It's Officially Time To Run For Dallas Mayor
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Monday was the first day for filing for council elections in Dallas, where most eyes are on the soon-to-be-vacant mayor's chair.
At one time half a dozen people were interested in running, but so far only one has formally filed.
With wife Nancy at this side, Councilman Ron Natinsky made it official, turning in roughly three times the number of petitions needed to put his name on the ballot. Claiming he's helped maintain city services in tough times---and championed economic growth in the southern sectory----Natinsky says the key now is to let city government help "grow" the economy. "And growing the pie and keeping the economics and the jobs foremost in our minds the city of Dallas is what's most important."
Meantime, former police chief David Kunkle---not yet a formal candidate---spent this morning in South Dallas gathering signatures. He claims his work in southern Dallas shows he cares about the area, and that he's not part of a hierarchy he calls "the establishment."
"I'll look at issues differently," he tells CBS 11, "and I think for people who feel left out, I'm a safe choice, and for people who're comfortable with the way things are run in the city I'm a safe choice.
A third hopeful is former Park Board Chair and Homeless Czar Mike Rawlings, who's still involved and with homeless issue and ran in a homeless charity event this morning. He believes his background in business built leadership qualities he can use to unite city factions.
"And we as a city are going to be much stronger if we unite the east and west and north and south together, and that's what's exciting for me to do," according to Rawlings. Each candidate feels he can guide the city through a slumping but improving economy; to hold expenses down and keep city services adequate, especially crime-fighting.
The race is not for the economically timid, as it may take a million dollars just to get in the race. Each candidate has a proven campaign consultant and has appointed treasurers with access to donors with deep pockets.
