Attempt To Suspend John Wiley Price Fails
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - The power struggle at Dallas County Commissioners Court ended with a whimper on Tuesday, as officials were set to vote on one of their own. This came after one call to suspend John Wiley Price in the wake of a federal indictment.
However, the resolution to suspend Price died because nobody would second the motion.
The lone Republican on the Dallas County Commissioners Court admitted that he did not stand much of a chance at getting what he wanted. Mike Cantrell said that he waited for a couple of weeks to see if the Democrats on the court would recommend action. But that never happened.
Price was charged last month in an 11-count federal indictment. Prosecutors have accused him of trading his influence on the court for money, cars and land. Price maintains that he is not guilty, and has refused to step down.
Cantrell said that county policies after an arrest or a conviction apply to county employees, but seemingly not to county commissioners. "The State has a statute that's similar to Dallas County policies, that provide a mechanism that, if somebody commits official misconduct, then it provides a procedure for someone to come in and file a removal action, and then to temporarily suspend that person pending the outcome of trial," explained Cantrell prior to Tuesday's session. "That's what I'm seeking to do."
While he knew ahead of time that he likely did not have the votes to force Price's suspension, Cantrell said that the move was, at least, symbolic.
Price had nothing to say about the resolution. Meanwhile, a motion has been filed to move Price's federal court trial to September 2015, a year-long delay. A judge has not yet ruled on that motion.
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