By Alexis Yancey, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-973422.mp3
Dallas, TX – The battle for Irving Mayor has become nasty and expensive. Incumbent Herbert Gears and former city councilmember Beth Van Duyne have together spent more than $850,000 to win the race. KERA's Alexis Yancey reports both candidates have gone to the airwaves to wage their final attacks in this race.
Most suburban candidates can't afford to air TV ads. But the heated race for Irving mayor has grown nasty and personal with each candidate taking shots at the other. Incumbent Mayor Herbert Gears accuses his opponent of lying.
Herbert Gears Ad: "Beth Van Duyne doesn't tell the truth about her resume.."
Challenger Beth Van Duyne charges Gears with back door deals and over spending.
Beth Van Duyne Ad: "Mayor Herbert Gears likes wasting your tax dollars.."
This is a re-match of longtime rivals who don't like each other much. Beth Van Duyne beat Gears in 2004 for his city council seat. Now they're at odds over the financing of Irving's proposed 250-million dollar entertainment center. At an Irving Hispanic Chamber of Commerce forum, Van Duyne blamed Gears for mismanaging taxpayer money.
Beth Van Duyne: All of the money that we spend is your money. When we have a $560 million debt on the city, it has quadrupled from $150 million. We have added, how much? Over $400 million in debt and we have seen very little development to show for it.
Mayor Gears stands by his leadership over the city's finances.
Herbert Gears: We don't have unfunded debt. I don't know where these numbers come from $100M to $500M, that's crazy. Our financial condition is rated among the strongest of the top cities 20 in the United States of America. That's what the experts say that aren't running for mayor.
Regardless of who's right in this grudge match, Irving citizens don't like it and say the negative campaigning is giving their city a black eye. Amy Stevenson has lived in Irving for 49 years.
Stevenson: If you can't say something nice about yourself, you really shouldn't say something bad about your opponent.
Charles Riggs has been an Irving resident since 1995.
Riggs: It's not pretty. They're taking cheap shots at each other and avoiding the issues.
20-year resident Darlene Wiseman agrees.
Wiseman: Fight however you fight but the bottom line is what's in it for the people? Don't forget the real issues of why you're running in the first place.
Following the loss of its landmark Texas Stadium, Irving is concerned about revenue. Beth Van Duyne says her priority is protecting the city's tax dollars. Herbert Gears says his time in office has paved the way for new jobs.
Despite record campaign spending, whoever wins will earn just $7200 a year.