3/19/07  DallasArena.com Endorsements for City Council - 5/12/07

Below is a list of city council candidates endorsed by DallasArena.com., as indicated by the check mark.  Where a campaign website could be located, they are listed and will be updated if you know of a campaign website that was missed.

Here are the reasons for the endorsements or non-endorsements:

District 2 - Although Justin Rosales appears to be a great future council member from the information on his website, Councilwoman Pauline Medrano has conducted herself well, confirming the faith of her supporters and silencing many of her former detractors.

District 3 - Dave Neumann is just exactly the right person to represent Oak Cliff on the City Council.  If he can do for the City Council what he has done as President of the Stemmons Corridor Business Assn., Dallas will be the better for it. 

District 4 - Dwaine Caraway will be an excellent council member.  As a private citizen, he has done more for District 4 than the outgoing councilwoman, who is term-limited from seeking another term.  Dwaine is someone who can reach out to people he has differed with, which this endorsement proves.  That skill will serve him well on the city council.

District 5 - Betty Culbreath will hit the deck running when she wins her council seat.  She has served as Chair of the Plan Commission twice, and was also Chair of the DFW Board.  She knows how the system works, and her experience will be a great asset with all the new council members.  Hope she will tap Don Robinson for an important city board or commission.  It's a shame they are running for the same seat.

District 6 - Although he is unopposed, DallasArena.com is endorsing councilman Steve Salazar.  Positive things are happening in this district that will make a huge difference in the quality of life for District 6 residents and businesses.

District 7 - Rev. Don Parish will bring a new standard of ethical conduct to the city council.  The outgoing councilman is term-limited, but it has long since been time for him to go.  Billy Ratcliff also has an impressive r?um?

District 8 - Tennell Atkins is endorsed by both Councilman James Fantroy and former Councilman Al Lipscomb.  That is an impressive coup.  Atkins is a Dallas businessman who can work with people North and South of the Trinity.

District 9 - Albert Turner is a retired widower who will make a good council member.  The council could use his maturity.

District 12 - John McClelland is not Ron Natinsky, and that is enough reason for him to earn DallasArena.com's endorsement.  All of us who had high hopes for Natinsky have been sorely disappointed.  Whatever the ODB wants, Natinsky has tried to deliver for them.

District 14 - Angela Hunt will easily be re-elected, and deservedly so.  She has been bold and willing to stand alone on issues she thinks are right.  She was wrong on the Hunt Oil tax abatement, but she's been right on most other issues.

DallasArena.com is endorsing Darrell Jordan for Mayor and will cover the mayoral campaign in more detail later this week.

District		Candidate
1		Dr. Elba Garcia - Incumbent - Unopposed
2		Pauline Medrano - Incumbent - She has been more responsive to her constituents than her predecessor. www.paulinemedrano.com
		Justin Rosales - www.justinrosales.com
3		Dave Neumann - Community Leader; City Plan Commission; President, Stemmons Corridor Business Assn. www.daveneumann.com
		Charletta Rogers Compton - Elected to DCCCD, Board of Trustees
		Irby Foster
		Joseph Hernandez - www.josephhernandez.net
		Kawania Lynn
		Angela Phillips - high school student
		Rena Renfroe
		Joe Tave - Joe Tave for Dallas
		Victoria Walton
		Linda Wise - Dallas Attorney, former DART Board member, Board of Adj Alternate Member
4		Dwaine Caraway - Former Chair of Park & Recreation Board, instrumental in closing "hot sheet" motels in the Southern Sector.  Dwaine Caraway.com
		Gloria Stinson Hogg - backed by Maxine Thorton-Reese
		Kimberly Jackson
		Eugene Thomas
5		Betty Culbreath - Former Chair of DFW Board, Former Chair of City Plan Commission (twice), Current Chair of Dallas Housing Authority - Betty can hit the ground running on the council; smart woman who speaks her mind.  www.BettyCulbreath.com
		Jesse Diaz - LULAC Chapter President, realtor
		Vonciel Hill - former Municipal Judge who was rnot reappointed by city council in 2004, backed by John Wiley Price
		Jurline Hollins
		Don Robinson - Crime Watch activist, businessman.  Wish he were running in a different district because he would also make a great councilmember.
		Camile White - www.camilewhite.com
		Yolanda Williams
6		Steve Salazar - Incumbent, unopposed.  Councilman has been very responsive to and effective for his constituents.
7		Donald R. Parish, Sr. - Pastor of the True Lee Missionary Baptist Church; Rev Parish is a Viet Nam vet (Army, Sgt), former AT&T supervisor (18 years until retirement).  He has a commitment to South Dallas.
		Carolyn Davis
		Kevin Felder
		Helene McKinney
		Sharon Middlebrooks
		Billy Ratcliff - community leader and businessman.  Impressive credentials, but backed by John Wiley Price.  Billy Ratcliff for Dallas City Council
		Lashonda Young
8		Tennell Atkins - Dallas businessman, endorsed by Councilman Fantroy
		Sandra Crenshaw - former councilmember
		Charles Rose - former Justice of the Peace
		Theressa Washington
		Erik Wilson
9		Albert Turner -
		Sheffie Kadane - Park Board member
		Jill Kotvis - attorney www.jillkotvis.com
10		Jerry Allen - DART Board member - no other candidate
11		Linda Koop - incumbent, unopposed
12		Ron Natinsky - incumbent, Big Ticket Guy -- big disappointment Elect Ron Natinsky to Dallas City Council - District 12
		John McClelland - not Ron Natinsky  John McClelland, candidate for Dallas City Council, Place 12
13		Mitch Rasanksy - incumbent, unopposed
14		Angela Hunt - incumbent.  Attorney, she has shown incredible courage and independence on the council.  Leading charge to revisit vote on Trinity Project. www.AngelaHunt.com
		Joseph Glogowski