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Dallas Group Forms to Oppose 'Strong Mayor' Ballot Proposal

By Bill Zeeble, KERA 90.1 reporter

Dallas, TX –

Bill Zeeble, KERA 90.1 reporter: For the first time since the strong mayor proposal was approved for the spring election, civic, business and political leaders have officially organized against it. At a meeting last night, surrogates for Dallas City Council members agreed to form the new political action committee called the Coalition For Open Government. Surrogates were used to avoid any possible violations of open meeting laws. Former Dallas City Council member Bob Stimson is the PAC's treasurer, and said everyone at the meeting shared the same motivation.

Bob Stimson, Treasurer, Coalition For Open Government: That the proposal being put to us is inappropriate, unhealthy, and not good for the city of Dallas.

Zeeble: Stimson said the grassroots group from across the city hopes to counter efforts that may emerge favoring the Blackwood proposal. That's Beth Ann Blackwood's proposition to strengthen the Dallas mayor's office with unprecedented new power. Under it, nearly all management responsibilities exercised by the city manager would transfer to the mayor. Given the city's problems, like its ongoing high crime rate, Beth Ann Blackwood sees her proposal as a problem solver.

Beth Ann Blackwood, proposition creator: We can't attract business to Dallas. We can't attract people to live in Dallas - versus some place like Frisco - when we have that high of a crime rate. I think under this form of government, you'd be much better able to make that happen than under the current system that we have.

Zeeble: Others though, including Jane Davis with the League of Women Voters, say the Blackwood proposal makes the mayor too powerful. The League also opposes Blackwood's plan in favor of the current council-manager form of government.

Jane Davis, Dallas League of Women Voters: The whole reason it was put in place - many years ago - was to prevent corruption that power in one person seems to attract.

Zeeble: That also concerns Councilman James Fantroy. He fears this proposal could undermine gains of the 14-1 government structure, which was imposed by the court in the late 80's to bring equality to minority districts like Fantroy's. He not only supports the PAC, he's funding his own opposition effort from his own office.

James Fantroy, Dallas City Council Member: This is where the call center is going. Ten lines, up against here, here and here, where nobody can be bothered. I'm going to pay for ten people. I'm going to pay for ten operators. I'll have one person sitting here to make sure these operators are doing what they're supposed to do.

Zeeble: Fantroy says their job starts in February, when they'll make calls urging voters to reject the strong mayor proposal. As election time nears, the message will change, offering rides to the polls. That's not all. Fantroy's also purchased 100 billboards, mostly in the city's southern sector.

Fantroy: The message will be the same. We disagree with this type of government. Vote no against a strong mayor form of government. That's what the billboards will have on them.

Zeeble: Meanwhile, Blackwood plans numerous town hall meetings all over town where she says she'll answer questions about her proposal, and why she thinks the it's time the city change its form of government. For KERA 90.1, I'm Bill Zeeble.

Email Bill Zeeble about this story.

More local elections coverage from KERA