Dallas Mayoral Election: The End of the Laura Miller era

[trolleygirl]

I'm so happy to hear that we've whittled the list down to an astonishingly mere 13 candidates.

I'm still bored with this stupid race. Anyone else with me??

[Tnekster]

I'm so happy to hear that we've whittled the list down to an astonishingly mere 13 candidates.

I'm still bored with this stupid race. Anyone else with me??

Is there any polling data available yet?

[Cliff Dweller]

I don't really get why anyone would be bored with this race, unless you're just missing the drama of a one-on-one slugfest.
How many times has it been repeated that this year will change everything? The mayor and 7 council members? This is potentially a turning point for years to come. As wide open as all this is, I would think political mavens would be having a great time trying to suss out who's who and who's likely to make it to the runoff.
If we're not paying attention, I'm afraid we'll just get another "go along to get along" nobody. Is that what we want?

[trolleygirl]

Don't mistake- I am not bored with the council races. I am bored to tears with this Mayoral race.

[dfwcre8tive]

Crain, two others disqualified in bid for Dallas mayor
Elections: They're removed for incomplete applications; 3 council hopefuls also out
07:51 AM CDT on Friday, March 23, 2007
By DAVE LEVINTHAL / The Dallas Morning News
dlevinthal@dallasnews.com
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/local/stories/032307dnmetcrain.7430d0a.html

Magazine editor Zac Crain, who employed MySpace, concerts and a double-disc fundraising album in his unorthodox bid to become Dallas mayor, will be removed from the May 12 ballot because he didn't submit enough valid voter signatures to qualify, city officials ruled Thursday.

The city secretary's office also disqualified mayoral candidate Evelyn Daniel and one other mayoral candidate whom the office refused to identify because officials had not contacted the person, Assistant City Secretary Rosa Rios said.

"We just want to make sure they hear it from us first," Ms. Rios said.

City officials are likewise removing council candidates Larry Holton (District 5), Gwain Wooten (District 2) and one other yet-to-be-identified candidate because of incomplete petitions.

"We should have done a better job at securing signatures – it's really disappointing," Mr. Crain said. "I'm more disappointed for the people who worked on this campaign. I would hate for this to reflect badly on them, because they worked really, really hard."

Mr. Crain, an editor for in-flight magazine American Way and a former Dallas Observer columnist, dispatched his lawyer to City Hall late Thursday to investigate, and he vowed to fight the city's ruling.

He announced his candidacy early in 2006, long before most other candidates joined the race and months before Mayor Laura Miller decided not to seek reelection.

But Mr. Crain's mayoral candidate petition, which needed to include 473 valid voter signatures to secure him a place on the ballot, was short by about 50 valid signatures, Ms. Rios said.

Many of Mr. Crain's signatures came from people ineligible to vote in Dallas or declared "inactive" by county voting officials because they hadn't voted in years, she said.

"He has a very large gap, and that's very difficult to close," Ms. Rios said. "We were really hoping to clear everybody. We triple-checked each petition."

Said Mr. Crain, "I thought I had more than enough to get there. We haven't figured out what we're going to do, but I'm not going to quit just yet."

Mr. Crain's campaign had sent out frantic messages through e-mail and bulletins through the MySpace.com Web site the weekend before Dallas' March 12 filing deadline. They warned that Mr. Crain was short of signatures and urged supporters to help in a final signature push.

But when Mr. Crain filed his application and petition March 12, he downplayed the messages, saying he was simply trying to give himself "some cushion, some breathing room."

Barring any reversals to the city's rulings, Dallas' final mayoral ballot will feature 10 candidates – less than half the number of candidates who officially registered treasurers at the campaign's outset.

But 10 mayoral candidates still constitutes a larger field than Dallas has seen in decades.

City Secretary Deborah Watkins and her staff have been relentlessly verifying mayoral candidates' petitions since the March 12 candidate-filing deadline.

Asked if he would ask his supporters to support him in a write-in effort, he said, "I suppose I could. I wouldn't stop anyone from doing it."

Mr. Crain, 32, the youngest mayoral candidate in the race, said that he believes his campaign inspired many younger, disaffected Dallasites to develop an interest in politics.

"And this probably hasn't been the last of me doing this," he said.

[dfwcre8tive]

This site lists all elections and contributions to mayoral/city council candidates.

http://www.pegasusnews.com/organizations/dallas-city-council/

[dfwcre8tive]

Dallas mayoral hopefuls' anti-crime plans differ
Mayoral rivals pan 'anti-crime district' Wells pushes for Dallas; opinions vary on adding officers
10:26 PM CDT on Thursday, March 22, 2007
By DAVE LEVINTHAL / The Dallas Morning News
dlevinthal@dallasnews.com
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/032307dnmetmayorcrime.347bc5e.html

You won't find a Dallas mayoral candidate who says crime isn't among the city's most fundamental problems.

But you won't find two of them with the same plan to fix it.

On one extreme is banker and former Mayor Pro Tem Max Wells, who's proposing a citywide "anti-crime district" funded either by a dedicated sales or property tax increase. Mr. Wells estimates his half-cent sales tax increase, which would require state legislative approval, would generate about $100 million annually for public safety improvements throughout the city, while his suggested property tax increase would provide a yearly $50 million.

"This is not typical political wisdom on how to win an election. But something really significant has to be done to change the situation in Dallas," said Mr. Wells, who wants to hire 600 police officers above current staffing levels. "When you have crime like we do here in this city, people are willing to go to extraordinary lengths to stop it."

Former Turner Corp. chairman and chief executive Tom Leppert, hovering near the other extreme, says his administration would promote a tough-on-crime approach that rivaled any other. He won't say exactly how many new officers he wants to hire, but says he wants Dallas to employ three officers for every 1,000 residents – a level that would require hundreds more than the city employs today.

"But what we need to do is call that crime district idea what it is: a tax. I don't think we can tax our way to safety," said Mr. Leppert, who this week is mailing a full-color brochure to 83,000 Dallas households that likewise slaps at Mr. Wells' idea. "We've got to use the existing budget structure to address our priority."

Similarly, lawyer and 1995 mayoral election runner-up Darrell Jordan argues that "we can fight crime within the confines of our expanding economic base. I don't think it'll require any tax increases, and I don't think people want to hear about tax increases."

Mr. Jordan also wants to hire three officers per 1,000 city residents, but says 31/2 per 1,000 is conceivable. He says he also wants to invest heavily in community-based policing.

For Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill, any candidate who builds a crime strategy on hiring more police officers is touting a plan "that's short-sighted, and one that's not going to get our crime rate down."

Mr. Hill says he sees crime as an economic issue: Develop poverty-stricken parts of Dallas, and watch crime decrease. He also envisions Dallas enhancing its community-based policing programs and instituting "a much more formal partnership with the faith community and the city."

A significant issue

This much is certain: Mayoral candidates' crime plans will significantly factor into who Dallasites elect on either May 12 – the general election – or June 16, the date of a scheduled runoff election.

A Dallas Morning News poll conducted this month indicates about one-third of city residents consider crime the single most important issue facing Dallas – almost twice as many who cited the second-most popular response, economic development.

And crime ranked first among Dallasites no matter the demographic, black or white, man or woman, according to the poll.

But no matter whom voters elect mayor, that person will still face significant hurdles in implementing his or her crime reduction plan.

Layers of control

First, there's the city government's structure, which affords a mayor little direct control over the Police Department. Police Chief David Kunkle reports to First Assistant City Manager Ryan Evans, who reports to City Manager Mary Suhm, who in turn reports to the City Council, of which the mayor is but one vote among 15.

Ms. Suhm and Chief Kunkle declined to comment on the mayoral candidates' specific plans, but both said they look forward to working with Dallas' new mayor. That person will replace Laura Miller, who is not seeking re-election after more than five years in office.

Then, there's a 28-year-old police pay dispute stemming from a contested referendum and still looming over City Hall.

Police and firefighters say Dallasites in 1979 voted to keep percentage differences in public safety officials' pay the same each time the City Council approved salary increases. Therefore, if a low-level officer received a 5 percent raise, so would a high-ranking police official.

The city disputes the public safety officials' claim, saying voters intended the differential be effective for one year, not forever.

Public safety officials have sued the city, and the case is still in the appeals process. What Dallas should do is stay the course, says District 3 council member Ed Oakley, who's been instrumental in crafting the City Council's current crime policy, which in recent years has called for bigger budgets and net annual increases of 50 or 100 police officers.

"For the first time in 20 years, Dallas is headed in the right direction with the plan that we've got," Mr. Oakley said. "What we're doing now is the right thing."

His District 9 council counterpart, Gary Griffith, wants to hire a net 100 new officers every year for the next five years and "stay tightly aligned with the city manager and police chief.

"We've established the ability to bring in a new 100," Mr. Griffith said. "What we don't want to do is loosen our standards just to bring more people in faster."

He also dismissed Mr. Wells' plan as "a good sound bite, but I do not think that it is necessary."

Former state representative and airline executive Sam Coats says he wants to hire 200 new police officers each year, or at least 800 net officers within four years.

"They could be integrated into the police force without difficulty. It's a matter of prioritization in the city budget," said Mr. Coats, who also proposed instituting pay incentives for officers who choose to live within Dallas' city limits.

The Dallas Police Association, for its part, will not endorse a mayoral candidate during the general election in part because "it would have been so close among them, we probably would have spent three days in a room debating it," president Glenn White said. "Nobody at this point really stands out. They all have some really good ideas, some so-so and others we don't like."


ISSUES WATCH: DALLAS MAYOR

Dallas' mayoral candidates are proposing markedly different approaches to addressing crime. Among their key proposals:

John Cappello: Would hire more police officers but would first appoint a mayoral task force to study crime. Opposes tax increases for new police officers.

Sam Coats: Would increase the police force by 800 officers in four years – the most ambitious officer hiring proposal among the candidates. "It's a matter of prioritization in the city budget."

Jennifer Gale: Would lobby the state and federal governments to increase the minimum wage to $15 or $20 an hour – a wage that she says would provide people an economic incentive to not commit crime.

Gary Griffith: Would hire a net 100 new officers every year for the next five years and "stay tightly aligned with the city manager and police chief." He opposes loosening officer qualifications standards just to hire more officers.

Roger Herrera: Would increase police force levels to three officers per 1,000 residents but would focus heavily on programs to work with schools and steer young men away from crime.

Don Hill: Views crime as an economic problem and would focus on developing impoverished, crime-ridden neighborhoods. He would increase community-based policing and work closely with churches to create programs to deter crime and rehabilitate former inmates.

Darrell Jordan: Would hire up to 3 ½ police officers per 1,000 residents. He would invest heavily in community-based policing but wouldn't advocate raising taxes to do it. "I don't think it'll require any tax increases, and I don't think people want to hear about tax increases."

Tom Leppert: Would increase the police force by hundreds of officers and expand crime-watch programs. He opposes raising taxes to do so. "We've got to use the existing budget structure to address our priority."

Ed Oakley: Would continue implementing Dallas' current crime reduction plan, which focuses on hiring 100 new officers annually. "For the first time in 20 years, Dallas is headed in the right direction with the plan that we've got." He supports a dedicated sales tax increase for crime fighting.

Edward Okpa: Would focus on empowering communities to identify and guard against crime but is wary of increasing the size of the police force. "What assurances do we have that having these new officers will cause our crime to drop?"

Max Wells: Would create an "anti-crime district" and fund it with a half-cent sales tax increase (subject to state approval) or a local property tax increase. "When you have crime like we do here in this city, people are willing to go to extraordinary lengths to stop it."

[sogod]

Jennifer Gale: Would lobby the state and federal governments to increase the minimum wage to $15 or $20 an hour – a wage that she says would provide people an economic incentive to not commit crime.

Wow. It never fails to amaze me how much A. people don't understand economics, and B. people think they have the right to tell others what to do.

Well, I am sure that the one Wal-mart cashier who manages to keep his job for every two that are layed off or replaced with less expensive machines would indeed be less prone to commit crime... mostly since he will now be so busy doing the job of 3 people. Though I am curious what her plan is for all the people she wants to make unemployed.

But at least we can all agree (as she is implying) that poor people are responsible for crime ;)

[warlock55]

I don't know which is the more naive suggestion, that lobbying for an increase in the Federal minimum wage is the best way to reduce crime in Dallas, or that the tens of millions of dollars increase in personnel costs that would accompany hiring hundreds of officers could be found without raising taxes.



Wow. It never fails to amaze me how much A. people don't understand economics, and B. people think they have the right to tell others what to do.

