Announcement of Dallas Police and Fire Associations Endorsement

March 27, 2013

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Dallas police and firefighters announce City Council endorsements

Dallas police and firefighters announced Monday which candidates they’d like to see voters green-light in the upcoming City Council elections.

The Dallas Police Association and Dallas Fire Fighters Association supported all the incumbents on the ballot. In fact, Scott Griggs and Delia Jasso — the two officeholders pitted against each other in District 1 — both received the associations’ thumbs-up. And in District 2, the associations endorsed Adam Medrano, who is running to replace his aunt.

But the endorsements could be a boon for candidates aiming to fill open seats. The support for Philip Kingston in District 14 and Jennifer Staubach Gates in District 13 might be particularly welcome for those candidates.

Kingston has the endorsement of outgoing council member Angela Hunt. But a rival in the race, Bobby Abtahi, has the backing of several prominent community leaders, including former council members Veletta Lill, Ed Oakley, Craig Holcomb and Craig McDaniel, as well as former State Rep. Allen Vaught.

Staubach Gates, meanwhile, has a famous father. But her opponent, Leland Burk, has the influential endorsements of current council member Ann Margolin and former council member Mitchell Rasansky.

In District 11, the endorsements are two more high-profile feathers in former Park Board member Lee Kleinman’s cap. He also has the backing of term-limited council member Linda Koop, Republican state Sen. John Carona and Maurine Dickey, a former county commissioner. Kleinman said the announcement shows that police and firefighters have faith in his knowledge of the issues.

Kleinman’s opponent, Ori Raphael, a former Pete Sessions staffer who is running as an outsider who can buck the city establishment, said he supports Dallas police, but wasn’t surprised that he missed out on the endorsement “because I’m an independent thinker and care more for the residents of Dallas than the interests of the unions.”

Here is the full list of endorsements:

  • Scott Griggs, District 1
  • Delia Jasso, District 1
  • Adam Medrano, District 2
  • Vonciel Jones Hill, District 3
  • Dwaine Caraway, District 4
  • Jesse Diaz, District 5
  • Monica Alonzo, District 6
  • Carolyn Davis, District 7
  • Tennell Atkins, District 8
  • Sheffie Kadane, District 9
  • Jerry Allen, District 10
  • Lee Kleinman, District 11
  • Sandy Greyson, District 12
  • Jennifer Staubach Gates, District 13
  • Philip Kingston, District 14