2007 Dallas Mayoral Election Interview: Ed Oakley

by Erin Rice

Ed Oakley stopped by the Pegasus News offices to discuss his campaign, what he would do as mayor if elected, and to answer a slew of our users' questions. During the interview we covered:

- Why he wants to be Dallas Mayor.

- Why he thinks the Trinity River Corridor Project is important to Dallas and how it may stimulate economic growth.

- What he perceives as effective strategies for lowering the overall crime rate in Dallas and specific areas to target within the city.

- How to effectively handle the needs of our homeless population.

- Why and how Dallas should seek to bring middle class families back to the city.

- His views on ordinances targeting illegal immigrants such as those in Farmers Branch.

- Pegasus News users' questions:

• His response to being accused of "waffling" on the New Fine Arts store that was to be built in South Dallas.
• What he would do as Dallas Mayor to a) support local arts and artists and b) to support the struggling galleries and music venues in Deep Ellum.
• His experiences with and convictions on preserving historic buildings and landmarks.
• "Don't you think that our tax dollars would be better spend on improving and building parks and recreation as opposed to some huge 'designer bridge?' Isn't that the architectural equivalent of Dallas 'big hair?'"

- Finally, Ed was confronted with what is possibly one of the most difficult questions to answer...

We're inviting all local candidates in the May election to come in for interviews. If you want to take us up on that, drop us a line.