By Tom Landis, KERA 90.1 Commentator
Dallas, TX – For 30 seconds, think about how great it'd be if you were about to be elected mayor of Dallas. Think about the swearing-in ceremony; think about your first day on the job. How would you seize your opportunity to lead America's eighth-largest city, a shot at making history? To separate yourself from the masses that complain - but do nothing - about DISD, or downtown, or the well-being of Dallas police and firefighters.
I suggest you run for mayor. I did.
My campaign culminated with the recognition of becoming known as "one of the final four mayoral candidates." It ended because of a technical knock-out that, as a lover of common sense, frustrated me beyond what editors would ever allow me to say on public radio. But I believe in our system, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
Owning what are basically fast food restaurants has given me a good indication of what the rich, the poor, the insiders and the outcast think and feel about Dallas. I come in contact with the whole spectrum on a daily basis, and the more I learned about local politics, the more I felt I could not only run, but win.
After two months of campaigning, I'd like to briefly share my thoughts about Dallas politics. First and foremost, our candidates are great people who all share a dream to make Dallas better. I bet you would be surprised at how different people are in person versus how they are portrayed on the news.
For example, Laura Miller is not someone who yells all the time. If I sat through eight hours of nonsense at City Hall, I bet I'd fly off the handle for twenty seconds. Well, that twenty seconds is all we see on the evening news: character assassination by sound bites.
Like sex and friendships, one should never pay for votes. But in Dallas politics, deals are cut, alliances are formed, task forces are assembled, and nothing is accomplished. But pockets get lined. After a Dallas Morning News editorial board meeting, one member admitted to me that paying for votes in South Dallas was wrong, but accepted nonetheless. Nothing frustrated me more than hearing that.
The good news is that we can all change this by simply voting. Think about it - buying votes only makes sense when there are very few total votes. And in Dallas, where it's estimated that less than 12% of us will actually vote, the climate is - and always has been - ripe for buying votes. But if we all voted, and convinced a friend, co-worker, spouse or neighbor to vote, we could curb vote-buying, because no one could afford to buy enough votes to make a real difference.
But my opinion is like your opinion - worthless - unless we get off our couches this Saturday, January 19th and vote.
Tom Landis is a Dallas restaurateur.