Recently, when I was handed the assignment of writing a weekly political column for our Web site and blog, I hoped to go as long as possible without writing about the Trinity River vote, since people far smarter than I — and Steve Blow — have explored every corner of…
After Tom Leppert coasted into the mayor’s office in June, I decided he and I needed to take a little break. It wasn’t an easy decision. In the spring of 2007, I learned so much about him, from how his single mother inspired his heartland values to how he never…
Kinky Friedman, Texas Jewboy and former gubernatorial candidate, is about to have himself a new book in stores: You Can Lead a Politician to Water, But You Can’t Make Him Think: Ten Commandments for Texas Politics, and how do they fit all them words on one book cover anyway? Yesterday,…
Brian Harkin Perhaps I missed a mention in Dallas’ Only Daily, but it says here that Rudy Giuliani has a new team of media consultants — and they’re right here, but of course. Giuiliani’s now in business with Scott Howell & Company, the Market Street-based firm teeming with Republican image-makers…
Peter Schulte: He passed the state law enforcement test on the first try! Last month I talked to Peter Schulte about his nascent campaign to unseat incumbent Sheriff Lupe Valdez in next year’s Democratic primary. He seemed smart and nice, but a little too timid for the game, as though…
This morning USA Today surveys which ZIP codes are giving the most to presidential wannabes, and coming in at No. 31 on the list of top-contributing ZIP codes is 75205 — which, in case you’re new ’round these here parts, resides “north of downtown, including Highland Park and the Dallas…
Mark Graham Craig Watkins would like a word with the Friends of Unfair Park. Wow, it must be Guest Contributor Day around Unfair Park. Because next up to the virtual podium is none other than Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins, who sent Unfair Park this morning an “opinion editorial”…
Great question, Andrew Matheny of Dallas, Texas. Really, well done. Maybe the Republicans will answer it some day. Wouldn’t hold my breath though. –Robert Wilonsky…
Brian Harkin Because we’ll be damned if this picture, which goes with this item, isn’t the first thing you see all weekend. We’ve already awarded it a Pulitzer Prize, a Nobel Peace Prize, the Humanitas Prize and, of course, four Katie Awards. See ya tomorrow, or whenever the city secretary…
Brian Harkin “My only indulgence, I guess, would be that I eat a lot of frozen yogurt. But it’s non-fat.” While out shopping for a new office chair (speaking of, if you have $900 to spend on a chair, the ones at Design Within Reach feel like you’re sitting on…
Pete Schulte is running against Lupe Valdez — a fellow Democrat. Whuh-oh. Well, we just got off the phone with Pete Schulte, who plans to run against Sheriff Lupe Valdez in the Democratic primary next March. Only 29, Schulte works as a prosecutor in the District Attorney’s Office and is…
We need a hero. Well, it looks like embattled (should that be her first name now?) Sheriff Lupe Valdez may have an opponent in the Democratic primary. We don’t know much about the guy yet, other than he’s relatively young and works in the District Attorney’s Office, but we’ll fill…
Harriet Miers’ SMU yearbook pic from 1967 — and I gotta say, kinda cute. Hey, looks like Harriet Miers won’t have to make the trip from Dallas to D.C. after all. Apparently, it doesn’t matter if Congress commands you to testify before a House Judiciary Committee on Thursday investigating the…
Important Moments in Dallas-Houston History: Doug Cosbie says hi to Dan Pastorini. At least, Houston wants to be like us when it comes to the success (more or less — sorry, Ed Oakley) Democrats have had at the polls in recent elections. Reports the Houston Chronicle this a.m.: Democrats in…
Though it’s yet to be officially announced, we feel very comfortable saying Dave Neumann will be the chair of the council’s Trinity River Committee. Well, he’ll probably be the chair. Hedge bets much? A very good Friend of Unfair Park sends this morning a report from last night’s Trinity Trust…
We have a few questions about Tom Leppert’s inaugural speech, delivered yesterday at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center and reprinted in its entirety after the jump (courtesy the city’s Web site). But chief among them is this: Why did Leppert say, “A well-known philosopher once said, ‘What is a…
Mayor Laura Miller — and her pal Councilman Leo Chaney, standing to her immediate right — attended her last groundbreaking today. Pastor Fredrick Eddington is third from the left. Mayor Laura Miller, Councilman Leo Chaney, my pastor — Elder Fredrick Eddington, Sr. — and several other city and neighborhood dignitaries…
If you’re keeping score at home, the proper gift for a 2-year anniversary is cotton — though, says here, china’s a great modern-day alternative for those looking to drop a little more coin. Us, we’re waiting till the 3-year mark before purchasing gifts — that’s the leather anniversary, by the…
Because we’ll never let this one go… A good Friend of Unfair Park sends this reminder: Speaking of getting all political in this piece, I’m sure you already know this anyway, but Rudy Giuliani is in town today for a presidential committee benefit at his pal Bob Sambol’s steakhouse. The…
Nancy Brinker — though you can call her “ambassador.” As it’s unlikely you saw this press release from the White House yesterday, perhaps you missed the announcement that President Bush has nominated two Texans (one of whom is very local) for some gigs currently open in his administration. Fine –…
Perhaps the most interesting question after Saturday’s runoff election is the gay one: Did Ed Oakley lose votes because of his sexual orientation — or, at least, the way it became part of the campaign in recent weeks? Certainly many Friends of Unfair Park believe so, and if he did,…
A woeful but way better-than-expected 85,590 turned out to cast their vote for mayor, and they’ve chosen Tom Leppert. And it wasn’t even close: 49,512 votes to Ed Oakley’s 36,078. Good night, Dallas, and good luck. –Robert Wilonsky…