Well, I am sure that the one Wal-mart cashier who manages to keep his job for every two that are layed off or replaced with less expensive machines would indeed be less prone to commit crime... mostly since he will now be so busy doing the job of 3 people. Though I am curious what her plan is for all the people she wants to make unemployed.

But at least we can all agree (as she is implying) that poor people are responsible for crime ;)

And it always amazes me that some people always argue that an increase in the minimum wage mandates layoffs, and that people complain about being told what to do in a democracy. If you don't like it, get people to vote for what you do want, yeesh.

[sogod]

And it always amazes me that some people always argue that an increase in the minimum wage mandates layoffs, and that people complain about being told what to do in a democracy. If you don't like it, get people to vote for what you do want, yeesh.

Its simple math dude. If you dont understand it, then take a while to think about why Europe has nearly double our unemployment and about 2/3 our GDP per capita. Ill give you a hint, its laws invented by dump people with the best of intentions but no foresight.

And do you honestly believe the government has the right to do anything it wants, as long as its a democracy? Do you find yourself saying "dont complain, just vote for someone else" in response to criticism of GWBs immoral and unconstitutional reign?

[warlock55]

Its simple math dude. If you dont understand it, then take a while to think about why Europe has nearly double our unemployment and about 2/3 our GDP per capita. Ill give you a hint, its laws invented by dump people with the best of intentions but no foresight.

And do you honestly believe the government has the right to do anything it wants, as long as its a democracy? Do you find yourself saying "dont complain, just vote for someone else" in response to criticism of GWBs immoral and unconstitutional reign?

You know what another simple answer would be? Prices increasing instead of people being laid off. And how much difference is there between earning minimum wage and living in poverty and being unemployed and living in poverty in terms of quality of life? Anyway, I wouldn't be surprised to see that unemployed people in Europe actually have a higher standard of living than some people making minimum wage here.

Secondly, there's a big difference between government having the right to tell you what to do and for it to have the right to do anything. All the government does is what the citizens tell it and allow it to do.

[warlock55]

ANYWAY...


Right now the Trinity River Tollway is my number 1 issue. It's something the mayor can actually influence. I'd rather leave the matter of crime reduction to the city manager and the police chief. It's funny that all the candidates immediately pulled a "crime plan" out of the air once the polls showed it was a big issue, instead of saying something more reasonable like vowing to work with the city staff to accomplish what objective analysis and professional opinion show to be the most effective steps to take.

[Mballar]

...It's funny that all the candidates immediately pulled a "crime plan" out of the air once the polls showed it was a big issue, instead of saying something more reasonable like vowing to work with the city staff to accomplish what objective analysis and professional opinion show to be the most effective steps to take.
That's why people should ask the mayoral candidates real meaningful questions like: "since you've devised this 'crime plan,' what in the hell, under the 14-1 system, do you think you can do to see that your plan is implemented?" Let's not allow these candidates off the hook that easy.

[UrbanHope]

Right now the Trinity River Tollway is my number 1 issue. It's something the mayor can actually influence.

Come join us @ www.TrinityVote.com

For the record, Max Wells is the only person STILL ducking the issue w/r/t where he stands on the Trinity Project as it stands....I bet he's for it.

[dfwcre8tive]

Mayoral hopefuls covet Southern sector vote
Potential for heavy turnout makes area a critical battleground in race
07:31 AM CDT on Sunday, March 25, 2007
By GROMER JEFFERS Jr. / The Dallas Morning News
gjeffers@dallasnews.com
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/032507dnmetsouth.4044fe3.html

When mayoral candidates visit Anna Hill's tiny neighborhood association in Dallas' southern sector, she expresses her concerns about crime, neighborhood stabilization and economic vitality.

Then she makes a deceptively simple request.

"It would be nice if we had a Starbucks over here," Ms. Hill said from her home in the Dolphin Heights neighborhood in South Dallas. "We have a McDonald's nearby, but that's not even in our neighborhood."

For Ms. Hill and other southern-sector residents, now is the time to dictate their wish lists to the cadre of contenders looking to be the next mayor.

Their part of the city, the area south of Interstate 30 that's home to roughly 300,000 potential voters, is considered crucial to the aspirations of most of the major mayoral candidates in the May 12 election.

Never has the southern sector seen so much attention from so many candidates. Why are they there?

For one thing, southern-sector turnout could be heavy. Voters there face contested races in five council districts with open seats.

In some neighborhoods, the council races, which feature a total of 40 candidates, could draw more attention than the race for mayor.

That's quite a lure for candidates who remember the unprecedented southern turnout in May 2005 that sank a referendum to strengthen powers of the Dallas mayor.

The large number of mayoral candidates – 10 as of Friday – and the likelihood that the vote-rich north will be carved between several hopefuls make the south a natural, if tricky, battleground.

Candidates for mayor sense a perfect political storm brewing, one that could have a southern breeze pushing one of them all the way to City Hall.

"It's a growing recognition that in order to win you have to appeal to a broad segment of our political and ethnic groups," former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk said.

Contenders are pulling out all the stops. They have hired political operatives and in some cases are using surrogates to deliver their messages. Others have walked through a soul food cafe or stopped at a black barbershop for a shoeshine.

Mr. Kirk, who became the city's first black mayor by romping through the southern sector, said it would take more than surface campaigning to win over voters.

"The candidate with the deepest involvement, knowledge, understanding and respect for south Dallas will win," he said. "One photo op is not going to do it."

In the May 2005 strong-mayor election, black voters voted at a rate higher than their white counterparts. And most of those black voters live in the south.

"The activity for this election is evidence of the expanding impact of the strong-mayor vote," Mr. Kirk said.

But some analysts contend that the absence of Ms. Miller from this year's political equation does not bode well for a strong turnout, north or south.

Throughout her political career, Ms. Miller has elicited passionate responses from both friends and foes. The fact that she was mayor at the time of the strong-mayor votes generally is credited for the surge of black voters.

"You don't have the hatred vote or the support vote," Dallas County Elections Administrator Bruce Sherbet said.

Dedicated efforts

Most of the major candidates have a southern strategy.

Dallas lawyer Don Hill is considered the front-runner in the south because he has represented District 5 in southeast Dallas for almost eight years.

In the southern sector, his part in a continuing FBI public corruption investigation appears not to be much of a factor. And candidates have not referred to the investigation on the campaign trail, though former council member and mayoral candidate Max Wells lists the need for ethics in government as an issue facing the south.

On Friday, Mr. Hill greeted potential voters at the South Dallas Cafe, a soul food restaurant near Fair Park.

