Bump. There will be a forum on Apr 3 at OHB with most of the key players. I'd love to hear thoughts from anyone that has already decided.

A friend asked for my recommendation:

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Now that is a challenging question!! Honestly, still researching. There is a candidate forum at Oak Highlands Brewery on April 3 I'm looking forward to very much.

Some early thoughts--
Hard NO:
Griggs--he's a major part of the craziness at City Hall. He and McGough do not get along. Adam isn't perfect (no one is) but I trust his judgement.
Kennedy--socialist. 'Nough said.
Montoya--Clinton disciple
Solis--hard left ISD trustee with high ambitions and little experience

Maybe....
Villalba--I know Jason. I'm not particularly excited about him, but he's "the devil we know", and who knows us here in D10. But is he viable?
Ablon--Interesting guy, but need a lot more info
Johnson--Probably the frontrunner. He's interesting. He's definitely a democrat, but he has the backing of the conservative power players like Hunt (as opposed to Villalba). Need to learn more.

Don't know anything about 'em...
-McBee (well, she's rich, know that)
-Black

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I had family work for Jason V. It was short-lived due to him not being a very good human. Nothing criminal, just in how a person should treat another. Many, many instances across many people.

On camera, he appears somewhat polished. Behind the scenes, he's a mess. Vote for him at your own risk.

Ol Jock 99 said:

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A friend asked for my recommendation:

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Now that is a challenging question!! Honestly, still researching. There is a candidate forum at Oak Highlands Brewery on April 3 I'm looking forward to very much.

Some early thoughts--
Hard NO:
Griggs--he's a major part of the craziness at City Hall. He and McGough do not get along. Adam isn't perfect (no one is) but I trust his judgement.
Kennedy--socialist. 'Nough said.
Montoya--Clinton disciple
Solis--hard left ISD trustee with high ambitions and little experience

Maybe....
Villalba--I know Jason. I'm not particularly excited about him, but he's "the devil we know", and who knows us here in D10. But is he viable?
Ablon--Interesting guy, but need a lot more info
Johnson--Probably the frontrunner. He's interesting. He's definitely a democrat, but he has the backing of the conservative power players like Hunt (as opposed to Villalba). Need to learn more.

Don't know anything about 'em...
-McBee (well, she's rich, know that)
-Black

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The OJ household is going to be fullblown blue by the end of 2020.

Griffle said:

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I had family work for Jason V. It was short-lived due to him not being a very good human. Nothing criminal, just in how a person should treat another. Many, many instances across many people.

On camera, he appears somewhat polished. Behind the scenes, he's a mess. Vote for him at your own risk.

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I worry about people that can't control their urges on twitter, especially as an elected official

Villalba call conservative blogger fat and stupid

Easy there!!

Villalba is definitely his own worst enemy. There is a reason I don't have a mayor sign in the yard.

Ol Jock 99 said:

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Villalba is definitely his own worst enemy. There is a reason I don't have a mayor sign in the yard.

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And?

Would do the same thing to his staff.

Note: thought I had grabbed the reply above about fat and stupid. He was terrible to the people trying to help him.

All good my friend.

Is it just me or would the candidate that makes properly fixing and replacing the city streets a top priority stand to win over a lot of indifferent voters?

I can't think of much Rawlings has done, in general.

No question Ablon has the business experience to work on our city's embarrassing infrastructure.

She really thought this would help? So many questions about this

In a field this crowded, any differentiation helps. Not going to win my vote with this, but the county is blue overall.

walton91 said:

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She really thought this would help? So many questions about this

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It probably will. We are the deepest of blues here now.

hopheadAg09 said:

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Is it just me or would the candidate that makes properly fixing and replacing the city streets a top priority stand to win over a lot of indifferent voters?

I can't think of much Rawlings has done, in general.

No question Ablon has the business experience to work on our city's embarrassing infrastructure.

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Lynn McBee is running on this exact platform for what its worth.

Ol Jock 99 said:

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In a field this crowded, any differentiation helps. Not going to win my vote with this, but the county is blue overall.

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This. Think of this as the primary to get to runoff.

Don't know who I'm voting for yet, but somebody asked for more info on Ablon.

