By David Wilfong, NDG Contributing Writer
With the local campaign season underway, Monday Night Politics is in full swing at the African American Museum in Fair Park. The Dallas Examiner hosts the forum, providing candidates the opportunity to present their case directly to potential voters.
The March 4 forum welcomed candidates for Dallas Mayor, this week the attention shifted to candidates running for office in Dallas City Council Districts 5 and 8.
The first race presented was the District 8 seat, where incumbent Tennell Atkins is facing a challenge from former councilmember Erik Wilson. The race is especially heated, as Atkins had served out the maximum term on the council, with Wilson being the successor. Then after the required time off of the council passed, Atkins defeated Wilson in the last election. The two-faced off in a close runoff after emerging as the top candidates in an original field of five.
Wilson came out swinging in his opening statements. He acknowledged his vote in support of a charter school outside his district was unpopular. Vocal opponents of charter schools have made their opinions heard in recent political forums. But he pointed to Atkins’ support for five such schools during his time in the seat. He said Atkins “enjoys receiving the money from porn store owners,” to support his campaign. On the last note, Wilson said Atkins’ loyalty was not to the voters, citing a newspaper article.
“(Atkins) admits that he was a tool for the establishment, and readily served at their will and that he did not listen to the community,” Wilson said. “He followed the directions of the business establishment and not the community.”
Responding to an audience question about Wheatland Road development, Wilson also accused Atkins of holding up the process to prevent African-Americans from selling their property at a higher price. This kept the cost low for White or Asian developers allowing them to buy the properties cheaply.
Regarding money received from the owners of porn shops, Atkins responded it was “a matter of record” that he returned $11,000 received from the owners of SOBs (Sexually Oriented Businesses).
Atkins stated he was looking out for the Black property owners on Wheatland Road by not changing the zoning until the property in question was ready for development. According to him, 2023 is the anticipated project completion date.
“The landowners there, they’re zoned as agricultural and also housing, a lower tax rate,” Atkins said. “If you increase that, you increase the property value and they would be put out, they’re overpriced.”
Adkins also stated he is trying to find $5 million for water and sewer infrastructure to keep the project on track to move forward.
For his part, Atkins went through a long list of improvements in the district, and businesses which have located there. According to him, his efforts have both improved the community and created thousands of jobs for residents. Ultimately he invited audience members to use the Internet to look up the “District 8 Online” website to see a full accounting of what he has done for his constituents.
District 5 race features three first-timers
The second race featured was the race for District 5, a three-way competition between new challengers, as incumbent Rickey Callahan is not seeking reelection. Jaime Resendez, Ruth Torres, and Yolanda Williams are each vying to take a seat at the horseshoe for the first time.
The subject of charter schools reared its head again, as Torres claimed charter schools are backing her opponents. She views this as part of the profit influence problem in her community.
“I’m running because I’m sick and tired of the status quo,” Torres said. “I’m tired of big business coming in and robbing people of equity … I have a responsibility to my kids and everyone’s kids to make things better. I’ve spent over 20 years fighting on the issues. I’ve been in Dallas almost 10 years now, and I’ve been fighting on the issues for at-risk youth, for homelessness, affordable housing. I’ve been here on that.”
Both Torres’ opponents denied being backed by charter schools, with Resendez quipping, “If charter schools are supporting me, they need to hurry up and write me that check because I ain’t got it yet.”
Resendez recently made news when questions of where he resided led to his resignation from the Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD) Board of Trustees. However, he had already decided not to seek reelection and instead to run for the District 5 seat on the city council.
“I grew up in Pleasant Grove,” Resendez said. “I grew up around gangs, drugs, and violence. My parents were immigrants. They worked hard to make a living, but still struggled to make ends meet.”
His way out was to join the military — serving in Iraq — and returning home to pursue a law degree. He said he was proud of his time on the Dallas ISD board, but believes he can make a bigger impact elsewhere.
“Education does not happen in a vacuum,” Resendez said. “There are housing issues connected to education, criminal justice issues, economic development, equity; and that’s why I’m running for city council and I hope to have y’alls support.”
Williams points to her past community advocacy and work on the Parks board as her qualification for the position. A lifelong Pleasant Grove resident, Williams says she put in the work long before considering running.
“We know Pleasant Grove is the forgotten city,” Williams said. “In 2012 there was the last bond. In 2013 they had redistricting. There were two people from Pleasant Grove fighting for Pleasant Grove. Not one of my opponents on this stage was downtown … We were at city hall at 12, 1 o’clock at night, making sure all of Pleasant Grove got their due share.”
During her tenure on the Parks board and Williams claimed she had a special dedication to community rec centers, because, “I was a rec kid.” She points to four city parks, including an aquatics center which she claims was originally going to go to another part of the city, as evidence of her diligence and commitment.
Monday Night Politics will continue on March 25 at the African-American Museum in Fair Park, focusing on the District 7 race. The event runs from 6-8 p.m. and is open to the public.
