CTroyMathis
21 December 2002, 06:35 PM
Miller called a tough mayor to beat
But 2 contenders say they're being urged to challenge her
12/22/2002
By GROMER JEFFERS JR. / The Dallas Morning News
For those of you considering challenging the seemingly indomitable Laura Miller for mayor of Dallas, here's what you should know:
• No modern-era incumbent mayor has ever lost a re-election bid.
• Ms. Miller is gobbling up support from business leaders who opposed her last year, giving her the ability to raise large sums of cash.
• Vote-happy North Dallas remains her base of strength.
"No one is ever unbeatable," said Dallas political consultant Lorlee Bartos. "But she's pretty strong."
Undaunted, at least two contenders – council member Mary Poss and Dallas lawyer Darrell Jordan – are considering waging mayoral campaigns for the May 3 election.
"There are an awful lot of people calling me and telling me they are nostalgic for the days when I was acting mayor," said Ms. Poss, who presided as mayor before Ms. Miller's election.
Mr. Jordan also contends that he's being urged to challenge Ms. Miller.
"I'm encouraged by a few people who have asked me to run," said Mr. Jordan, who lost to Mr. Kirk in the 1995 mayoral race. "I have not closed the door on the issue, but I'm not doing anything in an affirmative way."
Ms. Miller says that she expects opposition but that her work as mayor makes her tough to beat.
"I've actually gotten more done that I thought I would," she said of her 10 months in office. "I wish I could spend the next months working and not campaigning. If there's a race, I'm going to campaign and work hard to win."
Two years ago, hisses and laughter greeted Ms. Miller's first hints at running for mayor.
But after defeating insurance executive Tom Dunning by 10 percentage points, she's become a formidable incumbent.
"It's her race to lose," said Michael Boone, chairman of the Dallas Citizens Council and a former Dunning supporter. "She's going to be tough to beat."
Ms. Miller has again hired veteran Dallas political consultant Rob Allyn as her chief media consultant. She's already held at least one major fund-raiser that featured many of Mr. Dunning's supporters.
Last week, she had meetings scheduled with former City Manager Richard Knight, former Dallas chamber president Albert Black Jr. and council member Don Hill. None of them supported her in last year's special election. Mr. Knight has joined her campaign finance committee.
'Very effective'
Mr. Boone said he was most impressed by Ms. Miller's work on the Trinity River Project. She found additional funding for the $1.2 billion proposal and kept it on course.
"She's been very effective," Mr. Boone said. "Many Dunning supporters are supporting her."
George Shafer, president of Industrial Properties, had similar views.
"She's been willing to look at all sides of the issue," he said. "She's a fast learner, and her energy level is incredible."
But not everyone is happy with Ms. Miller's performance.
Tom Landis, owner of the Texadelphia restaurant chain and briefly a contender for mayor against Ms. Miller last time, said she has broken her promise to Dallas voters by not focusing on basic services.
Did she keep bargain?
"It just seems like she's a person that's not living up to her end of the bargain," he said. "She's made some of us feel like fools."
Mr. Landis said he now understands why fellow restaurant owners are against Ms. Miller's proposed smoking ban for restaurants. He initially stood with her when she proposed the ordinance but now said he worries the ban will put smaller restaurants out of business.
"I'm supporting Mary Poss," he said. "I don't agree with everything she's done, but at least she will return a phone call."
Ms. Poss hopes to convince voters that Ms. Miller is not the best choice for Dallas by focusing on taxation and economic development.
In the face of a $95 million budget shortfall, Ms. Miller and the City Council approved a property tax increase.
"I was very disappointed that taxes increased and there were reductions in service," Ms. Poss said.
But critics contend Ms. Poss' budget proposals provided no real solutions and would have driven up the shortfall.
Poss as challenger
Ms. Poss is expecting to receive support of blacks voters who historically have aligned against Ms. Miller, as well as the support of the city's police and fire unions.
Political analysts say she hopes to tap into the anti-tax sentiment among North Dallas voters.
She lists making Dallas business-friendly, increasing the city's tax base and working with police and fire officials as potential mayoral platforms.
