Mary Lou Zijderveld reports on her 

AFTERNOON WITH MAYORAL CANDIDATES 

This past year, I have met several Hispanic leaders who have included me in some of their functions.   Some of them had a Meet the Candidate meeting at an Oak Cliff restaurant, which Wilma Avalos and I attended

The candidates spoke first about what they plan to do as mayor.   Then we all had a chance to ask questions.   

Laura Miller was asked about the problem she had with illegal buses in Oak Cliff.  She answered this and other questions in a very detailed way and came across as a politician who wants laws to be followed and enforced.  It was clear she is not the racist the Dallas Observer tried to portray her to be.  After she left, several commented that she has been confrontational at times during Council meetings.   I replied  that we need to stop  "going along to get along".

Elected officials should think for themselves and not be intimidated by someone like Ron Kirk. 

A big plus for Miller is all the years of experience she brings to the job as an investigative reporter and city council person.  She knows the job and is very capable of doing a good job.

She made a good impression by showing everyone that she is not afraid of tough questions. Nor does she leave town like Chief Bolton, City Manager Benavidez or City Attorney Johnson do at times when they want to avoid unpleasant questions.

In all fairness, Tom Dunning also did a good job in answering questions.  His supporters were Rene Martinez (who wore one of his campaign buttons) and Francis Rizzo.  He stated several times that for him it is important to have all citizens involved.  He tried to come across as an average person who just wants to be mayor of Dallas.   He said  he would not have a problem finding Latinos for boards because he calls on certain people to give him names of qualified people.  It was suggested that the Latino community needs to pick and mentor people who are interested in politics because we do not have good representation. 

All in all it was good to see both of these people in person.

There was an unpleasant incident where Mike Herrera and Carlos Quintanilla crashed this meeting.  Quintanilla asked why Domingo Garcia had not been invited.  One lady told him it was an informal meeting to get to know these two candidates only, and it would be a cold day in hell before she invited Domingo.  There was no scene just a brief and to the point comment to these two people.  I admire a person who tells it like it is in a nice way.  The two men stayed and observed us. 

I compliment everyone involved for the way this unpleasant situation was handled.  I learned that one can put intruders in their place  in a tasteful and polite way.  We need more of this type of civil behavior because that is not the case in similar circumstances by some of our community leaders.

Please remember to go out and vote.  Early voting starts January 2.  This is a VERY important election. 

We must get someone who will make a strong mayor for all the citizens not just to a few interest groups.  For me, that person is Laura Miller.  

Don't forget to encourage your friends and neighbors to vote on January 19 because our next mayor has a BIG job getting us back to the basics.

           Mary Lou Montes Zijderveld