City Council Member Lee Kleinman will face off against Curtis Harris in a bid for his first re-election. Kleinman was first elected to represent District 11 in 2013. Harris, a juvenile detention officer at Dallas County Juvenile Justice, is looking to unseat him. The City Council election is May 4.

CURTIS HARRIS

Why are you running?

I am running to represent everyone in District 11. As you know, we are a pretty diverse district but often times it feels as if an entire portion of the district which includes working class people are ignored by the current office holder. I am also running to make sure District 11 has representation that believes in our police and fire personnel and recognizes their sacrifice. Taking care of the men and women in uniform and making sure we have strong and viable police and fire are essential to a great city.

What should neighbors know about you?

I have spent my career in public service since the age of 18. I went to work for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in 2006 as a corrections officer. I then moved into County Detention, where I earned my jailers license. Currently I work in Juvenile Corrections. I earned my peace officer certification in 2013 from the Navarro College Police Academy. I am a strong advocate for public safety, and one of my top priorities as a councilman will be to make sure Dallas is competitive when it comes to recruiting the best and brightest to serve our city. 

What is you No. 1 issue?

My No. 1 issue is public safety. 

What’s your pet peeve about code compliance?

Nothing gets done or the city is slow to respond even when violations are found.

How can our streets be fixed?

We recently voted on a bond here in the city of Dallas that addresses the issue of crumbling roads. Now it is a matter of making sure that those funds allocated for District 11 are there for projects we need completed and making sure those projects are completed on schedule.

LEE KLEINMAN

Why are you running?

We have done a lot to improve our neighborhoods in the past several years, but there is always more to do. I will work to continuously improve our community and rapidly address issues.  I find it personally gratifying when someone tells me that my team was able to help.

What should neighbors know about you?

I was born and raised in North Dallas and have a deep understanding of our needs. I have worked tirelessly on behalf of the neighborhoods on both the Park Board and City Council to improve the city we live in.

What is your No. 1 issue?

To improve quality of life for all residents of Dallas through crime reduction, street improvement, parks maintenance, sanitation and more.

What’s your pet peeve about code compliance?

The misconception that code is about assessing fines. They are about compliance and frequently give warnings and an opportunity to correct before issuing a citation.

How can our streets be fixed?

Money. The 2017 bond program has over $500 million for streets. In addition, the general fund has over $60 million per year. I will not support a tax increase, so more money for streets would come at the expense of other services.