He moved with ease among the patrons, hugging jazz saxophonist Don Diego, who was performing for the lunch crowd.

"I really have to do well here," he said of the southern sector. "They know me. This is my community. This is my church. This is my barbershop. I'm one of them."

He stood in line for food, eventually sitting down to a plate of baked chicken and greens.

"There are a lot of quality-of-life issues – the need for restaurants, shops, libraries – that I understand. They know I'm home," he said.

Council member Ed Oakley, who has represented parts of Oak Cliff since 2001, also feels comfortable in the south.

"We've walked every district in the southern sector," he said. "I go home there every night."

Guadalupe Garcia, who operates the Calvario Funeral Home in north Oak Cliff, said candidates should be talking about ways to enforce the city's codes. Many southern-sector neighborhoods are blighted and overrun by packs of stray animals.

"How can you have meaningful economic development when you have packs of dogs roaming the neighborhoods?" Mr. Garcia said.

On Saturday, Mr. Wells held his fourth southern town hall meeting with about 20 seniors in a gym at Bruton Terrace Church of the Nazarene.

He said he understands the code enforcement problems troubling residents there.

"I'm here," Mr. Wells said of his southern-sector campaign. "I see the stray dogs. I'm listening, asking for concerns and making sure I understand what people are thinking."

One of Mr. Wells' chief rivals, former Turner Corp. CEO Tom Leppert, has concentrated much of his early campaign effort in the southern sector.

On Thursday, Mr. Leppert, joined by Cowboys legend Roger Staubach, met with supporters and business leaders at St. Martin's Place in South Dallas. He has made economic empowerment a campaign issue.

"If everybody doesn't feel ownership, or feel engaged, we're not going to be successful," Mr. Leppert said.

He said that the construction giant Turner Corp. gave minority vendors more than $1 billion in contracts in 2005 and that he understands that economic empowerment is a central campaign issue.

No smooth ride

The road south is not without pitfalls. Southern Dallas is a political island, with issues and characters far different from those in the north, and many of its residents harbor a distrust of government and the business establishment. Candidates often find it difficult to craft campaigns that play well both north and south of the Trinity River.

Jerry Christian, head of the African-American Pastors Coalition, closely questioned Mr. Leppert at his Thursday campaign stop about his southern-sector agenda.

"You talk about crime and more police," Mr. Christian said. "But I don't see you or any of the other candidates addressing the issue of racism."

By chance, Mr. Christian was getting a haircut at Graham's Barbershop in South Dallas on Friday when council member and mayoral candidate Gary Griffith strolled in, to the surprise of patrons. He treated Mr. Griffith to the same stern lecture.

Mr. Griffith took that in stride, shaking a couple of hands before agreeing to get his shoes shined.

Speaking from the chair, Mr. Griffith said the City Council has been committed to southern-sector development.

"We're going to stay focused on the priorities of crime and education, which lead to stronger economic development."

But that didn't impress barbershop customer Stan Lemons, who said he wasn't likely to see Mr. Griffith until the next election.

"Next time, don't just get a shine," Mr. Lemons said in Mr. Griffith's direction. "Bring some jobs."

Jane Hamilton, political director for the Texas Democratic Trust and coordinator of the campaign that swept Democrats into county offices last year, says issues confronting southern-sector voters could appeal to minorities and progressives all over the city.

"No one can dispute the importance of gaining support in the southern sector," Ms. Hamilton said. "Any candidate who consolidates that support is going in with a significant advantage. However, with neighborhoods becoming more diverse, Dallas is becoming a city less likely to be won by simple geographical targeting."

Dallas lawyer and mayoral candidate Darrell Jordan said certain things are the same, north and south.

"It's the same all over the city," he said. "It's not just the southern sector with quality-of-life issues. There's still a resentment about the way some people feel they were treated by the incumbent mayor. ... I want to make sure when I'm mayor there's no perceived slight."

Candidate Sam Coats, a former airline executive, said he's learning about neighborhoods in the south. He said city officials should be held accountable for the lack of progress and development in the southern sector.

"It's too easy to have de facto segregation in a city this size," he said.

Meanwhile, Ms. Hill, the Dolphin Heights neighborhood leader, said she hopes her southern neighbors demonstrate their political clout on Election Day.

"We could have a say in the next mayor if everybody gets out and votes," she said. "I don't know if that will happen, but that's the only way we are going to have a say."

[dfwcre8tive]

Dallas mayoral campaign gets testy
Leppert and Wells joust over tactics for combating crime
09:30 PM CDT on Saturday, March 24, 2007
By DAVE LEVINTHAL / The Dallas Morning News
dlevinthal@dallasnews.com
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/local/stories/032407dnmetmayorspat.36f13df.html

For months, they've been cordial, even friendly. Kind words and pats on backs aren't uncommon.

But now, some of Dallas' leading mayoral candidates are getting snippy, even personal. This change in tenor may indicate a shift in campaign tactics as the candidates struggle to differentiate themselves in a huge field – 10 candidates as of Friday.

Consider a round of crime-related exchanges late this week between former Turner Corp. chairman and chief executive Tom Leppert and banker and former Mayor Pro Tem Max Wells.

In a citywide mailer to 83,000 voters, Mr. Leppert blasts Mr. Wells' crime-fighting plan that he deems a "crutch that enables wasteful spending at City Hall."

Mr. Wells' plan, which recommends increasing either sales or property taxes to provide overwhelming and dedicated crime-fighting resources to Dallas, won't work, Mr. Leppert contends, because, "In business, I've learned that you can't spend your way to success, and the same is true for Dallas: We can't tax our way to safety."

Mr. Leppert is against a tax increase and says Dallas can bolster its police force, improve community policing and reduce crime without one.

On Friday, Mr. Wells shot back.

"Look, I understand that since Mr. Leppert has only been in Dallas for three years, he doesn't comprehend the depth of the problem or the passion we feel about solving this issue," Mr. Wells wrote in a response to Mr. Leppert's mailer. "Sure, it's easy to create a corporate policy statement that you are against crime; it's a lot harder to come up with a solution with a plan to pay for it."

In interviews Friday, neither candidate relented.

Leppert's ideas

Mr. Leppert, who lived in University Park and Highland Park before moving inside Dallas' city limits three years ago, reeled off a list of Dallas-based organizations with which he's worked for years. He also noted that he moved Turner Corp.'s operations to Dallas.
"My actions speak louder than any words," Mr. Leppert said.

