What's in the water in Tarrant county?

Durango knows.

He's got the latest on the Betsy Price and Robert Cluck blog to Congress about a Tarrant County "water war" and the latest on the Tarrant Regional Water District candidates. 

Now might be a good time to start paying attention.  YOU can't afford not to.

WHO are you voting for?

Be there Thursday to learn about the candidates, one of which, will end up voting for YOU. 

Looking at the line up, it should be fun.

TX House District 91 Candidate Debate
Stephanie Klick vs Ken Sapp vs Charles Scoma vs Theresa Thombs
Thursday, March 22 7:00-8:00pm
Foster Village Recreation Building
6600 Starnes Rd, Watauga 

Pay attention

YOU can't afford not to.

Voters need to pay attention to their local elections.  Everything decided at the local level impacts YOU.

WHY would anyone run for office?  It takes up all of your free time, family time, costs money, causes people to do and say stupid things, there is little to no pay... So it comes down to one of two reasons - they have higher political ambitions (we know how dangerous that is...) or they are trying to protect their PEOPLE and their town.  Take a look at your candidates.  The ones with all the money and flashy signs and fliers may not be all they are cracked up to be.

Read Mike Norman in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 

I count 202 names on ballots for 41 municipal and school board elections to be supervised by the Tarrant County Elections Division next month.

Bless them all for having the courage and dedication to run.

We've been asked about our other picks for council races since our contributors are from all over the metroplex.  So the following are the ones we know our people are voting for in local elections.  If yours isn't listed here, we don't know them or we are undecided in that race.  Don't forget - VOTE Monday.  If not for YOU, for YOUR kids!

Here's what we have for you so far:
Fort Worth Mayor - Cathy Hirt 
Fort Worth District 2 - Paul Rudisill
Fort Worth District 4 - Lupe Ariolla
Fort Worth District 6 - Tolli Thomas
Haltom City Mayor - Bob Watkins
Watauga City Council - Gary Johnson
Watauga City Council - James Wright
Watauga City Council - Russell Clements
Arlington City Council - Zack Maxwell
North Richland Hills City Council - Tim Welch
Richland Hills - Martha Strain

The man has a point

District 2 Candidate has something to say about us requesting a new way in Fort Worth.

THE PEOPLE need to pay attention. YOU can't afford not to.

“Fort Worth, we need a new way in a bad way” , I agree, but if candidates like myself cannot get the word out because: 1 we do not have the cash coming in like my opponent and Jim Lane getting public employee association (union) contributions, 2. Can’t get coverage by any media…… and 3. Conservatives in this city are plagued with apathy, we will never have a new way.

People in Ft Worth are more worried about changing who sits in DC than they are with who sits in City Hall. It will take an act of Tens of Millions to save our Federal Tax Dollars, but only a few thousand to save your City Tax Dollars. The Rocks we throw at Washington are the stones falling off City Hall.

Paul Rudisill

Cathy Hirt said WHAT?

Oh wait, she didn't.  THEY just said she did.  Imagine that.  It has begun. 

Read the Letter to the Editor in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Clearing the air

The Sunday editorial reported incorrectly that Cathy Hirt is recruiting a slate of candidates to run against incumbent Fort Worth City Council members. (See: "Politics and the search for a new city manager")

Hirt believes in transparency: in government, in politics and in journalism. As her campaign treasurer, I will clear the air. Cathy Hirt is not recruiting a slate of candidates to run against council members. Period.

She is committed to running for mayor regardless of any other candidates -- even the eight-year incumbent mayor.

A crisis of leadership in the mayor's office is putting our great city at risk. City services are neglected; city finances are in jeopardy because of ever-growing budget deficits and an underfunded pension, and, worst of all, residents feel ignored.

Fort Worth deserves a principled, innovative leader. This is why I am supporting Hirt and volunteering for her campaign.

Cathy Hirt will listen to and work with citizens to put our city's fiscal house in order, help grow the economy, provide quality city services, make our city safer, restore faith in government and make open access to the mayor's office a reality.

-- Rick Kubes, Fort Worth

For more info on the Mayor's race in Fort Worth click here.

Brenda Silcox breaks her silence

The woman behind the man of the neighborhoods has declared her support in the District 3 runoff. It is no surprise to any of us that she will be supporting Zim Zimmerman. We've met Zim and heard him speak at some of the forums and believe he will be the right choice for Fort Worth. We need to keep someone on the Dias who's goal is representing the neighborhoods and citizens. Not special interest.

When you look at Zim's opponent and where his donations come from you have to wonder what his goal is. Walsh Ranch is one of the contributors, we noticed this name came up in an earlier blog we used from Durango's site.