Ablon on Issues

william1978 said:

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Don't know who I'm voting for yet, but somebody asked for more info on Ablon.

Ablon on Issues

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Thanks. Pretty standard stuff. Not sure what his real beliefs are and how he will go about this though. Granted, again, if Kingston hates him he must be decent.

Oh boy, Jason Villalba. Same from what has been posted, here's the article on it.

Jason Villalba-Or a Staffer-Doesn't Give a Rat's Back End What You Think, Snowflake: https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2019/03/jason-villalba-or-a-staffer-doesnt-give-a-rats-back-end-what-you-think-snowflake/?fbclid=IwAR1mmnXVeJdilSjbI_cQgIk3Pkwx5We3YIODkU1arHnFu4w9VqJSoX-5Xq0

A few article excerpts:

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"With great respect, I don't give a rats ass about what you think about the way I speak," he wrote. "If you don't like me or what I represent, vote for one off [sic] the 17625 options."

The comments were under a post on Villalba's campaign Facebook page about the City Council's decision to take down the Confederate monument in Pioneer Cemetery. The original post, put up at about 8 p.m. Thursday and since edited, called mayoral candidates Lynn McBee and Mike Ablon "mamby pamby politicians."

One commenter said that was "simultaneously sexist and homophobic."

"I don't give a whit about what a snowflake like you thinks about my language," Villalba responded. "You don't like it, vote for someone else. Griggs I suspect."

He has since deleted both of the comments. He took some of the more excitable language out of the original post, mamby pamby included.

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Villalba and social media have a speckled history. In a 2017 spat, he called a conservative blogger a, "fat, oafish dufus." He later apologized (even hashtagging #Apology). He's also taken heat for his blocking habits.

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Nothing about "manny, pamby politicians" is sexist or homophobia. Geez.

Kingston has said far, far worse on an almost daily basis for years. Is anyone calling him out?

Sounds like Villaba is following trump doctrine at this point.

We just drove through Kessler Heights in South Dallas and saw A LOT of Scott Griggs signs.

This board seems fairly unified in the "Scott Griggs sucks" camp, although I'm not entirely clear as to why (not fishing for the reason - I just haven't done my research on him).

To play devil's advocate - What about Scott Griggs would be appealing enough to motivate people to put signs in their yard?

713nervy said:

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We just drove through Kessler Heights in South Dallas and saw A LOT of Scott Griggs signs.

This board seems fairly unified in the "Scott Griggs sucks" camp, although I'm not entirely clear as to why (not fishing for the reason - I just haven't done my research on him).

To play devil's advocate - What about Scott Griggs would be appealing enough to motivate people to put signs in their yard?

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He's a Kingston ally and both made a pact to govern as one with same policies. Those policies following DNC platform. Kingston is a corrupt, piece of sh^t human as well.

Anyone allied to Kingston has no morals or ethics in my opinion so he automatically does not get consideration from me.

All of the Grigg supporters are simply democrats of which Dallas is now dark blue so expected.

YouBet said:

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713nervy said:

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We just drove through Kessler Heights in South Dallas and saw A LOT of Scott Griggs signs.

This board seems fairly unified in the "Scott Griggs sucks" camp, although I'm not entirely clear as to why (not fishing for the reason - I just haven't done my research on him).

To play devil's advocate - What about Scott Griggs would be appealing enough to motivate people to put signs in their yard?

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He's a Kingston ally and both made a pact to govern as one with same policies. Those policies following DNC platform. Kingston is a corrupt, piece of sh^t human as well.

Anyone allied to Kingston has no morals or ethics in my opinion so he automatically does not get consideration from me.

All of the Grigg supporters are simply democrats of which Dallas is now dark blue so expected.

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Disclaimer... I had a Villalba event at my house yesterday.

That being said, Griggs is crooked and a liberal of the highest order.

I am not gonna tell anybody to vote for Jason if they don't want to but I am kinda past people wanting the mayor to be their buddy. He needs to be a bit of hard ass.

Kessler loves Griggs bc he's their city Councilman.

Did Villalba vote for LLR or Turner?

Quinn said:

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Did Villalba vote for LLR or Turner?

