May 9 elections on the horizon, Obama not on ballot

by Erin Rice

The first municipal election following a presidential year is always a tad anticlimactic. Where are the inspirational T-shirts and extravagant balls? We're destined to watch as voter turnout plummets from November to this Saturday.

But when you consider some of the political decisions that most affect your daily life, they're often the result of local officials. Talk to anyone trying to keep a drilling rig off their lawn and they'll tell you how important a run-of-the-mill mayoral or city council election can be. Who cares about propositions? Uh, do you want to have to drive to the next city to buy a six-pack? Not me.

So here are some the races/issues you might be voting on this weekend if you can pull yourself from another Top Model marathon.

Collin County

In addition to numerous city council places up for grabs, Anna, McKinney, Melissa, and Princeton will be deciding el numero uno, the mayor. In McKinney, the race is between George Fuller, a home builder in the Adriatica housing development, and Brian Loughmiller, a family lawyer and mediator. Loughmiller has spent two terms on the city council and was Mayor Pro Tem for three years. Fuller and his wife, Maylee, founded the Love Life Foundation in 1992, but he has come under some fire recently for admitting that he didn't vote in the last mayoral election nor the 2008 presidential election.

Plano has four council member slots on the ballot, three of which are contested, Places 2, 6, and 8. Voters will also be perusing seven propositions for general obligations bonds. In all, Plano residents are being asked to vote on $128,622,500 worth of bonds for parks and recreation, street, and safety improvements, as well as a new library.

Dallas County

In Dallas County, Dallas proper more specifically, exists what is probably the most contentious election issue in all of North Texas: the Dallas Convention Center Hotel. From television ads depicting the actual slinging of mud, to ads on (gasp) even this site, Dallas residents are up in arms, in one way or another, over the potential of the hotel.

On the one side you have the Vote NO! camp, which is in fact a "yes" vote for the hotel. Supported by Mayor Tom Leppert, the No's say the hotel will create jobs and revenue for Dallas. D Magazine owner and editor-in-chief Wick Allison sums up the Vote YES! argument in a post on dallasnews.com, saying a yes (no hotel) vote is for "good governance, fiscal prudence, and a healthy future for Dallas." We just can't believe the time to decide has finally come. And can't wait for those god-awful commercials to meet their maker.

There are contested mayoral races in Addison, Balch Springs, Coppell, Garland, Mesquite, Seagoville, Sunnyvale, and Wilmer, where the seat is being vacated in an unexpired term. In Addison, Joe Chow is looking for his third and final term as mayor. He's being challenged by city council member Todd Meier and Tamara Whitman.

Farmers Branch wins the award for most propositions gunking up the ballot at 19, including 5 bonds and 14 charter revisions. Might as well be voting in California.

Denton County

Several cities in Denton County have mayors on the ballot including Lewisville, The Colony, Trophy Club, Justin, and Little Elm. Lewisville Place 4 council member Dean Ueckert is throwing caution and his seat to the wind in his bid for mayor. He's running against Winston Edmondson Jr., a broadcasting network director. Destined to inevitably get one vote is Brandon L. Bertrand. He's also on the ballot for Lewisville mayor, but decided very late not to stick it out. Trophy Club and Little Elm each also have a number of propositions to consider.

Tarrant County

The Fort Worth mayoral election really should be more interesting, especially considering the tongue-lashings Mayor Mike Moncrief has taken in numerous Barnett Shale-related public meetings. But the words of disapproval from some didn't turn into much money raised for his challengers. Moncrief has $186,000 in the piggy bank while Louis "Mac" McBee and Clyde Picht have less than $17,000 between the two of them. Both are fervent critics of city hall and frequenters of West and Clear.

In Arlington, incumbent Mayor Robert Cluck faces four challengers, including Jerry Pikulinski who has run against Cluck three times now. Cluck is credited with getting the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, meaning even some Dallas voters might be slipping over the boundaries to vote him back in. And looking to regain his spot in Southlake is furniture man Rick Stacy. Southlake mayor from 1996 to 2003, you're burning your ballot if you don't vote for Stacy... or something like that. He's running against Mayor Pro Tem John Terrell.

Other Tarrant cities looking to replace their mayors include Arlington, Bedford, Benbrook, Forest Hill, Saginaw, Southlake, and Westworth Village. Tarrant County as a whole gets the award for most uncontested mayoral races. Here's to you Tarrant County. It's just a silly mayor, right?

Propositions run rampant in Tarrant County. Everman, Grand Prairie, and Pantego are all voting to reestablish sales and use tax money for street repair. Meanwhile, Westlake has not one, but two propositions on the ballot concerning alcohol. Best leave the road brew at home on Saturday so as not to ruin it for everyone else.

Don't forget that in addition to city council elections and propositions, many ISDs are electing school board trustees. Won't someone PLEASE vote for the children?!

Did we gloss over a race or issue that's important to you? Feel free to add and elaborate in the comments.

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