Clay Jenkins

In the Wake of Kaufman Slayings, Dallas County Prosecutors Encouraged to Ammo Up

The murder this weekend of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, two months after assistant DA Mark Hasse was gunned down in broad daylight, has Texas prosecutors on high alert. The Associated Press reports today that district attorneys throughout the state are taking extra ... More >>

Aerial Spraying Against West Nile Needs Debate

We're getting only half the story about the risks and dangers of pesticides.

Dallas County Adds Domestic Partner Benefits As Commissioner Maurine Dickey Calls Lesbian Activist a "He"

This morning, Dallas County joined the growing roster of local agencies (the city of Dallas, Parkland Hospital, the DFW Airport) to add domestic partner benefits, meaning same-sex partners of any of its roughly 6,500 employees are now eligible for health coverage and other benefits through the count ... More >>

Dallas County Got Out the Vote Today, But Republicans Say the Drive Targeted Dems

Today, in case you haven't been on Twitter, is National Voter Registration Day, in which volunteers around the country hit the streets and Internet to get people signed up to vote in November. It's an admirable effort, particularly seeing as, per organizers, more than 6 million people didn't vote la ... More >>

Five Things Dallas County Commissioners Should Have Done Instead of Giving Themselves a Raise

Being a Dallas County Commissioner is tough. You have constituents whining all the time about this and that, you have to read through a lot of boring paperwork, and those chairs around the horseshoe aren't nearly as comfortable as they look. All that for a measly salary of a bit more than $126,000. ... More >>

The Rest of Dallas County Will Get Its Aerial Coating of Poison Tonight at 9

Last night it most of the north and east parts of Dallas and the Park Cities; tonight it's everywhere else. County Judge Clay Jenkins and Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings held a press conference at the Dallas County Administration building this afternoon to lay out their plans to murder every single mosqu ... More >>

Mike Rawlings Declares State of Emergency, Wants Entire City Blanketed With Pesticide

There have been 111 documented human cases of the West Nile Virus in the city of Dallas this year, a full quarter of cases nationwide. The county declared a state of emergency a couple of days ago and, this morning, Mayor Mike Rawlings followed suit this morning. That puts the decision over whether ... More >>

Dallas County Declares State of Emergency, Requests Planes for Aerial Pesticide Spraying

Dallas County escalated its war on mosquitoes today, with County Judge Clay Jenkins declaring a state of emergency and requesting that five planes be made available from the Texas Department of Emergency Management in order to begin spraying pesticide aerially over North Dallas and the Park Cities. ... More >>

What Does A "Playful" Gavel Grab Look Like, Anyway? John Wiley Price's YouTube Channel Is Here To Show Us.

The folks over at the Morning News' City Hall blog alerted the world yesterday to County Commissioner John Wiley Price's Youtube channel, namely a video in which he calls out the "mainstream media" for running a "character assassination on our Black elected officials." He's not talking about the rep ... More >>

While Awaiting Trial, Teens in Dallas County Jail Being Kept in Their Cells 23 Hours a Day

Each year, a handful of Dallas county teenagers accused of crimes are "certified," meaning they're being charged as adults and will appear in adult criminal court. While they await trial, they sit in Dallas county jail. We've learned that while in jail, these teens are kept in their cells for 23 hou ... More >>

The Ropes Will Stay at Dallas County Commissioner's Court, But is it Really That Big a Deal?

The Dallas County Commissioners Court will vote today on whether to keep in place the rope barriers that sparked an outcry (from the media at least) put up three weeks ago. County Judge Clay Jenkins said he made the order to maintain order and decorum, but, coming as it did on the heels of the FBI's ... More >>

The Woman Who Wants to Replace Dickey

​Speaking of the Dallas County Commissioners Court (or at least I was, to myself, since you're probably doing something far better with your last holiday-break day off) ...Late last night Cecile Fernandez sent word that she wants to replace back-to-BBQ Maurine Dickey as the commissioner for the ne ... More >>

County Judge Jenkins Says He Alone Ousted Homeland Security Director Lisa Chambers

Lisa Chambers is due to speak to the Irving Republican Women's Club next month at an IHOP on LBJ.​When Lisa Chambers was hired in June 2010 to become Dallas County's new Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, John Wiley Price had nothing but the nicest things to say about the form ... More >>

