Heated Race For Dallas Commissioner District 4
DALLAS COUNTY (CBSDFW.COM) - One of the most closely watched races in Dallas County, for next week's election, is for Commissioner District 4.
Republican incumbent Kenneth Mayfield faces a strong challenge on the democratic side from former Dallas mayor pro tem Elba Garcia.
The race's outcome could determine which party has a majority on commissioner's court. Democrats have not been in control of the Dallas County Commissioners Court since 1983.
"I'm in a district, always have been, that's pretty close," says Mayfield, who has always had close elections.
The four-term commissioner and attorney is also unafraid to butt heads with public officials, from fellow commissioners to a district attorney. But he is unfazed by his reputation. "I stand up; some people don't like my style but I don't back down," he said during a debate last week. " I guess like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, I don't back down. And when I have somebody screaming and yelling at me, I'm going to respond. And when I have an elected official come before and try to denigrate one of my colleagues, I respond."
Mayfield's major opponent is a well-funded, well-connected candidate. Garcia, who's a dentist, is an 8-year-veteran of the Dallas City Council, including serving as mayor pro tem. If she and a democratic county judge were both elected, then democrats would have a majority. "The party line – it's important but it's not the most important thing," Garcia said. "I believe that working together you can solve those [conflicting issues]."
Mayfield, a self-professed "Reagan conservative," was the only commissioner to vote against raising property taxes this year. He says money and jobs are everyone's priority. "That we conduct ourselves to keep Dallas County business-friendly so that we can retain the jobs that we have here and attract businesses the bring other jobs."
Much of District 4 has heavily Hispanic populations, including Oak Cliff and south Irving. Conventional wisdom is those demographics favor democrats, but this election may turn on whether they vote.
Garcia says she's reaching beyond culture. "But I am running for commissioner for District 4 not being of Hispanic descent, but because I believe I can represent everyone fairly in this county." Garcia went on to say, "No public servant can do everything by itself; you know, you need people supporting you in order to make any agenda move forward."
Almost swamped by better-known opponents, there is a third candidate, libertarian Timothy Miles whose primary message is, 'the less government, the better'.
At the same debate as Mayfield and Garcia last week, Miles offered this observation - "Politics has gotten down to this: one party likes to borrow and spend, one party likes to tax and spend. You see the same word here? Spend. And it just goes on, and on, and on."
