Cedar Hill council candidates ruminate on wins, losses and working together

by Loyd Brumfield of Cedar Hill TODAY

This time, Makia Epie didn’t wait until the day after an election to pick up his campaign signs.

“I’m tired,” said the 12-year veteran of the Cedar Hill City Council, who held off first-time challenger Jason Russell to keep his Place 5 seat in a June 16 runoff election.

Epie outpolled Russell 567-409, getting 58.9 percent of the vote to Russell’s 41.9.

Before the winner was announced, Epie was scouring his neighborhood for signs and split the soles of his shoes covering all of that ground.

After the May 12 election, in which he received the most votes against three challengers, he waited until the day after. Then, a local homeowner complained about his signs still being up.

“I guess she wasn’t one of my supporters,” Epie said.

This was Epie’s third runoff and his third win when facing challengers. This race, against first-time office seeker Russell, was his closest race ever. In previous runoffs, Epie has won with anywhere from 60 to more than 70 percent of the vote.

Russell edged Cedar Hill School Board member Valerie Banks to earn a place on the runoff ballot, while challenger Wirt “Stoney” Jackson finished fourth. Banks then endorsed Epie, while Jackson supported Russell.

Russell said he will continue to remain active in city issues.

“I’m very proud of the campaign I had,” said the managing partner of the Panera Bread Co. in Cedar Hill. “This was my first time ever in politics, and I took a man who has served for 12 years into a runoff.”

Russell, an openly gay man, was forced to defend himself at a campaign forum that turned into a referendum on both his sexual orientation and the Cedar Hill School District — two things with no bearing on the job of helping run the city.

Epie said he planned to reach out to Russell, his family and supporters before the work week got started.

“I want to sit down with each of them and see what we are doing wrong and what it is we need to change,” Epie said. “What is it that I’m doing that does not satisfy you?”

Only 976 people voted in the runoff in a city of more than 40,000. Even though some candidates represent only certain parts of the community, all are elected at-large.

The results were up for grabs after early voting totals were announced. Epie led in those totals by 31 votes, 215-184.

On June 16, Epie received 352 votes to Russell’s 225.

“This is the closest race I’ve ever been in,” Epie said. “This gives me a chance to explain what I am about and what the council is all about. I’m trying to sell the voters on me, but also the council.”

Russell, a fixture at council meetings and a volunteer in several city organizations, pledged to stay busy.

“I don’t look at this as having lost a race, but rather as a continuation of what I’ve started,” he said. “I’m happy the council is able to move forward and make decisions with the best interests of the residents in mind.”

At least one Dallas minister who lives in Cedar Hill circulated a letter before the general election urging people not to vote for Russell, but negative reactions to his sexual orientation made him a more determined candidate, he said.

“I just joined (First United Methodist Church) after being a visitor for several years, and it was so wonderful to be welcomed with open arms and I really feel blessed,” he said.

Many people have asked him if he would run again in the future, he said.

“Although in politics you should never say never, I can say that as of right now I do not see it in my future,” Russell said. “I have to consider the feelings of others such as my partner. He went through this with me because he knew it was something that I really wanted to do and was passionate about.”

Epie will be sworn in during the June 26 council meeting.

“This gives me more of an opportunity to educate people, going door-to-door to explain our water rates and the differences between the school board and the city,” he said. “I am ready to go to work and represent this city.”