Mayor Park Cities is trying to retire a $1 million campaign debt. The pro-toll road campaign group is using viral emails — which are more or less free — and we still haven’t seen any radio, TV or another direct mail piece. As noted earlier: What happened to all of the money they were supposed to have to push the Belo Parkway down our throats?

The election is in four weeks, and early voting starts next week. We should have seen something by now, but we haven’t. There still isn’t anything up on the Vote No web site regarding commercials (though there is a nifty picture of Angela Hunt). It’s beginning to look more and more like they don’t have all the money they’re supposed to have.

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Instead,it looks like they’re going to attack Hunt, who put together the anti-toll road push. In one respect, this isn’t surprising, since it’s the easiest the thing to do (the scummiest, as well). In another, given how much smarter they’re supposed to be than the rest of us, and which they tell us all the time, it is surprising.

Because, if this isn’t a joke, they’re really in trouble over there. It is a joke, right? This can’t be a real radio commerical, can it?

The viral e-mail, which is after the jump, isn’t a great piece of campaign literature, either. It’s confusing and it’s too long. Again, one would assume the gurus over there would know better. It also targets people living south of the Trinity. Does this mean they’ve given up on everyone else?

The Oct. 15 viral email from Vote No:

Please forward this important message to from Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert to all Dallas business and civic leaders:

As a business or community leader, perhaps this has happened to you…

You’ve worked long and diligently to develop a new and innovative business or community project.

You’ve carefully weighed all its pros and cons. You’ve gained buy-in and support from all the key players. You’ve mapped out a business plan that outlines: how the project will be funded; when different stages of it will come online; who will be served; which needs will be met; and what it will look like.

You offer your plan to your supporters or stockholders and gain majority support for it. You publicly commit to all of your stakeholders that you are going to make this incredible thing happen.

Stakeholders begin making and launching their plans built on your promise. You line up all the funding and resources and start to bring this visionary project to life.

But, then … one person shows up, late in the game, doesn’t like what everyone else has worked hard to develop, and launches a campaign to undermine all the good work, expertise, and promises.

Would you want to do business or build a future in a place like that?

Some very motivated voters are in Angela’s "vote yes" chorus. We must be equally as motivated and singing just as loud.

On Nov. 6, I urge you to Vote No! During early voting from Oct. 22 through Nov. 2, I urge you to Vote No! At every conceivable opportunity between now and Nov. 6, I urge you to aggressively encourage others to Vote No!

I also urge you to forward this message to your business colleagues, vendors, suppliers, and professional associates … any business-to-business network you have. Why?

Because, unless a majority of Dallas voters get out and vote against Angela Hunt’s referendum, Dallas will be seriously gridlocked for decades.

Because a "vote yes" will be an economic snub — once again — to South Dallas, Oak Cliff and West Dallas.

Because we will be saddled with air quality problems that effect our physical and economic health.

Because downtown traffic won’t be the only thing that will screech to a halt … so will the broad community support, and most especially the private fundraising, that is still needed to move the Trinity Project forward.

Because hundreds of millions of dollars will be lost and alternative transportation routes will be mired in eminent domain battles, displacement of businesses and residents, and lack of funding.

Because citizens of Dallas want to live in a place that believes business is good for our city, for our workforce, and for our tax base.

Because 14 of 15 members of the Dallas City Council urge you to Vote No! — as does Dallas’ entire U.S. congressional delegation, the County Commissioners Court, mayors from the region, and every engineer and transportation expert that has examined the Trinity Project.

When the "vote yes" crowd says "keep their tollway out of our park", an insult is being flung at civic leaders, the business community, and the majority of voters who knew what they were doing when they approved a combined transportation, recreation and flood control project.

We are "they". It is our park. It is our transportation relief. It is our flood control. It is our incentive for economic development. It is our bridge between two halves of one great city.

The Dallas business and civic community must be motivated to keep Dallas the kind of place where people will want to do business and build a future. If we are not as motivated as Angela’s supporters, we all lose.

Vote No on Nov. 6 and encourage all of your business and civic contacts to do the same. Keep their monkey wrench out of our bright future.

Tom Leppert

Mayor, City of Dallas