U.S. Supreme Court Rules Dallas County's Appeal in Fight Over Voting Machines is "Moot"

​This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a very confusing ruling in the case involving Dallas County's voting machines -- a case, you'll recall, that stemmed from Linda Harper-Brown's 19-vote victory over Democrat Bob Romano in 1998. Long story short: The Texas Democratic Party (represent ... More >>

Before This Morning's Constables Hearing in Federal Court, Let's Review the Filings

​Today's The Big Day (well, all right, a big day) for Dallas County Constables Ben Adamcik, Beth Villareal and Roy Williams and many of the deputy constables who say Dallas County is eliminating their jobs because some of them blew the whistle on Dallas County Precinct 1 Constable Derick Evans and ... More >>

Dallas County Constable Ben Adamcik Is Soliciting For Whistleblowers' Legal Defense

Ben Adamcik​Maybe you read the piece in the paper over the weekend about how all those Dallas County deputy constables who blew all those whistles on Dallas County Precinct 1 Constable Derick Evans and former Precinct 5 Constable Jaime Cortes are scared of losing their jobs. They have good reason: ... More >>

It's Official: Toni Pippins-Poole Is Now Your Dallas County Elections Administrator

Photo by Sam MertenToni Pippins-Poole​Last night, Dallas County spokesperson Maria Arita sent word: Toni Pippins-Poole has been named Dallas County Elections Administrator, thus removing the word "interim" from her title. No doubt, longtime observers of county politics aren't stunned by this news. ... More >>

Bad Company: Price and Friends Had Plenty of Enablers.

The John Wiley Price Affair: Suddenly, a Few People Are Looking a Whole Lot Smarter

​Last week I was talking to a very well-known Dallas television investigative reporter about the Dallas County federal corruption probe. I won't name him here, because it was a personal call to discuss something else. But he made a point that kept coming back to me all through the long holiday ... More >>

Before the Mavs' Parade, Fans Sweated in the Streets While Local Officials Fawned

Photos by Patrick MichelsLike Jim says, don't let yourself get carried away. It's just sports.​After hanging out along the parade route for a while this morning, Nick and I ducked into the convention center for what we'd been told would be a half-hour interview session with the Mavs before they fl ... More >>

Dallas County's Now Light 28 Deputy Constables Who Just Wouldn't Do Their Jobs

Photos by Patrick Michels​First, an apology: Patrick's all out of good photos of Maurine Dickey, Clay Jenkins and John Wiley Price at that very first media what-for during which the unholy trinity acknowledged that mistakes had been made and that many Dallas County deputy constables had lied about ... More >>

Jenkins: Dallas County Deputy Constables Faked Visits to Serve Notice of Evictions, Civil Suits

Patrick MichelsSorry, from all your friends at the Dallas County Commissioners Court​If you've been evicted without a heads-up in the last two years or so, Dallas County would like to apologize. This morning, County Judge Clay Jenkins and commissioners John Wiley Price and Maureen Dickey did so in ... More >>

Activists Hail Dallas County Commissioners Court For Demanding State, Feds Clear the Air

​Anti-gas drilling activist Raymond Crawford sends word this morning: Moments ago the Dallas County Commissioners Court voted to adopt a resolution demanding the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency do something about cleaning up Dallas's air. Long ... More >>

Dallas County's Car Czar Vows He'll Make it Easy to Reclaim Cars from Dowdy Ferry Lot

Patrick MichelsDallas County's "Car Czar" Bob McGrath, alongside County Commissioner Clay Jenkins and Sheriff Lupe Valdez. Dallas County Commissioner Clay Jenkins rounded up reporters this morning to help spread the good word about the county's plan to help owners get reunited with cars impounded a ... More >>

John Wiley Price: "Y'all Wanted a Code of Conduct, You Got a Code of Conduct."

Photos by Sam MertenA protester across the street from the Dallas County Administration Building this morning.​The Dallas County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a new code of conduct for commissioners this morning in response to Commissioner John Wiley Price last week telling several ... More >>

John Wiley Price? Problem? What Problem? Nothing to See Here, Folks.

