By Bill Zeeble, KERA 90.1 reporter
Dallas, TX – Bill Zeeble KERA 90.1 reporter: It's 80 degrees on Easter Sunday afternoon in Dallas' Lee Park. Thousand of residents - and their pets - are here for a free concert. 27-year-old wine steward and wine broker Eric Saenz, is here for votes, and he's responding to one man's concern about neighborhood safety.
Eric Saenz, Dallas mayoral candidate: Have more police store fronts out there so people see police directly and they can go to them, so you get the community involved. They feel vested in solving problems that are affecting their community.
Zeeble: Saenz rapidly responds to different queries from young voters - from the smoking ban, which, like Mary Poss, he says should be market-driven; to racial profiling, which he says is a problem that's solvable through better police training. But the top issue for this Texas native is business.
Saenz: I want to change the attitude of Dallas and how they do business with companies. Start a city-owned development corporation that works in partnership with insurance companies and banks to put deals together, so you can go to businesses and say, "Here's what we have, here's what we can help you with, and we'll be partners."
Zeeble: Saenz, a San Antonio native who moved back here after spending several years in Las Vegas four years ago, says Dallas is not business-friendly. And it taxes citizens too much. So to cut taxes, he suggests, leaving park maintenance to communities instead of the city. He says people who care about the parks will maintain them, with city help only for high cost items like sewage. Saenz says he running on ideas like that, not experience. For example, he thought there were 16, not 15 voting city council members. But Saenz believes character counts more than experience.
Saenz: You can see in the media - the two main candidates - you can see how they attack each other from time to time. Being mayor is entirely about character. I can't say my character is better than the others. That's for citizens of Dallas to decide.
Zeeble: And Saenz wants their vote, saying Dallas needs to make room for his generation.
Saenz: And I'm the future of the country.
Zeeble: 43-year-old Edward Okpa, who's been here for 18 years since leaving his native Nigeria, would argue the future is really about Dallas' disenfranchised people of color.
Edward Okpa, Dallas mayoral candidate: In the southern sector, who don't feel they're part of the center. They've been neglected, their issues haven't been quickly addressed.
Zeeble: So, along with improving low morale among city workers, Okpa would work on code and police enforcement in South Dallas, along I-20 and I-45.
Okpa: We don't even have a police substation in that entire place. This is where crime and issues of police presence matters. And how will business go there without police presence?
Zeeble: Business growth is Okpa's other main issue. He says it depends on clearing away business-busting bureaucracy.
Okpa: Businesses don't want to come here. Dallas has become heavily regulated. You must go through city hall. And when you go, you might as well sit the whole day.
Zeeble: Okpa says he'll fix that and other problems, because, as a self-made real estate success, he knows what to do.
Okpa: Here's a man who came here 17 years ago, was a busboy, is in business for himself the last 18 years, self employed. I have traveled overseas with former mayor Kirk. I'm an American; I have a passion and love for this city. Whether I win or not, no one knows until they count the votes.
Zeeble: Okpa believes he can win, saying upsets happen all the time. Eric Saenz acknowledges he's a long shot, but says he'll run for some office again. Candidate Jurline Hollins did not respond to attempts to reach her. Election day is May 3rd. Early voting ends today. For KERA 90.1, I'm Bill Zeeble.
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