Dallas City Hall: Photo by Danny Fulgencio
Early voting for the City Council elections began Monday. This week seems like a good time to begin assessing each candidate’s qualifications and where each stands on the big issues facing District 10 and Dallas.
Apartments and condos? Candidates all agree that many of Lake Highlands’ problems stem from aging, troubled multifamily communities, and they all promise to do more to address those issues.
Economic development? All candidates agree on a need to push progress on the Lake Highlands Town Center. They all see the Skillman Gateway and I-635 East as vital projects they promise to support.
Public safety? Who isn’t for safer neighborhoods?
There is diversity of opinion regarding the Trinity Toll Road project — one candidate (James White) opposes it no matter what, while the other two say they remain open to possibilities.
Aside from the Trinity debate, however, District 10 candidates lean in similar directions on the big issues facing Lake Highlands — discrepancies and disagreements, when they exist, are at the margin.
So how does a voter compare the candidates? After months on the stump, they all sound capable, but how do voters know which candidate is best equipped to fulfill his promises?
There has been a string of candidate forums since the race began — each usually begins and ends with a two-minute “Why You Should Vote For Me” speech. In between, the candidates agree to fix potholes and keep our neighborhoods safe. If you have attended multiple candidate events, met the candidates and read all of the Advocate’s previous reporting, you might have detected important differences among the three and decided which one you like for the job. Congratulations — you are a rarity.
Then there are those who chose their guy months ago and have been proudly flying his flag ever since — they aren’t part of the majority either.
The fact is: If you have read this far, you are doing more than most. In any given local election no more than 20 percent of the people care enough to cast a vote.
Ultimately, some voters seek out similarities between the candidate and themselves. If all the candidates agree on the big things, maybe I’ll vote for the guy who likes the TV show “Parks and Recreation,” because “Hey! I watch it, too!”
Who do you like, or who is like you?
Adam McGough
Adam McGough: Photo by Danny Fulgencio
feels like the establishment candidate. Current councilman Jerry Allen and former councilman Bill Blaydes both endorsed him. Before entering the race, McGough served as Mayor Mike Rawlings’ chief of staff. Although Rawlings hasn’t officially supported any District 10 candidate, he has lauded McGough’s work as a community prosecutor and as a member of his staff working on the Grow South initiative. McGough’s children attend Scofield Christian private school, after attending public school … just not in Lake Highlands. The controversy regarding McGough’s decision to buy a condo in the Park Cities and have his children attend Highland Park schools ended with Highland Park ISD’s decision to terminate its investigation with no action taken. We’ll see if the voters are of the same opinion May 9. One fun fact is that according to the April 9 financial filings, 30 percent of the individuals contributing to his campaign since January 1 live in McGough’s hometown of Nacogdoches.
(Adam McGough talks about issues. Adam McGough talks about celebrities and the zombie apocalypse.)
Paul Reyes
Paul Reyes: Photo by Danny Fulgencio
well, he feels like the establishment candidate, too. He is endorsed by Alan Walne, another former District 10 city councilman, as well as the Dallas Police Association and Dallas Firefighters Association. Reyes comes from the political staff of former State Sen. John Corona and serves as Chief Legal Officer for Associa, a company that manages homeowners’ associations around the country, founded by the same John Corona. (Sidebar: Ask Corona what being part of the Establishment got him the last election.) Reyes’ kids attend St. Patrick’s private school, and he has a habit of punching people. In a ring. With gloves on. He is an amateur boxer. Son of a Filipino physician, my guess is he’s betting on Pacquiao.
(Paul Reyes talks about issues. Paul Reyes talks about celebrities and the zombie apocalypse.)
James White
James White: Photo by Danny Fulgencio
is the outsider on several levels. He is the only non-lawyer, non-political professional in the race, and he lives on the “other side” of I-635. He is the Baby Boomer to the two GenXers in the race. White’s children, now adults, graduated from Dallas ISD public school magnet programs. His financial filings show that in a non-partisan race, he is the only candidate to receive contributions from political party organizations — two local Democratic groups. White has more business experience than the other candidates in the race and owns a small manufacturing company. A Baby Boomer with business experience might not be the conventional anti-Establishment candidate, but White has been assigned that part in this race. At times in candidate forums, White has been on the outside of some of the debate, as the two acknowledged front-runners from the Establishment try to outmaneuver each other.
(James White talks about issues. James White talks about celebrities and the zombie apocalypse.)
Who do you like, or who is like you?
Early voting is underway. Learn more here.
Voting guidelines here.
Find out where you vote here.
