Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 2, Place 1

Vickie Whiteside

Republican

On ballot as: Vickie Whiteside
Current role: School bus driver, Garland ISD (per her Ballotpedia survey)
Background: 17 years of service in law enforcement (per campaign)
Former officer in Dallas, 15 years (per her Ballotpedia survey)
4 years as a Constable Clerk (per campaign)
5 years with GISD Nutrition; 4 years with GISD Transportation (per campaign)
Raised her family in Garland (per her Ballotpedia survey)
Experience: Republican primary (March 3, 2026): advanced
Top priorities: "I believe everyone has the right to be heard in a fair and honest court"
"I want to help relieve some of the stress when coming to court for evictions, small claims, etc."
On evictions: "I would like to see if we can find a way to help good tenants stay in their homes"
"I will work to make our court more approachable and transparent"
Tidbits: Judicial philosophy: Campaign site: "My decisions will be guided by the law, precedent, and a commitment to doing what is right"
Court administration: Campaign site: "I will work to make our court more approachable and transparent, ensuring that residents understand their rights and the legal processes that affect them."
Endorsements: None found in our research
Campaign website: whiteside4jp.com

Democratic Incumbent

On ballot as: Margaret O'Brien
Current role: Dallas County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2, Place 1 (first elected 2018; in office since January 1, 2019) (per campaign)
Background: Graduate Certificate in Dispute Resolution/Mediation, SMU (per campaign)
Small business owner, over twenty years (per campaign)
Community involvement: Garland NAACP, Dallas Habitat for Humanity, Rowlett Crisis Assistance Program (per campaign)
Experience: Court recognized as a model court by the Texas Justice Court Training Center; she serves as a trainer (per campaign)
Top priorities: "As your Justice of the Peace, it's my job to ensure everyone is treated fairly in The People's Courtroom."
Campaign: she "provides resources to legal assistance, representation, and financial assurances for renters"
Campaign: she "is committed to family and community safety by issuing mental health warrants"
Tidbits: Judicial philosophy: "As your Justice of the Peace, it's my job to ensure everyone is treated fairly in The People's Courtroom."
Court administration: Campaign site: under her leadership, "the court cleared a significant backlog left by her predecessor"
Endorsements: None found in our research
Campaign website: mo4jp.com