Council Member Chad West proudly serves District 1 residents on the Dallas City Council. North Oak Cliff residents first elected West in May 2019 and reelected him in 2021 and most recently in 2023. West has lived in North Oak Cliff for nearly two decades. 

The son of a schoolteacher, West grew up in southern Illinois. He left his hometown to attend Washington University in St. Louis and was then commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army.  He first served at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio and was later deployed to Hungary and Bosnia-Herzegovina. After completing his military tour, West was honorably discharged as a combat veteran and attended law school at Texas Tech University School of Law, where he graduated with honors. Without being tied to a certain location due to school or military service, West was drawn to Dallas for its entrepreneurial spirit and acceptance of LGBT individuals such as himself.

In Dallas, West opened a boutique law practice and later began developing and operating express tunnel car washes throughout North and Central Texas. However, his biggest achievement in life is being the father to his two children, Victoria and Preston. West was called to public service through his desire to preserve what makes North Oak Cliff an amazing place to live while also keeping an eye to creating a shared future, so that all Oak Cliff children have the same opportunities his own children have. 

Prior to his election to City Council, West served on the Dallas City Plan Commission (CPC) from 2017 to 2018. There, West was a key advocate for and drafter of the Live-Work, Accessory Dwelling Units and Inclusionary Zoning ordinances, all of which are currently being used by the City of Dallas today to create more rooftops for residents of all income levels. On Council, West continues to be one of the most vocal advocates for greater walkability, parking reform, connected neighborhoods, long-range area planning, workforce housing and expansion of the parks and trails system. He is currently working to bring the first skateboard park to South Dallas. 

West is an avid runner, tennis player, fantasy and historical fiction reader, and Texas Tech Red Raiders fan, and a struggling golfer.