This time, GO VOTE! June 13th.

Big shoes to fill

You have one more chance, Fort Worth to stand up and not be bought. Read up on the candidates, Fox and Zim, find out where they got their money. Make Chuck proud.
Vote June 13.

Where were YOU?

We will let Durango speak for us today. We let 6% speak for us yesterday.

What Election?

We get that a lot. Do you wonder why the media doesn't give you election coverage until election day? The few that do acknowledge the election basically tell you what the city wants to tell you, which is keep everything the same.

Today on 970 AM both mayoral candidates Clyde Picht and Louis McBee were on air. Thanks to 970 for getting info out there! The DJ made several comments about the mayor's abscence. He also commented on Bryan Eppstein stating those campaigns he runs, the candidates usually are MIA.

What we don't get is why more people don't vote in their own elections than in the Presidental election? Yes, the Presidential race is important. But the race determining what happens in YOUR city is extremely important. It affects you daily and directly. So go vote tomorrow!

Durango says.

Free Entertainment

Notes we were sent from some that attended last night's forum:

The room was split down the middle, those that favored the incumbents on one side and those that believe the city has lots of room for improvement, on the other.

As usual both Louis McBee and Clyde Picht were there and brought up very valid points.

The incumbents thanked the PD and FD for endorsing them, this was a surprise to some of the candidates as they thought they would be heard and then the group would decide on WHO they were endorsing. Maybe surprise is the wrong word, at this point in this election nothing would surprise them.

Kathleen Hicks arrived late, she then introduced her aunts that were present and told us her mom was a judge.

Some claim Danny Scarth seemed to fall asleep a couple of times. Let's hope if he stays in office he can stay awake for council meetings.

Jordan Jungas tried to quote something from Romans 12. We aren't sure what he said. Something about his grandkids were the most important thing, while that is a given, maybe he should have talked about how important the citizens are.

District 3 is crowded with lots of good folks running for Silcox's seat. They were all down to earth and well educated on the issues. Fox was not present.

The mayor spoke of inclusion and transparency and how Fort Worth is the 9th safest city. We aren't sure where this statistic comes from, but we are guessing gas drilling, air quality, flooding, etc. is not included in the "safest" ranking.

The district we heard the least about has been 7. The imcumbent was not present, however the candidate was very impressive. Charlie Murphy talked of how he learned about drilling in Fort Worth. At first, it all sounded great, free money. Then he began to learn more and became concerned, he thought, "This can't be happening in Fort Worth". So he attened a council meeting and guess what? Drilling was on the agenda. He said those folks lost. Not one person on the council stood up to protect that neighborhood. We looked him up and found questions he answered in an earlier interview here.

Read up on the candidates for your district and for mayor!

VOTE ON SATURDAY!!!

WHAT?

did the media say about the Candidate Forum last night?

Nothing.
Some say they will have coverage Saturday. That will help. It will be over. (for now)

Many of the 24 candidates were present. They had lots to say. Too bad the people of Fort Worth didn't get to hear it.

This was the first one the mayor had time to attend, out of about a dozen. Then it was announced he wouldn't be staying. People actually laughed.

WHO's Listening?

People on Carter have something to say. Can someone pass along for them?

Too bad

The media doesn't know there is an election taking place. Some say they will have ongoing coverage on election day. Shouldn't they be discussing the candidates and issues prior to that?

And another...

Who are the letter to the editor writers for the mayor?

Jim Dunaway was one.

We found this post titled "Corrupt Conflicts of Interest Taking over Fort Worth" on the Durango Texas Blog in which Jim Dunaway appears.

Corrupt Conflicts Of Interest Taking Over Fort Worth

UPDATED: 1/6/09--New info about the infamous map

UPDATED: 1/5/09--New input from a reliable source I will refer to as Deep Throat

That's a map on the left. Some call it an infamous map. Why, you ask? Well, that map was found at what is known as the Thomas well site. The Thomas well site is the Chesapeake Energy drill site that has stirred so much controversy due to it being next to Tandy Hills Park. And being part of the Tandy Hills.

So, why is this map infamous, you continue to ask? Well, the map belonged to and was made by Dunaway Associates. That's a consulting firm.

Big deal, you're thinking. Well, Jim Dunaway was one of the developers on the first Gas Drilling Task Force. The Task Force makes decisions regarding drilling. The company Jim Dunaway's father founded and ran for years is directly involved in the destruction of land next to Tandy Hills Natural Area. Dunaway work trucks have been photographed at the Thomas/Tandy Hills drilling site.

The infamous Thomas well site map gets most of its infamy due to the fact that, despite Chesapeake Energy applying for and getting approval for a single gas well permit at this particular site, the map clearly shows more than one gas well.

