1/5/9 - New Faces at City Hall? 

(Revised, 1/6/9, new information in blue.)

We have several council members who are termed out, and a few who might have serious challengers.  Let's look at the seats on a district basis.

District 2 - Councilwoman Pauline Medrano has 2 more runs until she is termed out.  She clearly enjoys being a council member and works hard to stay in touch with her constituents.  She probably will not draw an opponent.  DallasArena.com will likely endorse Councilwoman Medrano.

		District 3 - Councilman Dave Neumann is completing his freshman term and has 3 more runs.  Former Councilman and Mayoral Candidate Ed Oakley considered going after his old council seat, but apparently has decided against it.  At this point, we are unaware of any opposition to Councilman Neumann.

		District 4 - Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway is doing a great job for his district.  He is more active and productive for the southern sector than any council member I can remember.  This is only his first term in office, but he is one of the most influential members of the council.   DallasArena.com will endorse Councilman Caraway.

		District 5 - Vonciel Jones Hill is there, about all you can say.  Former opponent, Betty Culbreath, has some interesting information in City Council Woman Hill Fired Again? (Ms. Betty Politic, 12/16/8).  Per cityhallblog.dallasnews.com, Park Board member Tiffinni Young (appointed by Dwaine Caraway) is challenging Hill.  Despite that same blog, our friend Betty Culbreath is not going to run for city council.  Don Robinson will also be running for the seat again.  Don Robinson has long been active in crime watch and other community groups. He is an honorable man, who should have been on the council long before now.  DallasArena.com will endorse Don Robinson.

		District 6 - Councilman Steve Salazar has one more term.  He is very hands on for District 6, particularly Northwest Dallas.  He is a rare politician who actually calls constituents to seek opinion and input.  This will be his 7th term on the council because he represented District 2 for three terms before he was defeated by Dr. Elba Garcia.  He isn't likely to have serious opposition.  DallasArena.com will endorse Councilman Salazar.

		District 7 - Councilwoman Carolyn Davis is awful.  I hope that other community organizer does a better job in his new office than Davis has done in her first council term.  He certainly is more articulate, but then almost anyone would be.  There's talk former Councilman Leo Chaney wants to run against Davis.  There's also talk of another familiar name in the race.  If these 3 are the only choices for District 7, DallasArena.com will not endorse in that race.

		District 8 - Councilman Tennell Atkins has been quiet, but effective.  After Al Lipscomb and then James Fantroy's problems, Councilman Atkins has brought a new decorum to the council from District 8.  Old Al Lipscomb's grandson, LeVar Thomas, is going to challenge Councilman Atkins.  The best reasons for not supporting LeVar Thomas are in Patrick Williams' 2001 column: Sticks and Stones (DallasObserver.com, 3/29/01).  We don't need anymore thugs on the city council.  Tennell Atkins is a gentleman who would never show disrespect to a woman or anyone else.  DallasArena.com will endorse Councilman Atkins.

		District 9 - Councilman Sheffie Kadane is completing his freshman term.  As far as I can tell, his main accomplishment is remembering birthdays.  He is amazingly inept.  When you think we could have had Roxan Staff instead of Gary Griffith for 3 terms and going into her 4th term, it is heartbreaking.

		District 10 - Councilman Jerry Allen is not Bill Blaydes.  That is a good thing.

		District 11 - Councilwoman Linda Koop is not like her brother, Paul, and that is not a good thing.  She's smart like Paul, but she's so intent on being a team player that she's been a terrible disappointment on the council.  Unfortunately, she seems to pattern herself after former Councilwoman Lois Finkelman.

		District 12 - Councilman Ron Natinsky is not like Sandy Greyson.  That is not a good thing.

District 13 - Councilman Mitch Rasansky is termed out.  We are going to miss his attention to budget detail.  I will never understand how he flipped off his common sense switch and jumped on the Trinity Project bandwagon.  Well, I do understand, but it didn't get him anywhere with the Mayor afterwards.  Ann Margolin has lined up almost every supporter in the known world of Dallas city politics.  She has 2 opponents, both with lots of money.  One of them has hired Allyn & Co. and has already sent out a big mailer and run a full page ad in The Dallas Managed News.   Ann Margolin has so much experience, and will be a major voice on the council for common sense and fiscal responsibility.  DallasArena.com will endorse Ann Margolin.
		District 14 - Councilwoman Angela Hunt is probably the most prominent member of the horse show after her campaign to stop the Trinity Project folly.  The ODB are looking for a candidate to challenge her, but she's in good shape in her district.  What she did to Woodard Paint & Body on Ross in 2008 still is a sore point, but DallasArena.com will endorse Angela Hunt if she draws an opponent.

It's very unlikely any incumbents will draw serious opponents, other than District 5, 7 and 8.  Losing Davis will be no loss, unless we get something worse, and with the rumors making the rounds, that could happen.  It would be very bad to lose Tennell Atkins.  He and Councilman Caraway have a good working arrangement and are making real improvements in the Southern Sector.  Without constantly playing the race card, they get stuff done.  If we could get Don Robinson elected in District 5, those three men could really change the dynamics at City Hall.

Districts 1 and 13 will be the main attractions with open seats. 

Oak Cliff usually generates exciting races.  This year might be the exception.  Elba and Domingo have a pretty potent political machine in District 1.  If they want Delia Jasso, she will probably be the next District 1 council member.

District 13 will be a high dollar race with lots of media, lots of campaign expenses.  It is very important for North Dallas that Ann Margolin win the race.  It is very important for all of Dallas that Ann Margolin win that race.  She is not a go along to get along.  She's as smart as Linda Koop, but she's not afraid of taking her own path.

2009's going to be an interesting year in Dallas, and gas prices are dropping.  That's more than we say about 2008.

sb