By Bill Zeeble, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-968531.mp3
Dallas, TX – For the first time in years, it's a wide open mayor's race in Fort Worth, where Mayor Mike Moncrief is stepping down. Even though turnout is typically low, the packed 5-person field could make this a hot contest. KERA's Bill Zeeble talked to some downtown voters to find out what they want in the city's next leader.
Many voters site their top issue as the struggling economy. Melissa Stack is not different. In addition to wanting a mayor who's honest, she says the next mayor must also tackle the bad employment picture and the city's stressed-out budget.
Melissa Stack: Who's focused on balancing of the budget and the money. And also just improving the city and being conscientious about our money.
Troy Yarbrough: Balance the budget. The budget shortfall is the big issue, I think.
Troy Yarbrough is wheeling a stack of business papers into a building near Fort Worth's Sundance Square. Even though he's worried most about money, he's more concerned about the loss of services and jobs.
Yarbrough: teachers being laid off, taxes going up, property values going down. People are feeling the squeeze. Everybody is, I think.
Yarbrough, like Melissa Stack, hasn't picked a candidate yet. He's also not the only voter with education on his mind. A few blocks away, with raindrops falling, Don Vincent perfers a mayor who will fight for education money.
Don Vincent: Probably the biggest thing is the children in school right now with the loss of teachers and things of that nature. Hopefully, they can do something to maybe push those folks down in Austin to try to do a little more to help, cause it seems like they haven't said very much.
Vincent realizes the city's leader does not run the schools. But he wants a mayor who knows how to lobby lawmakers.
Vincent: Maybe he can talk to somebody or she can talk to somebody.
Vincent says he's leaning towards Tarrant County's Tax Assessor, Betsy Price, but he's open to the others. They include attorney and former Fort Worth City Councilman Jim Lane, lawyer and community activist, Cathy Hirt, who was also on the council, and attorney Dan Barrett, a former State Representative. Video maker Nicholas Zebrun is running too.
On Main Street across from the Tarrant County Court House, hot dog vendor Luwona Carver says she wants the next mayor to just leave her be.
The owner of Top Dog Concessions says the city is talking about auctioning off vending spots. But she likes the current policy of paying a standard fee, so she can stay where's been for the last eight and a half years. Whom does Carver like?
Luwona Carver: You know? Whoever likes the hot dogs the most. I know Jim Lane comes to the other stand quite often. Obviously he likes it. Betsy Price I assume has been here a few times.
And if Cathy Hirt, Dan Barrett or Nick Zebrun bought one of her hot dogs with the works, Carver might like them, too. While Carver is undecided, she at least she says she will vote. She's expected to be in the extreme minority. Four years ago, in the mayor's race, turnout was 7 percent.