So why would Mr. Wells say what he did?

"They felt that we're in the front, and that they had to address our standing," Mr. Leppert said. "Our disagreement is that you can't solve crime with new taxes on hardworking people who are already taxed enough."

Wells' proposals

Not so, Mr. Wells says.

"His plan is rhetoric. It's a PR piece," said Mr. Wells, whose plan calls for a half-cent sales tax increase (subject to state legislative approval) generating $100 million annually, or a property tax increase raising $50 million annually. Both increases would go before voters in a referendum and be subject to reauthorization every five years, Mr. Wells said.

"I'm a little surprised he took the time out to whack at me, at my plan. When you pick me as a target, and a plan that has a lot of support as a target, we're going to answer every time," Mr. Wells said.

Jordan's plan

"Max is talking to different people than I'm talking to," said lawyer Darrell Jordan, who's released his own point-by-point crime-fighting plan, which doesn't include a tax increase. "I don't know many people who want that kind of tax increase. For Dallas, it's sort of a far-out solution. And it takes too long – it couldn't be implemented for 2 ½ or three years. There's a better way to solve it."

Mr. Jordan says he has no plans to turn the campaign personal in hopes of scoring points with voters.

"Only when I feel something I said or advocated for has been misrepresented, and then, I will respond appropriately," he said.

Dallas' mayoral candidates next appear together Monday night in a mayoral forum. Among the key topics up for discussion: candidates' crime plans.


AD WATCH

Checking mayoral candidate Tom Leppert's recent campaign mailer on crime:

The details: The Leppert campaign says it sent the full-color mailer ( See the mailer [.pdf] ) to 83,000 Dallas households late this week. That'll easily set the campaign back at least $100,000. But with the best fundraising machine in the Dallas mayoral race, Mr. Leppert can easily afford it.

The content: A shadowy figure lies on the ground, his hands cuffed behind him with a Dallas Police Department squad car nearby. "Dallas has been held hostage to violent crime for too long," a headline says. To that end, Mr. Leppert proposes hiring new police officers, retaining the ones the city has, empowering crime watch groups and settling a long-standing lawsuit by public safety personnel over pay raises. Clad in shirtsleeves, the candidate is pictured talking to a well-dressed white-haired woman.

But Dallas doesn't need a tax-increasing "crime district" – a proposal by Leppert mayoral opponent and former Mayor Pro Tem Max Wells – to reduce crime.

"While this 'special crime district' is being touted as the key to fighting crime, it's important to call it what it is: a new tax. In business, I've learned that you can't spend your way to success, and the same is true for Dallas: we can't tax our way to safety," Mr. Leppert writes. "Instead, we must step back, review how we are using all our city's resources and set new priorities. The 'special crime district' tax should be a last resort – not a crutch that enables wasteful spending at City Hall."

Analysis: That white-haired woman? She's LaNeil Wright Spivy, a longtime leader of the Texas and Dallas wings of the Eagle Forum, a group whose stated mission is "to enable conservative and pro-family men and women to participate in the process of self-government and public policymaking."

The mailer appeals to more conservative, northern-sector residents who want a more no-holds-barred approach toward Dallas' omnipresent crime problem. But these voters also are most likely inclined to oppose tax increases, and Mr. Leppert is betting Mr. Wells' plan won't resonate with them. Mr. Leppert never mentions Mr. Wells by name, but clearly, this is a big-dollar shot at his proposal.

The mailer also contains an error: Mr. Leppert states, "[We] also have fewer officers on the streets per capita than any other major city in America – less than three officers per 1,000 citizens, which is below the standard set by our City Charter."

There is no such language in the City Charter, City Manager Mary Suhm and First Assistant City Manager Ryan Evans confirmed. The language is contained in an ordinance passed by the City Council, and it's nonbinding.

[Cliff Dweller]

Mayoral hopefuls covet Southern sector vote
Potential for heavy turnout makes area a critical battleground in race
07:31 AM CDT on Sunday, March 25, 2007
By GROMER JEFFERS Jr. / The Dallas Morning News

How many different ways can Gromer write the same article? And he survived the DMN purge, why?

[SDORN]

Personally I am not voting for this project now, since this city has lied to the votors, at this point I realy don't care if this Trinity River Project Survives. Before we are asked to vote for anything we need plans concrete and ready to go. The City should have considered the Levee study before before putting it before the votors. I am ashamed that I voted for this project in the last election. If it comes up in a recall during the mayoral election I will vote against it. I don't want a toll road in Downtown Dallas period, plus it will cost alot to maintain the park, that means more tax money out of our pockets, this place will also attract panhandlers and crime, so you will need more security. The object here is to reduce crime not increase it.

QUOTE=UrbanHope]Come join us @ www.TrinityVote.com

For the record, Max Wells is the only person STILL ducking the issue w/r/t where he stands on the Trinity Project as it stands....I bet he's for it.[/QUOTE]

[dfwcre8tive]

Down to 10 now...

Mayoral candidate Okpa disqualified
02:38 PM CDT on Monday, March 26, 2007
By DAVE LEVINTHAL / The Dallas Morning News
dlevinthal@dallasnews.com
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/032707dnmetokpa.22eceb9.html

The Dallas City Secretary's Office has kicked mayoral candidate Edward Okpa off the city's May 12 ballot because he did not submit enough valid voter signatures to qualify, Assistant City Secretary Rosa Rios said Monday.

Mr. Okpa was six signatures short of the 473-signature minimum, Ms. Rios said.

"That's not possible. They made a mistake," Mr. Okpa said Monday afternoon. "My lawyer is talking to them, and we will file a lawsuit if we have to. We're going to be back on. This is depressing, but we're confident that we have the required voter signatures."

In 2003, Mr. Okpa finished third among five Dallas mayoral candidates.

His disqualification leaves Dallas' 2007 mayoral field with 10 candidates, as on Thursday, the city secretary's office also disqualified American Way magazine editor and former Dallas Observer columnist Zac Crain and political activist Evelyn Daniel from the mayor's race.

Mr. Crain is waging his own fight for reinstatement, arguing that the city disallowed signatures that were actually valid. Officially, the city says Mr. Crain is about 50 signatures short of the 473-signature minimum, with many of the signatures coming from people who apparently lived outside of Dallas or weren't registered voters.

