By Marla Crockett, KERA 90.1 Reporter/Host
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-471127.mp3
North Texas Mayors Facing Disconnect from Citizens
Dallas, TX –
In many North Texas cities, it's tough to be the mayor. In Bedford this week, Mayor Rick Hurt resigned because of a tax rollback in March that closed the library. Hurt had opposed the move. Wichita Falls Mayor Bill Altman was recalled in February. In Dallas, Mayor Laura Miller faces a recall petition launched by black ministers unhappy with her campaign for a strong mayor. That measure was defeated in last Saturday's election. Irving Mayor Joe Putnam was defeated a week ago, getting only 15 % of the vote. The loss of the Cowboys to Arlington affected that race, but is there a pattern here? Paul Geisel, a professor of Urban Affairs at UT-Arlington, says that in many city halls there's a disconnect between officials and citizens.
Email Marla Crockett about this story.