Richardson election shockers: Slagel, Murphy, and Townsend re-elected; Hayes and Stewart ousted by Macy and Omar; Solomon wins

by Andrew Laska of Richardson Echo

RICHARDSON — In one of the most stunning elections in Richardson in years, former Mayor Gary Slagel and former mayor pro-tem John Murphy were re-elected. Current mayor pro-tem Bob Townsend was re-elected as well. One term Incumbents Pris Hayes and Dennis Stewart were both defeated. The race was marked by attacks and accusations and was one of the most bitterly fought in recent memory.

Three races involved three or more candidates and could have potentially ended up in runoffs had any candidate not received over 50% of the vote. Most people I spoke to seemed to expect at least one runoff. However, in all of these races the winner received more than 50% and eliminated any chance of a runoff.

Former Mayor Gary Slagel, and council person from Place 4, was in a three way race with Chamber of Commerce Board Member Dianne Wardrup and newcomer Thomas Bache-Wiig. Slagel avoided a runoff by receiving 56.5% of the vote at last count to Wardrup’s 34.76 and Bache-Wiig’s 8.73%.

Former Mayor Pro-Tem John Murphy, and council person from Place 3, was in a three way race with County Employee Chris Davis and Sheryl Miller. Murphy avoided a runoff by receiving 55.66% of the vote to Davis’ 31.08% and Miller’s 13.26%. (Editorial disclosure: The author is President of the Neighborhood association where John Murphy resides and the author campaigned for John Murphy.)

Both Slagel and Murphy were displaced as Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem respectively after the council choose not to reappoint them to those positions in 2007. In Richardson, both mayor and mayor pro-tem are selected by a vote of the council. Of the four council members that voted against their reappointment, Hayes and Stewart were defeated, Allison chose not to run, and Steve Mitchell – who is also the current mayor – was not opposed. As it stands now, Mitchell will be the only remaining council member who voted against Slagel as mayor and for himself. Some will no doubt interpret the results as a rejection of Slagel’s ouster from the mayor’s position.

Bob Townsend, current Mayor Pro-tem, faced only write in opposition from former neighborhood association president Bill Denton. Townsend won easily receiving 75.47% to Denton’s 24.53%.

The two stunning upsets of the day were the defeats of first time incumbents Place 5 council person Pris Hayes and Place 7 council person Dennis Stewart.

Hayes lost to retiree and long time community volunteer Robert “Bob” Macy by a margin of 53.04% to 46.96%. Hayes won her seat in 2007 in a tightly contested race which concluded with Hayes winning a runoff. Coincidently Hayes won that 2007 run off by a 53.04% to 46.96% margin – the same margin by which she lost re-election.

Stewart, considered the likely favorite in his Place 7 race and perhaps the incumbent most likely to be re-elected next to Townsend, was defeated by newcomer Amir Omar with a margin of 51.54% to 48.46%. In 2007, Stewart beat long time council person John Sweeden by 50.84% to 49.16% with a difference of only 98 votes. If our facts our correct we believe it is possible that Amir Omar is only the second American of Persian descent elected to office in the United States.

In what was supposed to be another hotly contested race, Insurance Agent and former Parks Board Member Mark Solomon avoided a run off in a four way race by gaining 53.75% of the vote. His main opponent Attorney Jimmy Schnuur gained 27.4% of the vote, Conference Coordinator Jennifer Justice gained 16.49%, and IT Manager Thomas Volmer gained 2.36% of the vote.

Turnout was high very high compared to previous years. In 2005, contested races produced an average of about 4600 total votes per race. In 2007, contested races produced an average of 5715 votes per race. In 2009, that average jumped to 6980 votes.

This election was one of the more contentious in recent memory. Accusations abounded alleging conflict of interest, to corruption, conspiracy between candidates with hidden agendas, and race baiting. The Echo received several reports from residents who claimed that they were visited by supporters of various candidates using negative campaign tactics against their opponents. The Echo received no reports of a candidate him or herself engaging in negative door-to-door campaigning.

The results will need to be canvassed at a future council meeting and the Mayor will be elected shortly afterward.

• Staff
• Verified User
• Anonymous