Task Force member, Gary Hogan, reports that Dunaway did not participate much in the first Task Force. Dunaway was replaced, early on, by Walsh Ranch representative, Rob Green. He being another pro-driller. Dunaway has extensive connections at city hall. Regardless of the amount of time Dunaway spent on the Task Force, this still was a fox in the chicken coop situation, with Dunaway later profitting from drilling operations he was, earlier, part of overseeing.

To help set government policy for some business activity from which you profit is generally thought of as a conflict of interest. This is usually frowned upon, sometimes to such a degree that those participating in such dubious deeds end up doing jail time and paying large fines.

Jim Dunaway is also a contributor to Mike Moncrief's election campaigns.

A reliable, anonymous source, I will call Deep Throat, had this to say about Jim Dunaway, "I'll quickly note, not for attribution, but for your info, that whenever I see Jim Dunaway associated with something I already know it's wrong and probably evil. He is a lowlife SOB that has not an inkling or care about the world we live in. Other than that, he is probably a fine person."

For some unfathomable reason, Mike Moncrief continues to avoid being charged with serious conflicts of interests, while Moncrief and his wife have substantial holdings in most of the gas drillers operating in Fort Worth. In other words, Moncrief profits from the operations he is part of regulating.

And in yet one more example of a conflict of interest, this morning I learned that Lead Gas Drilling Inspector, David Lunsford, now works for a pipeline company. Lunsford has been quoted as saying he rarely received complaints. Lunsford was known to dismiss gas drilling concerns out of hand. One can not help but wonder how much effort Lunsford put into protecting the public, when he had a cushy pipeline job waiting for him.

And then we have Don Behrens. Hired by the City of Fort Worth to consult and offer advice to the city and the Gas Drilling Task Force on sound mitigation. He is now selling products to Barnett Shale drillers. At one point Behrens had a monopoly on sound mitigation blankets. Behrens had a direct influence on the sound mitigation rules specified in the city's sound mitigation ordinance. Behrens misrepresented his Los Angeles drilling experience to the FW City Council and the Task Force.

Why are these type conflict of interests allowed in Fort Worth? I don't know. It's like there is no oversight.

I can't imagine the same type thing happening in Seattle. If the mayor had a vested interest in Starbucks he knows he would have to recuse himself from having any part in approving or disapproving some request from Starbucks. That's only common sense. Except in Fort Worth, where an entirely different set of rules apply to how things get done.

Why do YOU think

that Mayfest was canceled for the first time ever? That the Fort Worth ISD is closed until May 11th? Two days after the election.

Oh that's right, Swine flu. Does Dallas not know about this? Someone must warn them.

So if less people get out, there would be more mail in ballots? Lots of talk about mail in ballots on West and Clear.

We're not the only ones...

When we read the daily paper this morning, we noticed something odd in the letter section. Each week day there are letters from citizens for Clyde Picht for Fort Worth mayor.

Seems we weren't the only ones noticing the difference in the Sunday paper.

We then read Durango's take on it. He makes us laugh.

And just now we got a copy of an email from another that makes us see - we are not alone.

This was sent to the top brass and letter department at the daily paper. It looks like after that, it went to lots of folks. Thanks for sharing!

For the past several weeks I have seen MANY letters supporting Clyde Picht in the paper, few for Moncrief. On the days there were any for Moncrief there were the same number for Clyde. Days there were none for Moncrief tells me you are receiving more letters from average folks for Clyde. With this "fairness" and the stories both about the mayoral race and the City pulling the plug on the candidate interviews, I started to think the paper is changing! They are actually going to do fair, non biased reporting now, not be the shill for the city they have become over the years. Ah, but I forgot about the Editorial Board. Their disappointing "KEEP ALL THE INCUMBENTS" propaganda was the same as it is every year...reminds me of last year when they wanted to keep Brimer. (Though the ST now praises Wendy Davis, how quickly we forget). And then I saw the Letters to the Editor in the Sunday edition, with two glowing letters for Moncrief and none for Clyde. What a blatant slight. As well as a huge indicator Paul is gone, and with him whatever trust I had remaining in the local paper. It has become so one-sided and sensational that I skip most of it anyway, reading the letters to see what is really going on in the citizens world. The one those of us, not on city council, or working at the paper, live in.

For the record

We were perusing some FW Weekly articles and came across some interesting notes, most of these come from the "Best Of" Editions. We hope they are working on an election edition.

