Trash pickup and sanitation emerge as top local campaign issue in Irving forum

Restoring twice-weekly trash pickup was one of the clearest, recurring promises at the League of Women Voters’ candidate forum in Irving. Several candidates said recent service reductions have become a central complaint among voters.

"We need to return to twice a week trash pickup," Matt Varble said, and other candidates from both places and districts echoed that priority. Jesse Kohler said returning to two pickups was a core constituent demand and called on "creative minds" to find funding. Anthony Stanford emphasized ensuring the trash department is fully staffed before restoring service frequency so the city would not need to revert later.

Candidates offered different paths. Heather Stroup said she would "examine privatization" because private contractors have different hiring practices; Varble and others said expanded funding or re-prioritization of the budget is the solution. Paul Bertinzetti and several others tied service levels to the city's fiscal position, arguing debt and bond-service obligations limit capacity to restore services without cuts or revenue changes.

The forum produced no council motions or staff responses; those operational and budgetary questions would require city administration and budget workshops to evaluate cost, staffing needs and contract implications.