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I don't think he said publicly, but he certainly didn't rally 'round LLR.

Quinn said:

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Did Villalba vote for LLR or Turner?

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I didn't ask

713nervy said:

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We just drove through Kessler Heights in South Dallas and saw A LOT of Scott Griggs signs.

This board seems fairly unified in the "Scott Griggs sucks" camp, although I'm not entirely clear as to why (not fishing for the reason - I just haven't done my research on him).

To play devil's advocate - What about Scott Griggs would be appealing enough to motivate people to put signs in their yard?

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Ok- I'll bite.

I don't adhere to one side of the spectrum or another. So to say that someone is unqualified to run for mayor because they are liberal doesn't do much to sway me one side or another.

I care whether they are willing to work with others on issues that may or may not be divisive; and produce real, tangible results for whatever jurisdiction you're helping to run.

What I have always liked about the Kingston/Griggs cabal is that I do believe they have an underlying philosophy that only people who reside in Dallas should be making decisions about Dallas- not the suburbs or the Park Cities.

However, I've come to believe Kingston is too far gone regarding working with those who share a different philosophy than he does. He strikes me too much of a zealot and an *******. Which he likely had enough insight to know that he couldn't get elected mayor, so his more mild-mannered buddy by comparison was put up as their candidate. Again, nothing to do with being either R or D....just an observation about personalities and likelihood of being able to work with someone.

I will say that I've met Villalba briefly regarding an issue when he was still a state legislator, and I came away with a favorable impression. I really did like his work on the police and fire pension fund, as he was one of the key lawmakers behind it, and I know DFR guys who swear by him. So take that for what it's worth

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What I have always liked about the Kingston/Griggs cabal is that I do believe they have an underlying philosophy that only people who reside in Dallas should be making decisions about Dallas- not the suburbs or the Park Cities.

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This whole idea is not only ridiculous, but is bad for Dallas and the area in the long run.

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I know DFR guys who swear by him

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What's DFR? Dallas Fire/Rescue?

powerbelly said:

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What I have always liked about the Kingston/Griggs cabal is that I do believe they have an underlying philosophy that only people who reside in Dallas should be making decisions about Dallas- not the suburbs or the Park Cities.

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This whole idea is not only ridiculous, but is bad for Dallas and the area in the long run.

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Why is it ridiculous?

Quinn said:

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powerbelly said:

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What I have always liked about the Kingston/Griggs cabal is that I do believe they have an underlying philosophy that only people who reside in Dallas should be making decisions about Dallas- not the suburbs or the Park Cities.

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This whole idea is not only ridiculous, but is bad for Dallas and the area in the long run.

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Why is it ridiculous?

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Not involving surrounding areas in decisions about Dallas, especially areas in Dallas county is shortsighted at best and almost impossible.

Ol Jock 99 said:

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I know DFR guys who swear by him

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What's DFR? Dallas Fire/Rescue?

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Yes

powerbelly said:

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Quinn said:

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powerbelly said:

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What I have always liked about the Kingston/Griggs cabal is that I do believe they have an underlying philosophy that only people who reside in Dallas should be making decisions about Dallas- not the suburbs or the Park Cities.

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This whole idea is not only ridiculous, but is bad for Dallas and the area in the long run.

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Why is it ridiculous?

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Not involving surrounding areas in decisions about Dallas, especially areas in Dallas county is shortsighted at best and almost impossible.

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Nothing wrong with involving surrounding communities regarding certain issues with Dallas. Big problems with the majority of decisions regarding Dallas be done by those who do not reside in Dallas who have the ear of those who happen to run the city. Just my opinion

Do you have any good examples? Curious. DART I suppose.

Ol Jock 99 said:

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Do you have any good examples? Curious. DART I suppose.

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The Margaret McDermott and Margaret Hunt Hill Bridges. Why was a Calatrava design needed to showcase bridges over the Trinity ditch? Surrounding communities in this sense tie to Highland Park.

Yes, DART is often brought up. Why is Dallas prioritizing the suburbs access to downtown via rail when they could improve bus/rail service in the core where the majority of the money comes from. Please note, this is not my opinion (I don't really have one since I don't ride DART), just the opinions I have heard.