Mr. Allyn says that Ms. Poss' message won't play well and that she's currying favor with employee unions at City Hall.
"I'd be surprised if she really runs," he said. "She would be a sacrificial lamb for the status quo. Voters don't want to turn back the clock and go back to the way things use to be at City Hall."
Jordan making bid
Like those in the restaurant industry, Mr. Jordan has criticized Ms. Miller for embracing the proposed smoking ban.
He said his campaign would be based in part on persuading the Dallas Cowboys to build a new stadium next to Fair Park.
"The city does not have an aggressive economic development plan and have not joined the chase for the Cowboys. She's content to focus on social issues," he said.
Ms. Miller said she is concerned about economic development but not about building another huge sports complex.
"I'm not saying it's a ridiculous idea," she said. "I'm just saying it's not a priority. ... It would have to be a deal that's unprecedented in the history of Dallas. The city would have to be a true economic partner."
Miffed in N. Dallas?
Dallas political consultant Pat Cotton said Mr. Jordan, a Republican, could do well in North Dallas because many residents there feel betrayed by Ms. Miller.
Ms. Cotton, who says Ms. Miller is probably unbeatable, said some North Dallas residents are particularly miffed that Ms. Miller is leading the smoking ban proposal.
"A lot of Republicans out here are upset with Laura and realize she's a liberal Democrat," Ms. Cotton said. "These social issues are not what's wrong with Dallas. They want the basics, and she has not delivered on her promise."
'Ethics at City Hall'
Mr. Allyn disagreed.
"She's focused completely on basic services," he said. "On some issues there are Republican conservatives who agree to disagree. But we have a coalition that built on basic services and ethics at City Hall."
Ms. Miller lists her accomplishments as convening a summit on the homeless, getting passage on an anti-discrimination ordinance, and developing a neighborhood sweeps program and a downtown revitalization commission.
Among other things, she is working on a panhandling ordinance, pushing for a downtown convention center hotel and developing ways to market the Dallas/Fort Worth area as a region.
"All these things are interconnected," she said.
But 2 contenders say they're being urged to challenge her
12/22/2002
By GROMER JEFFERS JR. / The Dallas Morning News
For those of you considering challenging the seemingly indomitable Laura Miller for mayor of Dallas, here's what you should know:
• No modern-era incumbent mayor has ever lost a re-election bid.
• Ms. Miller is gobbling up support from business leaders who opposed her last year, giving her the ability to raise large sums of cash.
• Vote-happy North Dallas remains her base of strength.
"No one is ever unbeatable," said Dallas political consultant Lorlee Bartos. "But she's pretty strong."
Undaunted, at least two contenders – council member Mary Poss and Dallas lawyer Darrell Jordan – are considering waging mayoral campaigns for the May 3 election.
"There are an awful lot of people calling me and telling me they are nostalgic for the days when I was acting mayor," said Ms. Poss, who presided as mayor before Ms. Miller's election.
Mr. Jordan also contends that he's being urged to challenge Ms. Miller.
"I'm encouraged by a few people who have asked me to run," said Mr. Jordan, who lost to Mr. Kirk in the 1995 mayoral race. "I have not closed the door on the issue, but I'm not doing anything in an affirmative way."
Ms. Miller says that she expects opposition but that her work as mayor makes her tough to beat.
"I've actually gotten more done that I thought I would," she said of her 10 months in office. "I wish I could spend the next months working and not campaigning. If there's a race, I'm going to campaign and work hard to win."
Two years ago, hisses and laughter greeted Ms. Miller's first hints at running for mayor.
But after defeating insurance executive Tom Dunning by 10 percentage points, she's become a formidable incumbent.
"It's her race to lose," said Michael Boone, chairman of the Dallas Citizens Council and a former Dunning supporter. "She's going to be tough to beat."
Ms. Miller has again hired veteran Dallas political consultant Rob Allyn as her chief media consultant. She's already held at least one major fund-raiser that featured many of Mr. Dunning's supporters.
