League of Women Voters election survey: Ann Margolin, candidate for Dallas City Council, District 13

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 Ann Margolin, who is running for the District 13 seat on the Dallas City Council, appear below. Margolin is running against Brint Ryan.

LWV: What are your qualifications for this office?

Margolin: My 32 years of business and civic experiences make me uniquely qualified for the City Council. I have been a successful entrepreneur, business owner and investor. I have served on the Park Board, Parkland Hospital Board and City Plan Commission as well with the boards of numerous non-profits.

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?

Margolin: I do not favor a property tax increase or cuts in services. At Parkland Hospital we found places to eliminate waste and ways to generate revenue in the face of overwhelming increases in ER, pharmacy, and nursing shortages. I would look at across-the-board cuts of 2-3% in non-public safety areas, decreases in consultant fees, bringing fees to market for commercial users of our landfill, delaying the 2006 bond build-out, selling properties with tax liens.

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?

Margolin: While I would like to see a convention center hotel, I do not favor paying for the construction through taxpayer-backed bonds. This leaves the citizens of Dallas assuming too much risk in an uncertain and declining market. The city could offer an incentive package to make private development more attractive. I've not seen proof that a taxpayer owned hotel in Dallas will be profitable and able to pay down the revenue bonds.

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

Margolin: It is the city's obligation to protect downtown, Oak Cliff and West Dallas from a major flood. We cannot allow these areas to suffer a Katrina-like event. We must work with the Army Corps of Engineers to repair our levees as quickly as possible. If engineering for the toll road can be completed in conjunction with plans for levee repairs, I would support that. If not, we must make other plans for the road.

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

Margolin: In 2000, the Code was strengthened and is now fairly strong. Two areas I would improve: 1) that all positions on the seven-member commission be filled promptly so that quorum is never an issue and 2) that Dallas citizens be made aware that the commission exists to redress their grievances. Above all, I believe we must first appoint and elect those who have demonstrated strong ethics so the Code is rarely needed.