"[I]t looks as though we'll be back on the ballot soon," Mr. Crain wrote in an e-mail. "The City Secretary's Office apparently suffered from some confusion and miscommunication with the county elections office and illegally invalidated some petition signatures, although they're being very helpful and willing to correct the matter ... As far as requalifying for the ballot, the city said that there is a "process" and we should know sometime soon. But my manager says that he can't see any way that they would keep me off the ballot."

Ms. Rios offered a different perspective.

"Mr. Crain's representative visited Dallas County and checked the signatures we found to not qualify," Ms. Rios wrote in an e-mail. "Those were resubmitted to our office late Friday for reconsideration. We have started reviewing and it is too early in the process to determine whether or not there will be sufficient signatures to provide for Mr. Crain's qualification to run for office.

"Of course, if we are unable to qualify Mr. Crain, he can opt to legally challenge the position of this office," Ms. Rios added.

Ms. Rios said her office should have some indication of where Mr. Crain stands by Monday.

Meanwhile, the 10 other mayoral candidates who have officially qualified for ballot spots aren't waiting around: Most of them have packed campaign calendars this week, including a forum Monday evening in East Dallas.

[trolleygirl]

Just got back in town and catching up. GG knows all too well about the use of tax dollars for funding private security and off-duty cops. So, PID’s and ENP’s are okay but a 1/2 cent city-wide sales isn’t? I don’t get it.

My neighborhood in south Dallas has an ENP. We don’t like our tax dollars increasing any more than the next neighborhood but it’s terribly difficult to find one person on my hood who isn’t willing to pay the neighborhood association $10 extra a month for an off-duty cop. I wasn’t a big believer at first but when we started campaigning, everyone wanted to give to the program. Even seniors on fixed incomes.

My belief is this: ya never know if ya don’t ask. And everyone in Dallas is fed up with our crime and tired of being rated Number One by the FBI’s UCR. We know we have too few cops on the street and another one was just gunned down. We have scores of neighborhoods across the city paying extra for ENP’s, there’s even one PID whose sole purpose is to provide 24-hour off-duty police security. The PID I used to work for spent over half its budget on stupid flashlight cops to patrol at night. People will pay for anti-crime initiatives.

I hate that it’s a reality and it’s unfair (I’ve heard tell that my neighborhood was the first in the southern sector to have an ENP), but my biggest concern is in allowing the City to manage an “Anti-Crime” District with added tax dollars. At some point, there should be an end point, where we would have enough officers and not need the added dollars and the so-called “District” would sunset.

It’s a good idea and I think warrants serious discussion because it brings up a lot of other important issues that need to be brought to bear during this campaign.

[dfwcre8tive]

Take the poll

http://dallas.bizjournals.com/dallas/poll/index.html?poll_id=3079

[deepsheet]

I've been absent from the area during Miller's tenure - not because of her, just coincidental; unless it was something unconscious, and instinct - and this thought just hit me: during her time with the Observer (she did write for the Observer, correct?) she was a hound for exposing the darkness behind famous people who wore white countenances. I just have to wonder if she ever wrote exposes on herself, or if the Dallas Observer has ever been critical of her term.
She always struck me as someone who assumes they are on a higher plane of knowledge and existence than the majority of those who might be within a hundred yard radius of her being.

Okay, never mind.
Carry on...

[trolleygirl]

I've been absent from the area during Miller's tenure - not because of her, just coincidental; unless it was something unconscious, and instinct - and this thought just hit me: during her time with the Observer (she did write for the Observer, correct?) she was a hound for exposing the darkness behind famous people who wore white countenances. I just have to wonder if she ever wrote exposes on herself, or if the Dallas Observer has ever been critical of her term.
She always struck me as someone who assumes they are on a higher plane of knowledge and existence than the majority of those who might be within a hundred yard radius of her being.

Okay, never mind.
Carry on...

Um yes, that is very true. Luara Miller always wants to be the smartest, prettiest girl in the class...

[freewaytincan]

Um yes, that is very true. Luara Miller always wants to be the smartest, prettiest girl in the class...

too late for her.

[UrbanHope]

How many different ways can Gromer write the same article?

Apparently, many times.

[3rd time the charm]

Take the poll

http://dallas.bizjournals.com/dallas/poll/index.html?poll_id=3079


This is my fav comment there,

"Let's see: a plagiarist, a polluter, someone under FBI investigation, etc. What wonderful choices we have. "

[dfwcre8tive]

Okpa gets back into mayor's race; Crain still out
Dallas: Officials accept his appeal but stand by disqualification
07:39 AM CDT on Friday, March 30, 2007
By DAVE LEVINTHAL / The Dallas Morning News
dlevinthal@dallasnews.com
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/local/stories/033007dnmetokpa.11d123d5.html

Dallas city officials on Thursday reinstated mayoral candidate Edward Okpa to the May 12 ballot, a week after disqualifying him for failing to submit enough valid voter signatures on his candidate petition.

But City Secretary Deborah Watkins said the city has rejected magazine editor Zac Crain's reinstatement appeal after also disqualifying him last week for a lack of valid signatures.

Mr. Crain says he probably will not take legal action against the city – his only remaining option.

"It's still tough for me to believe we don't have 473," Mr. Crain said, citing the minimum number of valid signatures candidates must submit to secure a ballot spot. "But I'm not a fan of lawsuits in general, and in this case, to what end? We really wouldn't have time to campaign. There doesn't seem to be a point of continuing on."

While "very happy" with his reinstatement, Mr. Okpa strongly criticized Dallas officials for what he considers a flawed signature verification process. Fighting the city's original decision cost Mr. Okpa thousands of dollars and a week of campaign time wasted, he said.

"It shows you how lousy the process is. Why did I have to go through what I went through? Why was it that they didn't see the first time what they saw in the end?" Mr. Okpa said, adding that he's consulting the U.S. Department of Justice about pursuing an investigation of the candidate verification process.
...

[trolleygirl]

Congrats Mr. Okpa!

[3rd time the charm]

Is there a website that has info on all the candidates and what they stand for? I dont even know who half the people are.

[dfwcre8tive]

Is there a website that has info on all the candidates and what they stand for? I dont even know who half the people are.

See post #106... Pegasus News has all the listings but not much about what they stand for.

[3rd time the charm]

For us that dont read that "news" site, any real options out there?

[Random Traffic Guy]

Sharon Boyd's List (http://www.dallasarena.com/n070330.htm)

Glad I don't live in Dallas anymore, looking at the list. Crain would have been interesting, Jordan maybe. Of course I thought"Signature Schools before Signature Parks" La Miller would have been a good mayor at one time too.