Last week, she had meetings scheduled with former City Manager Richard Knight, former Dallas chamber president Albert Black Jr. and council member Don Hill. None of them supported her in last year's special election. Mr. Knight has joined her campaign finance committee.
'Very effective'
Mr. Boone said he was most impressed by Ms. Miller's work on the Trinity River Project. She found additional funding for the $1.2 billion proposal and kept it on course.
"She's been very effective," Mr. Boone said. "Many Dunning supporters are supporting her."
George Shafer, president of Industrial Properties, had similar views.
"She's been willing to look at all sides of the issue," he said. "She's a fast learner, and her energy level is incredible."
But not everyone is happy with Ms. Miller's performance.
Tom Landis, owner of the Texadelphia restaurant chain and briefly a contender for mayor against Ms. Miller last time, said she has broken her promise to Dallas voters by not focusing on basic services.
Did she keep bargain?
"It just seems like she's a person that's not living up to her end of the bargain," he said. "She's made some of us feel like fools."
Mr. Landis said he now understands why fellow restaurant owners are against Ms. Miller's proposed smoking ban for restaurants. He initially stood with her when she proposed the ordinance but now said he worries the ban will put smaller restaurants out of business.
"I'm supporting Mary Poss," he said. "I don't agree with everything she's done, but at least she will return a phone call."
Ms. Poss hopes to convince voters that Ms. Miller is not the best choice for Dallas by focusing on taxation and economic development.
In the face of a $95 million budget shortfall, Ms. Miller and the City Council approved a property tax increase.
"I was very disappointed that taxes increased and there were reductions in service," Ms. Poss said.
But critics contend Ms. Poss' budget proposals provided no real solutions and would have driven up the shortfall.
Poss as challenger
Ms. Poss is expecting to receive support of blacks voters who historically have aligned against Ms. Miller, as well as the support of the city's police and fire unions.
Political analysts say she hopes to tap into the anti-tax sentiment among North Dallas voters.
She lists making Dallas business-friendly, increasing the city's tax base and working with police and fire officials as potential mayoral platforms.
Mr. Allyn says that Ms. Poss' message won't play well and that she's currying favor with employee unions at City Hall.
"I'd be surprised if she really runs," he said. "She would be a sacrificial lamb for the status quo. Voters don't want to turn back the clock and go back to the way things use to be at City Hall."
Jordan making bid
Like those in the restaurant industry, Mr. Jordan has criticized Ms. Miller for embracing the proposed smoking ban.
He said his campaign would be based in part on persuading the Dallas Cowboys to build a new stadium next to Fair Park.
"The city does not have an aggressive economic development plan and have not joined the chase for the Cowboys. She's content to focus on social issues," he said.
Ms. Miller said she is concerned about economic development but not about building another huge sports complex.
"I'm not saying it's a ridiculous idea," she said. "I'm just saying it's not a priority. ... It would have to be a deal that's unprecedented in the history of Dallas. The city would have to be a true economic partner."
Miffed in N. Dallas?
Dallas political consultant Pat Cotton said Mr. Jordan, a Republican, could do well in North Dallas because many residents there feel betrayed by Ms. Miller.
Ms. Cotton, who says Ms. Miller is probably unbeatable, said some North Dallas residents are particularly miffed that Ms. Miller is leading the smoking ban proposal.
"A lot of Republicans out here are upset with Laura and realize she's a liberal Democrat," Ms. Cotton said. "These social issues are not what's wrong with Dallas. They want the basics, and she has not delivered on her promise."
'Ethics at City Hall'
Mr. Allyn disagreed.
"She's focused completely on basic services," he said. "On some issues there are Republican conservatives who agree to disagree. But we have a coalition that built on basic services and ethics at City Hall."
Ms. Miller lists her accomplishments as convening a summit on the homeless, getting passage on an anti-discrimination ordinance, and developing a neighborhood sweeps program and a downtown revitalization commission.
Among other things, she is working on a panhandling ordinance, pushing for a downtown convention center hotel and developing ways to market the Dallas/Fort Worth area as a region.
"All these things are interconnected," she said.