In 2002:

Best Elected Official -
Clyde Picht

In 2006:

Waste Of Taxpayer Money -

Readers' choice: Trinity River Project

In 2007 :

Example of Gumption or Grit
Critic's choice: Gary Hogan
You can almost hear city officials, sounding eerily similar to Col. Klink, saying, "Hooogaaaan ....." No wonder - one of the strongest and most rational voices representing neighborhood interests in the natural gas boom has been that of this mustachioed Westsider. Despite finding himself outgunned while serving on a 2005 gas drilling ordinance task force that was heavily stacked in favor of the industry, Hogan never lost focus or alienated himself. He fought for 1,000-foot buffer zones between homes and wells (the task force raised the buffer from 300 to 600 feet only after a fatal Forest Hill blowup), and he predicted widespread devaluations of property. Two years later, he remains a viable voice of the people as the scope of drilling intensifies. The city could use more folks like him.

(While Steve isn't currently running for anything that we know of, he is always involved on behalf of the citizens)

Watchdog
Critic's choice: Steve Hollern
Hollern is the former chair of the Tarrant County Republican Party, but has stayed active in the community even after moving out of the job. His latest mission is getting signatures to put a referendum on the ballot that would cap spending on the Trinity River Vision project. He's working hard against the so-called flood-control project that keeps getting more and more expensive. This goes against the city's party line, but Hollern is doing his best to keep this boondoggle from becoming an even more massive waste of taxpayer dollars.

Public Debate
Public officials are supposed to be, for lack of a better word, public. That means our elected officials need to be responsive to the voters, both in terms of being available to answer concerns and being able to articulate a vision for the community. Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief has decided he needs to do none of these. He rarely attends neighborhood community meetings, doesn't talk much to the media, and, quite frankly, acts as if he is above all that. Some might think this criticism of Mike has to do with his refusal to talk to the Weekly and telling the other council members to stonewall us as well. Sure, we'd prefer he talk to us, but in some respects he has dropped a present in our lap. Many neighborhood leaders are now rallying around this newspaper, working more closely with us on big-city issues. But that's not enough, in the bigger picture of what's good for the city. Cowtowners need to ditch the back-room Fort Worth Way and embrace vigorous debate in the public arena. Just because Dallas can't do it without a lot of red faces and bitterness shouldn't stop us - we do other things better, we can do this better as well.

In 2008:
Thing Tarrant County Needs
Critic's choice: A revolutionary with moxie
Lots of folks are whining about how the gas drilling companies are taking over Fort Worth, stepping on its citizens, and controlling city hall. Whine, whine, whine. This city needs somebody to go all Pancho Villa on somebody's ass - in a nonviolent way - and really kick up some resistance against city officials and corporate robber barons who treat residents like floor mats and rely on unfair laws put in place by co-opted legislators.

Politician Most Likely to Sell Grandma to the Highest Bidder
Readers' choice: Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief

Bloggers busy this week

With the election upon us, lots of talk going around. Remember - don't sell your vote, be informed!

West and Clear discussions still going...

And Durango's been busy too.

Where were you?

Candidate forum tonight, all District 6 candidates attended, as well as Clyde Picht and Louis McBee. No mayor, no surprise.

Liked what we heard from the candidates. Again, we were impressed with Glen Bucy. If you are a voter in District 6, look him up.

Shame that the location could hold 2000 people, maybe 50 showed. So, where were YOU?

Who does the city belong to?

We found this comment online (it was in response to the City pulling the candidate interviews last week).

What is it with the city leaders? If a person appears at a City Council meeting to speak, they are not allowed to criticize the City staff or the City Council under any circumstance.

The City Council and others are given all the time they wish to slap each other on the back and shower praises for the great things they are doing.

CITIZENS ARE ALLOWED ONLY 3 MINUTES TO VOICE CONCERNS.

There has been recent criticism of the City Council and mayor for censorship when truthful facts were being presented, at which time the mayor would 'warn them about the rules'. (his rules) Those facts may include names or the wrongdoing of the City staff or City Council who were acting inappropriately. Why is that wrong?

The City manager the Mayor and City Council does not want the criticism being aired on the City's television station. They do not want the citizens to know of the poor performance that has taken place.

Why do you think there are so many people running for offices? The citizens are tired of all of the back door deals, the censorship, being told about the balanced government when the Mayor and Council have dictated who is on Task Force and what they are allowed to talk about. The task Force then would feed back what the industry wants.

We now have a public access television station that is being monitored and censored by the City manager. So much for transparency and open government. Don't we criticize China and Iran for exactly the same thing.

The Mayor, City Council and City staff think the citizens are at the mercy of their wishes. It is time to tell them with our votes, they work for us. We need public Officials who understand they are in their position at the will of the people.

WE ARE NOT THEIR SUBJECTS. THIS IS OUR CITY.

Posted by: jimsplace