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07/06/06 Well,
darn!
If you are wondering when I
heard Laura Miller had decided not to run for reelection, it was about 6 minutes
before CBS11 Sarah Dodd broke the story.
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Mayor Miller told me the same story she told the press. She wants to spend
time with her children before they are grown. Her oldest daughter reminded
Laura that if she ran and won, Alex would be about to graduate from college at
the end of her second term. Her other daughter would be halfway through
college herself in five years. |
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07/07/06
Barbara Mathews Blanton:
Sigh! I have mixed emotions about Laura not running,
but I know her family will love having her a little less frazzled. I
was surprised at how much my kids actually
needed me around during those
years. Fortunately, we lived in Europe, and I
couldn't work, so I spent all of
middle school with Stephen and high school
with Katie. Best thing I ever did!
I will also enjoy watching all
those folks not have LM to beat up anymore and actually have to be
accountable for how this city runs for a change.......maybe. Should be
fun. I watch closely from McKinney. Barbara |
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That may not seem like a big deal to you, but you are not Laura Miller, mother
of Alex, Lily and Max. Her family never wanted her to run for Mayor.
Those of us who supported her begged her to step up to the job to turn the city
around. It was an impossible task, but at least she would try.
I read some of the comments about her not running on DallasNews.com. It
was pretty much split between those who respect her and those who hate her --
pretty much the way it always is when you have a strong woman running things.
Several said she would be always labeled as the Mayor who let the Cowboys go to
Arlington. Earth to morons -- the Cowboys were not in Dallas to lose to
them to Arlington. They are in Irving. Erik Jonsson let the Cowboys
leave Dallas for Irving, and most people who know this city consider Erik
Jonsson one of the best mayors this city ever had.
Laura Miller has been a good mayor for Dallas, if not great. She has taken
a lot of heat for her willingness to stand alone (or almost alone) against this
sorry council who never saw a tax abatement they didn't like. Of course,
Mitch Rasansky has been her only consistent ally.
Obviously with Laura out of the race, I'm supporting Darrell Jordan. He's
a long time friend, who I supported against Ron Kirk/Con Jerk. Darrell is
trustworthy and honorable. He will be a great representative for Dallas.
Laura Miller has been and is a great representative for Dallas. She has a
sense of style and personality that made our city look vibrant and moving.
The work she did on the Wright Amendment compromise was amazing. Getting
the people to the table and to a solution was a huge achievement.
Am I disappointed? Oh, yes! Do I blame her for quitting?
Oh, no!
With her out of the race, Bill Blaydes and Ed Oakley might get in. That
means that both will be off the council in 2007. So, we will have a
council without Shakedown Leo Chaney, Brain-Dead Thornton Reese, Don Hill, James
Fantroy, Gary Sandra Dee Griffith, Bill Blaydes and Ed Oakley. The only
returning faces will be Elba Garcia, Angela Hunt, Linda Koop, Pauline Medrano,
Ron Natinksy, Mitch Rasansky and Steve Salazar.
Wonder if Princess Velveeta still wants to run for Mayor? Wouldn't that be
fun?
It's been a shocking afternoon.
sb
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Mayor
Miller Says She Won?t Run For Re-Election 7/06/06
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CBS 11 News) DALLAS A political bombshell was dropped at
Dallas City Hall Thursday. In a surprise announcement, Dallas Mayor Laura
Miller said she will not seek re-election.
Miller tells CBS 11 News she has accomplished all of her major initiatives.
Now, the mayor says she is ready to spend the next four years with her
family. She's married to former state Representative Steve Wolens. Miller
and Wolens have three children; the oldest is 16 and the youngest is ten.
Thursday night Mayor Miller's chief of staff, Frank Librio, issued this
statement. "Mayor Miller has decided to not run for re-election. The
Mayor has decided to spend more time with her family. The Mayor has many
accomplishments to her credit as Mayor and City Council Member - including
most recently leading the effort to solve the Wright Amendment issue. The
Mayor is expected to answer questions tomorrow."
Miller was first elected to the Dallas City Council in 1998, representing
West Dallas and Oak Cliff. She was first elected mayor in 2002, to fill the
unexpired term of Ron Kirk. She was then elected to her first full term in
2004.
When Miller first ran for mayor she made a commitment to fix potholes and
focus on the little issues that make a big difference in the lives of
residents.
During her term, Dallas saw the first reduction in crime since 1993. Dallas
hired a new city manager, a new police chief, and spent about $272 million
on street repairs.
Most recently she led negotiations on a Wright amendment compromise that
many say will resolve the 30-year conflict between American Airlines and
Southwest Airlines. Miller labeled the agreement, which would eventually
allow Dallas travelers to fly from the airport near downtown to distant
cities, her chief accomplishment during her tenure.
The one issue Miller was not able to win was her fight to change
the city?s form of government. After two elections, voters continued to say
?no? to a ?strong mayor? form of government. The plan called for a major
overhaul of the city charter to shift the balance of power from 14 city
council members to the mayor.
Miller says she will serve out the last year of her term, keeping her in
office until June of 2007.
Since Miller made the announcement many people who had ruled out running
against her, now say they're ready to get in the race. |
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