That framework is expected to guide the coming weeks as Richardson officials seek applicants and hold public discussions before naming Barrios’ successor.
The transition arrives at a sensitive moment for city governance, as officials work through the annual budget cycle — a process Barrios said factored directly into the timing of his departure. Residents of Place 3, which includes neighborhoods in central and southern Richardson, will be watching closely to see who council selects to represent them through the remainder of the term.
Meanwhile, Barrios’ political journey now shifts entirely toward the November general election, where he will compete for a seat that represents a broad swath of Collin and Dallas counties. His resignation underscores the increasingly common tension city and county officials across Texas face when balancing current public duties with ambitions for higher office — a dynamic that played out publicly in Richardson well before Monday’s announcement made it official.
For now, Richardson’s council will operate with one fewer voice at the dais until a replacement is named, while Barrios turns his full focus toward securing a seat in Washington.