District 13 candidates from left to right: Leland Burk, Jacob King and Jennifer Staubach Gates
Candidates for Ann Margolin’s District 13 seat engaged in a April 3 question and answer session sponsored by the League of Women Voters and North Dallas Chamber of Commerce.
The District 13 candidates are Leland Burk, Jennifer Staubach Gates and Jacob King. Candidate Richard P. Sheridan was not present.
Drilling
All three candidates said they were against drilling on parkland when questioned. Gates stated, “the problem is we don’t have an ordinance to protect neighborhoods and parkland.” Burk remarked, “I’m opposed to drilling anywhere in Dallas.”
Golf course
In terms of building a private golf course on public property in South Dallas, Burk says the project is going to move forward, while Gates says it’s not a done deal until everything (money) is lined up. She added that membership will cost $100,000–$150,000 and asked Burk if he’s signed up yet. “I don’t play golf,” he retorted. Jacob king says the buzzwords “public-private” sound good and all, but it’s really “a waste of money.” “Everything we do in South Dallas, needs to have a South Dallas focus. This golf course will just bring in people from North Dallas. It’s just gentrification,” King said.
Northaven Trail
In response to a question about whether the next candidate would push for phase two of the Northaven Trail, or let it slide and focus on other issues, King remarked that we simply need to make better use of our school playgrounds. He said there isn’t much the city can do in terms of green space. “We don’t have the advantage of being outside of the city, and I don’t know if now is the time,” King said. Gates said she is all for the completion of the trail as long as funding is available, and the city should partner with private funds. Burk says he is also in support, but the city’s money needs to be balanced with other priorities.
Vickery Meadows
A woman who lives in a condo in the Vickery Meadows neighborhood off Northwest highway and Central questioned what candidates would do to stop degradation of the area. Gates says she’d partner with the neighborhood and Northwest Police Division to give the area “a lot of attention.” Burk says that he’s already involved in a team that provides an after school program for children in the area so their parents can work longer and they are kept out of trouble. King says he completely supports the addition of officers in the area, but it’s also up to the citizens to support any initiatives.
Closing remarks
Gates says her experience in managing large budgets, maximizing the dollar and serving on several boards makes her a strong candidate. She says she’ll transfer her hands-on approaching to City Hall, and is proud of her 800 plus endorsements counting firefighters and policemen. (Burk argued with her about this one). She said her nursing background and dedication to community service will also help.
King says his family moved to Dallas in the 1870s, and then the high school senior joked he may or may not be moving to Texas A&M in the fall. He said a lot of people think he’s crazy for running for city council but he’s doing it so “people my age don’t have to bear the brunt of what we (the city) are doing today. The hard truth is we have disregarded future Americans for our needs and wants today,” he said.
Burk said he’s served on the real estate board for more than 13 years, and was in the real estate and oil and gas business for more than 30 years. He boasts that he’s the only candidate to hit the ground running with a $2,500,000 campaign. He also is pretty proud that Ann Margolin is endorsing him.
*At some point while Gates and Burk are bickering, King shouts out “I’ve got my grandma’s endorsement. Doesn’t that help?”
Miss the forum? No worries there is another one coming up at 7 p.m. April 11. The event is hosted by the Northaven Park Neighborhood Association at Withers Elementary. It will only feature Gates and Burk.
