League of Women Voters election survey: Donald Parish, candidate for Dallas City Council, District 7

by Staff of of League of Women Voters

The League of Women Voters of Dallas sent a questionnaire to every candidate running for public office in Dallas County. The election on May 9 features a number of city council races.

The responses of Donald P. Parish, Sr., who is running for the District 7 seat on the Dallas City Council, appear below. Parish is running against seven other opponents - incumbent Carolyn R. Davis, Charles "Chazz" Redd, Gary Wayne Springer, Marvin E. Crenshaw, Ron Price,John Jay Myers, and Anthony "Tony" Rios.

LWV: What are your qualifications for this office?

Parish: Lifelong resident of the City of Dallas; lived, worked or worshipped in the district all my life; my vision for District; serve as Board Chairman 2 nonprofit organizations that provide services in District; Board member Park South YMCA; have served on various commissions and committees for the City of Dallas.

LWV: The City of Dallas has a potential $100M shortfall in the next city budget. How would you close the gap? If you would cut services, which ones would you cut?

Parish: I would first make certain we are working as efficiently as possible in all areas of city services. After which I would pursue a very aggressive recycling program which would enable us to cut trash pickups perhaps in half. The recycling would bring money into the city budget and regular garbage collections would decrease. I would also see if it was necessary to spend as much money on studies before launching certain projects

LWV: Are you in favor of a convention center hotel? If yes, do you support the current plan to finance its construction with revenue bonds and have the city own the hotel?

Parish: I am in favor of a convention center hotel. I support the current system of financing the construction of revenue bonds since no private investor has sought to do it. Perhaps at some point in the future, we could consider selling the hotel to a private investor. The fastest way to get construction underway is the way it is being done. It will increase jobs and future revenue to the city from sales tax.

LWV: What is your response to recent reports (e.g., Corps of Engineers, North Texas Tollway Authority) regarding the Trinity River tollroad/levee issues?

Parish: I was disappointed upon hearing the news about the condition of the levees. What is apparent is that the levees are in bad shape and that funds will have to be spent in order to correct this problem. I would encourage strong lobbying for infrastructure funds available to help correct the problem as we continue with the Trinity River Expansion Plan as approved by the voters.

LWV: Do you think the City of Dallas Ethics Code needs to be strengthened? If yes, in what way(s)?

Parish: I do not think that the Ethics Code needs to be strengthened. The city should strongly enforce the codes that are already on the books.