[dfwcre8tive]

For us that dont read that "news" site, any real options out there?

Dallas Morning News List:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/local/stories/candidatebios.63bef02.html

[Mballar]

Okpa shouldn't complain too much about any time lost campaigning. He got more publicity the past two weeks from the disqualification/reinstatement than his campaign would have been able to generate, anyway.

[trolleygirl]

Okpa shouldn't complain too much about any time lost campaigning. He got more publicity the past two weeks from the disqualification/reinstatement than his campaign would have been able to generate, anyway.

Good point...

[Cliff Dweller]

Just a reminder - mayoral forum this Thursday (4/5)

The Old Oak Cliff Conservation League will be holding a candidate forum April 5th. It will be at the Hitt Auditorium at Methodist Hospital (1441 N. Beckley) from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.

Come hear the candidates in person and continue the weeding out process!


ETA - Co-sponsored by the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce, Methodist Health Systems and the Oak Cliff Tribune.

[dfwcre8tive]

Mayoral hopefuls clear the air on stocks
Elections: Coats says TXI link beneficial; Griffith sold TXU shares
07:47 AM CDT on Thursday, April 5, 2007
By DAVE LEVINTHAL / The Dallas Morning News
dlevinthal@dallasnews.com
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/040507dnmetcandidatefinance.38c92e3.html

Two men vying to replace clean-air champion Laura Miller as Dallas mayor invested in companies environmentalists have strongly criticized for polluting North Texas' skies.

During 2006, former airline executive Sam Coats reported owning between 500 and 999 shares of stock in cement company Texas Industries Inc. Mr. Coats also is a member of the company's board of directors.

District 9 City Council member Gary Griffith, meanwhile, owned between 100 and 499 shares of TXU Corp. stock, selling it for a profit of up to $4,999, according to mandatory personal financial statements candidates filed this week.

Both mayoral candidates say they're actively fighting to improving North Texas' air quality.

Mr. Coats, a self-affirmed environmentalist, says his involvement with Texas Industries – commonly known as TXI – has helped the company become more environmentally sensitive.

"I can do more good environmentally from the inside, on the board, than I could ever chucking rocks at them from the outside," he said, noting that the company has, at his behest, begun conducting environmental reviews of its projects.

Texas Industries operates three Midlothian cement kilns that represent some of the area's largest industrial sources of ozone-generating pollution.

The company's stock ranged from closing prices of $44.24 to $68.50 per share in 2006. Using the high price, the gross value of Mr. Coats' stock stood between $34,250 and $68,431, depending on how many shares he owned.

In September, Mr. Griffith voted in favor of Dallas joining and helping fund the Texas Cities for Clean Air Coalition, which has fought TXU's push to win state approval to build 11 coal-fired power plants.

Ms. Miller and Houston Mayor Bill White, who helped form the coalition last year, have since fought TXU's efforts, arguing that the plants' emissions would further degrade Texas's frequently poor air quality. TXU recently revised its plant-building plan to include only three conventional coal-fired plants.

"That's why I sold the stock last year, to make sure I didn't have a conflict of interest of any sort and so I would be able to speak out against the plants," Mr. Griffith said. "We're going in the right direction with the coalition, and as mayor, I'm going to be an advocate for clear air."

TXU's stock ranged from closing prices of $44.72 to $66.98 per share in 2006. Using the high price, the gross value of Mr. Griffith's stock stood between $6,698 and $33,423, depending on how many shares he owned.

Candidates are only required to provide broad ranges of their share holdings, as well as any gains or losses from selling shares.

District 3 City Council candidate Dave Neumann (500 to 999 shares) and District 9 candidate Jill Kotvis (100 to 499) also reported owning TXU stock in 2006 among their numerous other equity investments.

Also of note:

• Oil stocks are a popular investment among candidates.

District 13 City Council incumbent Mitchell Rasansky reported owning between 1,000 and 4,999 shares of Exxon Mobil Corp. stock, District 7 candidate Helene McKinney reported between 500 and 999 Exxon Mobil shares, mayoral candidate and lawyer Darrell Jordan and Mr. Neumann each reported owning between 100 and 499 shares, and District 12 council incumbent Ron Natinsky reported owning between 100 and 499 shares jointly with his wife and fewer than 100 shares individually.

Mr. Natinsky also owned fewer than 100 Conoco Phillips shares, while Mr. Griffith reported owning between 100 and 499 Chevron shares.

• Former Turner Corp. chairman and chief executive Tom Leppert reported owning at least 10,000 shares each of Turner Corp., Dallas City Bank and biomedical company Tissue Genesis. Banker and former Mayor Pro Tem Max Wells reported owning at least 10,000 shares of Sterling Bancshares of Texas and at least 1,000 shares of nine other companies, including Citigroup, Kimberly Clark and Nokia.

• Don't hesitate asking Mr. Jordan for a Frosty: He reported a stake in a limited liability company that owns 18 Wendy's restaurants in Texas.

• Dallas officeholders not running for re-election, including Ms. Miller, do not have to submit their personal financial statements until later this spring.

[dfwcre8tive]

You Tube Videos:

John Capello:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=JohnCMayor

Sam Coats:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=SamCoatsforMayor

Don Hill:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=AllKnightAccess

Tom Leppert:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=tomleppert07

Max Wells:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=maxwellsformayor

[trolleygirl]

I have a love/hate attitude towards Don Hill's video- I like the way its makes DTD look sooo.....oh I dunno, urban,. but I hate the format.

Leppert's are very glossy, you can tell that he spent a bunch to make them. Plus, he's comfortable in front of the camera- a plus for a mayoral candidate.

Max Wells = zzzzzzzz

Sam Coats.....kinda just makes ya feel good abot feeling good.

John Cappello's is just dumb. Who is that guy anyway? Hey dude, glad you have a family and you love them, but how's that qualify you as Mayor???

[UrbanHope]

Max Wells has an outright scary video. go to his website and let me know what you think.

[BigD5349]

Leppert has lead in mayoral funds race

Oakley has nearly as much cash; others far behind

08:32 PM CDT on Thursday, April 12, 2007
By DAVE LEVINTHAL / The Dallas Morning News
dlevinthal@dallasnews.com

With Dallas' mayoral election less than a month away, former construction company executive Tom Leppert is raising and spending more money than any of his numerous rivals, according to mandatory campaign finance filing reports submitted Thursday to Dallas City Hall.

