By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-968523.mp3
Dallas, TX – Four Dallas City Council members are UNOPPOSED on Saturday's ballot. Of those with opposition, incumbent Dave Neumann is facing perhaps the strongest challenge. KERA's BJ Austin reports on the "District 3" race in Oak Cliff, West Dallas, and Mountain Creek neighborhoods.
Outside the Oak Cliff Courthouse on Beckley supporters of challenger Scott Griggs were hard at work during early voting.
Griggs was talking to voters about why they should choose him over incumbent Councilman Dave Neumann.
Griggs: It's just simple. You just can't trust Councilman Neumann. One issue is Cliff Manor, with the plan that he held. He knew about it for close to a year and didn't show the plans to the district.
Cliff Manor is the Dallas Housing Authority hi-rise on Fort Worth Avenue. Neighbors vigorously protested plans to move homeless people into the apartments - claiming they'd been blindsided by the plan. Councilman Neumann says the D-H-A doesn't need permission from the city or neighborhood.
Neumann: The Dallas Housing Authority had originally proposed 100 permanent supportive housing units there. We were successful, as a neighborhood under my leadership as a councilman to reduce that to 50.
Griggs says Neumann's out of touch with the top issues in District 3.
Griggs: The issues in the district are public safety and keeping dangerous gas drilling out of neighborhoods. The district is against gas drilling.
Neumann says drilling is not the district's top issue.
Neumann: I think the biggest issue is the economy and jobs: to make sure that we are supportive of the private sector investing money that creates jobs and employ our citizens.
Neumann chairs the Trinity River Corridor Project committee, and his Oak Cliff District along the river continues to wait for the long-promised recreation and economic development. oter Jerri Payne is not sure it will ever happen. She wants a more nuts and bolts focus.
Payne: the streets, the police, that - and less of the big developments. The Trinity River, I'm tired of. I think you need to focus what the city needs and not big business.
The race has sparked interest. Early voting in District 3 was high. Incumbent Neumann acknowledges a tight race. Both candidates predict a victory.