​I refuse to jump up and down and scream about John Wiley Price. There's this story floating around the media that they had to shut down yesterday's meeting of the Dallas County Commissioners Court because Price had a meltdown when some in the peanut gallery called him the county's "chief moolah." ... More >>

County Commissioners Vote, Three to Two, Not to Bring Back Sherbet As Elections Consultant

Patrick MichelsCounty Judge Clay Jenkins reminds the room, "I did not ask Mr. Sherbet to resign." This morning he voted not to re-hire Elections Administrator Bruce Sherbet as a consultant.Down at Dallas County Commissioners Court this morning, where the fire marshals were out to keep the overflow c ... More >>

County's Maurine Dickey Wants Bruce Sherbet Running Elections Again -- As a Consultant

Mark GrahamMaurine Dickey​Take a look at the formal agenda for tomorrow's meeting of the Dallas County Commissioners Court. On Page 7 you'll find Court Order 34, which reads, simply:Approving by a voice vote of the Commissioners Court that Mr. Bruce Sherbet be approved for this agreement and a two ... More >>

Does John Wiley Price have a hidden agenda for his political hit on Bruce Sherbet?

News & Notes: Jenkins Surgery Update, Who Sent Sherbet's Stuff Home and Former Cowboys QB Poised to Swap Senate Teams

Photo by Sam MertenClay Jenkins​What a Week For the New County Judge Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins has been pummeled in the media and political circles for playing Scottie Pippen to Commissioner John Wiley Price's Michael Jordan in the game to push out Elections Administrator Bruce Sherbet ... More >>

Sherbet Is Out. Now Watch Who Gets Paid.

​In the '08 Obama/Clinton primary election, it was clear we had two Democratic Parties in Dallas County. We had the one that won that election -- the smart Obamacrats. And then we had the losers, the Dallas County Demacrooks, the usual suspects, the ones who took all that Clinton money but did ... More >>

County Judge Clay Jenkins Still Under Fire for the Sherbet Spill That Will Not Go Away

Claire Jordan​The majority of Dallas County's courtrooms were closed today because of inclement weather, but the commissioners court pressed on and held its weekly meeting this morning. Freezing temperatures and icy roads kept us and others away, but a dozen or so supporters of ousted Election ... More >>

Critical Condition: War Between Dallas News and Parkland Escalates Over "Ouster" Story

Dr. Lauren McDonald​A few weeks back we took a look at the back-and-forth between The Dallas Morning News and Parkland Memorial Hospital, which, in recent months, has been the subject of numerous investigative pieces detailing patients put at risk and "needlessly harmed," in the words of News Depu ... More >>

More From Yesterday's Elections Commission Meeting Turned Bruce Sherbet Rally, Including the Postgame Interview With Clay Jenkins

Perhaps most disappointing to everyone gathered in support of Bruce Sherbet at yesterday's Election Commission meeting was the refusal of Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins to face his critics after he and two other Democrats, County Clerk John Warren and County Tax Assessor-Collector John Ames, voted ... More >>

Before Bipartisan Protest, County GOP Chair Pushes Judge Jenkins to Open Doors at Today's Election Commission Meeting to Public

AnonymousThis has been making the rounds. Can't imagine why its creator isn't looking for credit.​Dallas County Republican Party chair Jonathan Neerman says today's 3:30 p.m. meeting of the Election Commission -- the first such gathering in more than two decades -- should be relocated to the c ... More >>

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins Blames Bruce Sherbet for Appointment of New Elections Administrator, Then Bolts

Photos by Sam Merten The scene outside the Dallas County Administration Building this afternoon.​[This story has been updated to amend the quote from Darlene Ewing.] A passionate group of approximately 100 election judges, precinct chairs and other folks from all sides of the political spe ... More >>

Top 10 Schutze Columns of '10

​Nothing slow about us, but just when you thought my third annual list of Schutze's best columns wouldn't take shape, Jim's check finally cleared, so I took the time to look back at his fine work throughout the year and picked out the 10 that made me fall in love with him all over again. As in ... More >>

