League of Women Voters election survey: Don Sanders, candidate for Dallas City Council, District 10

by Staff 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 Don Sanders, who is running for the District 10 seat on the Dallas City Council, appear below. Sanders is running against the incumbent, councilman Jerry R. Allen.

LWV: What are your qualifications for this office?

Sanders: BBA degree (accounting) from UT Austin; 33+ years of business experience managing very large budgets and thousands of people; Extensive experience on boards and as a volunteer for various civic, charitable and homeowner organizations; Resident of District 10 about 19 years.

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?

Sanders: Reduction of staff in all non critical functions. Shelve new programs. Identify new efficiencies across major areas. Evaluate city staff recommended expense cuts and potential new revenues. Initiate new process to collect past due fees and penalties. Cease spending on all projects not approved by G.O. bonds and reevaluate them. Eliminate wasteful spending. Expedite identified expense reductions and revenue opportunities. Reduce administrative type expenses. Work to avoid cutting police and fire.

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?

Sanders: I am in favor of a convention center hotel but not owned by taxpayers. I favor the city working creatively with private enterprise. Taxpayers should not be subjected to potential risk which a vote of No on proposition 1 would do. Vote Yes. Revenue bonds do not eliminate the city's risk. I am opposed to the city council taking the original position that they did not have to hold a citywide referendum to decide.

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

Sanders: Significant safety questions arise based on the Corps report. Major repair has to be made to the levees causing very significant unplanned costs. Additionally, NTTA information indicates that sufficient funds will not be available to cover the shortfall of anticipated tollroad revenues. It has become apparent that the Trinity Project as originally approved is much different today and we must act upon it based on what we know today. Move or cancel the tollroad.

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

Sanders: It is extremely long, cumbersome and convoluted. It has been repeatedly said that the present ethics code cannot be properly enforced. I suggest a task force be created to evaluate known superior ethics codes of other cities, develop a new one, appropriately vet and have the city council decide.