But District 3 City Council member Ed Oakley's fundraising machine generated nearly as much cash as Mr. Leppert's campaign. Mr. Leppert reported raising $553,166 in contributions to Mr. Oakley's $511,870 during the most recent candidate reporting period, Jan. 1 to April 2.

The two candidates significantly outpaced the reported contributions by the field's nine other mayoral hopefuls, including lawyer Darrell Jordan ($230,943), District 9 City Council member Gary Griffith ($168,923), banker Max Wells ($161,034) and former airline executive Sam Coats ($110,910).

Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill had not yet submitted his financial report to Dallas City Hall. City election regulations required candidates to postmark their reports by Thursday if submitting them by mail. Mr. Hill said by phone Thursday evening that he expected to report contributions between $100,000 and $110,000, and cash on hand of about $15,000.

Regardless of the wide range of their figures, the candidates on Thursday used their reports to justify the health and vitality of their campaigns in this crowded race in which candidates have struggled to connect with voters and disseminate their messages.

"The filing, it shows a lot of support, and I’m really excited about that. And it shows a lot of trust in me, and I take that trust seriously," said Mr. Leppert, who has used his money to produce a string of TV, radio and print advertisements. "The support is from all over. There are large contributions, there are small contributions."

Mr. Oakley, who has yet to use his money on TV and radio advertisements, said his financial situation "puts me in a position to do everything I need to do in this campaign. I feel very confident I’ll make the runoff."

While Mr. Wells placed fifth among the 11 candidates in contributions this reporting period, he enjoys a slight lead among them in available cash, reporting just over a half-million dollars in remaining funds thanks in large part to $600,000 worth of personal loans he’s made to his own campaign, including $300,000 on March 31.

Mr. Leppert reported $474,869 cash on hand, while Mr. Oakley reported $365,796 and Mr. Griffith $310,499.

"We're doing pretty good, and I’m happy with where we are," said Mr. Wells, who released his first TV advertisement Thursday. "We’ve always known that we would be out-raised and outspent, but we won't be outworked. I don't think there will be any voter in Dallas who won’t know my name by Election Day."

Said Mr. Leppert: "I have never been outworked in anything I’ve ever done in my life."

Said Mr. Oakley: "Tell me any other campaign that's literally knocked on 70,000 doors in this city. I'm winning it the old-fashioned way."

Fifty-nine of Mr. Leppert's contributions were for the maximum amount allowed by law - $5,000 - and his donor list is a veritable who's who of the wealthy and well-connected: U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, businessman Ross Perot, former American Airlines chief executive Don Carty, Southwest Airlines chairman Herb Kelleher and recently deceased developer Raymond Nasher, among others.

The Leppert campaign says that Gen. Powell is a long-time associate of the candidate and that the two met while Mr. Leppert was serving as a White House fellow in the Reagan administration during the mid-1980s.

Mr. Oakley reported 44 maximum donations, drawing money from such contributors as real estate moguls Trammell Crow and Harlan Crow and developer Larry Hamilton. Mr. Kelleher, Southwest Airlines' chairman, also contributed to Mr. Oakley's campaign; he previously has contributed to Mr. Coats' campaign.

Mr. Leppert's campaign expenditures for the period - $773,111 - far exceed those reported so far by his rivals. Mr. Wells placed second in expenditures with $481,678, while Mr. Griffith spent nearly $304,000.

The remaining candidates each spent less than $200,000, according to their filings.

Matthew Wilson, a Southern Methodist University political science professor, predicts that the candidates will wait until right before Election Day on May 12 to make their strongest media pushes.

Therefore, candidates with the most robust fund-raising operations will probably get their messages out most effectively and distinguish themselves most profoundly when it counts, Dr. Wilson said. He also suggested that candidates who have raised their money through outside contributions may have a better shot at making the June 16 runoff election, to which only two candidates will advance.

"Every dollar is worth the same as far as buying advertising is concerned. But there's the question of what else money signifies," Dr. Wilson said."“Contributions signify that there are other people besides yourself who believe in your campaign. Loans don't."

Thursday's filings weren’t without their oddities.

For example, on a day Mr. Griffith unveiled a TV advertisement touting his support and admiration for presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, Mr. Leppert's report listed a $2,500 contribution on April 2 from the "Bracewell & Giuliani Committee" - the political committee of Mr. Giuliani's law firm.

[BigD5349]

I would love to match up Oakley's campaign contributions to the "stakeholders" for the Trinity Toll Road.

[hamiltonpl]

What's up with Gary Griffith's mayoral advertisement supporting Rudy Giuliani for President? What does that have to with Griffith being mayor?

[Milkman Dan]

^
I was simply at a complete loss when I read that. What possible good could come from stating that?

[Cliff Dweller]

Probably he thinks it will play well with the Republican voters in North Dallas. At the Oak Cliff forum last week he also used the phrase "Stay the course" with a straight face (talking about the Trinity project). Apparently he's decided his strategy is to court republican and conservative voters.

[Milkman Dan]

Rudy is far from a sure bet for many social and religious conservatives in North Dallas. Tom Hicks is his (Rudy's) local fundraising manager, so that could be the angle he's going for I suppose... It's just strange IMO.

[trolleygirl]

I would love to match up Oakley's campaign contributions to the "stakeholders" for the Trinity Toll Road.

I can tell you who the Trinity "stakeholders" are contributing to......and it ain't Oakley. It's Leppert.

[trolleygirl]

What's up with Gary Griffith's mayoral advertisement supporting Rudy Giuliani for President? What does that have to with Griffith being mayor?

He's courting Republican voters in this non-partisan, local City Mayor's race. He obviously doesn't understand how LOCAL politics works in this town which is just too bad, so sad for him (and BTW, Guliani has contributed to a Dallas campaign and it asin't GG's, it's....guess.....come on, one gues........I'll give you a hint, his initials are Tom Leppert.) GG's got nothing, no strategy and so he's falling back on a tired and worn out strategy that just doesn't work with the north Dallas conservatives (who always vote for anti-crime and will likey support Wells).....hopefully when this is over he'll just slink back into obscurity.

[Columbus Civil]

Tell me who to vote for.

[3rd time the charm]

Tell me who to vote for.

I have no idea whom I am going to vote for either. I wish I was in the race, then it would be alot easier. Suppose their is always next time.