Dallas, In Red and Blue

​As I wrote last night, Dallas County's new elections website is a marked improvement over versions past -- from precinct maps to mail-ins breakdowns, it contains all the details a wonk could want. So, then. After the jump a few of the more relevant color-by-numbers, including looks at the Rick Pe ... More >>

Ain't No Party Like an Election Night Watching Party, So Here's Where to Find Your Peeps

Sam MertenDespite lots of enthusiasm from Dallas County Commissioner Maurine Dickey, the Republicans didn't do so hot two years ago. Could they turn the tables this year? Find out at Hotel Palomar. Or Victory Park.​If you've spent the last few nights out and about watching Your Texas Rangers g ... More >>

Take a Sip of the Early Election Results

​I'm about to head over to the Palomar for the Republicans' cash-bar shindig, while Sam's pulling pay-as-you-go drinking duty at the AAC with the Dallas County Dems, and Ex-Intern Elliot's eating free pizza with Stephen Broden in Uptown. But before the short pour on this long night (at least, for ... More >>

Royce West Declares Victory For Garcia and Jenkins; Exonerees Appear Instead of Watkins

Photos by Sam Merten​With The Ackermans now on stage at the Jack Daniels Old No. 7 Club, Dallas County Democratic Party chair Darlene Ewing finally made her appearance about 45 mintues ago along with state Senator Royce West and a group of candidates, when she expressed her condolences to the ... More >>

Sweatin' It Out With the Justice League!

Photos by Sam MertenState Senator Royce West and county judge candidate Clay Jenkins help pump up the crowd as District Attorney Craig Watkins grabs the mic Saturday afternoon.​This, in case you have not heard, is the "Summer of Justice." Which, as far as summers-of goes, ranks somewhere in betwee ... More >>

News & Notes: Kunkle Gets New Gig, Cortes Loses His & Irving Needs People

I think we can all agree: We will miss this picture.​A few follow-ups with which to begin the day:Sam went to Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle's retirement wingding in the Cedars yesterday, where the commish announced he'd be consulting for and teaching at the W.W. Caruth Jr. Police Institute at t ... More >>

Who the Hell is Clay Jenkins, And Why Am I Being Told to Vote for Him for County Judge?

SMU's Jillson Says Local Democratic Elected Officials "Are Not to Be Trusted," Questions Friends Chosen By Jenkins

Danny FulgencioCal Jillson​Much like Richard Allen's interview, our conversation with Southern Methodist University political scientist Cal Jillson didn't make it into the cover story on Dallas County Judge Jim Foster appearing in last week's paper version of Unfair Park. But that's not to say ... More >>

Was County Judge Jim Foster Really the Disaster His Own Party Claimed. Maybe, Maybe Not.

Who is Clay Jenkins? We'd Like to Know Too, But He Ain't Talkin'.

Claire JordanIt took 11 days and a lot of effort from us just to get a statement from Clay Jenkins, who wants to replace Jim Foster as county judge.​Fifty-two votes. That's all that kept Clay Jenkins from securing the Democratic nomination for county judge on March 2. Instead, he'll take on fo ... More >>

DA Watkins Loves Bill White, Not Jim Foster

Photos by Kurt WatkinsBill White, Craig Watkins and Craig Jenkins (background) walk from Watkins's campaign office to a precinct chair dinner at Saint Martin's Place Friday night.​That's what we gather by looking at the pics sent to us by Kurt Watkins, cousin and PR man to Dallas County Distri ... More >>

Tonight in North Dallas, Your Chance to Fire Questions at the Democratic Candidates for County Judge and District Clerk

Sam MertenWith Foster and Jenkins highlighting the race to take on Republican Wade Emmert for county judge in November, it's easy to forget Larry Duncan is also part of the mix.​That's right. Wanna know why Johnny Gomez thinks he's got a shot against incumbent Gary Fitzsimmons? Or why lawyer C ... More >>

Wade Emmert Emerges as Party Favorite in GOP Effort to Take Back County Judge Seat

flickr member: cedarhillchurchofchristEmmert is charged with helping the local Republican Party rebound by jumping from a council member in Cedar Hill to Dallas County Judge.At the Dallas County Republican Party's annual Reagan Day Dinner in February, we described Cedar Hill City Council member Wade ... More >>