In our last Advocate video podcast segment with mayoral candidate Mike Rawlings, we try to get an answer about what, specifically, he thinks should be cut from the budget and where he sees inefficiencies.

Earlier this week, we discussed his public education plan and his private-sector perspective when it comes to city government. It’s all part of our video podcast series on the Dallas mayoral race in which we’re talking with each of the major candidates. Previously, we sat down with District 12 councilman Ron Natinsky and then, former Chief of Police David Kunkle.

This podcast is kind of long, so here’s the breakdown:

How will Rawlings manage to find inefficiencies that the city manager hasn’t already (3:07)? Former mayor Tom Leppert also came from a business background, so we ask how Rawlings would govern differently than Leppert did (4:57). Rawlings explains the benefits of public-private partnerships, and what does that mean for big projects like the convention center hotel and the Trinity toll road (6:30)? Rick asks his question about the Rangers lease expiring soon — would Rawlings want to bring them to Dallas (7:40)? Next, we get Rawlings’ thoughts on the economic issues surrounding the inland port (9:37) since he has worked with the politicians involved. Moving on to our discussion about growing the southern sector, we ask Rawlings about some of the “untapped resources” there, including what to do with the Southwest Center Mall (11:38). Following up on the Advocate‘s April 2009 cover story about what we could do if we had $100 million in revenue bonds (13:38)? Rawlings brings it all back to education. And finally, what sets him apart from his opponents (14:44)?

The Dallas Morning News editorial board has endorsed attorney Scott Griggs over incumbent Dave Neumann in the race for City Council District 3.

Jim Schutze at Unfair Park characterizes the endorsement thusly:

If Neumann were a high school quarterback, this would be like his parents going across the field and cheering for the other team.

Read the rest of his analysis here.

As most voters know by now, Mike Rawlings has spent most of his career in the private sector. In the next installment of the Advocate video podcast series on the Dallas mayoral race, we ask Rawlings why he believes that makes him the better candidate.

To recap: In the first segment, he addressed his public education plan and what kind of real impact he could have on DISD as mayor. Before that, we talked about the big issues with the other major candidates – District 12 councilman Ron Natinsky and former Chief of Police David Kunkle.

In Part 2 of our discussion with Rawlings,we discuss his business perspective and how that relates to his stance on issues. We ask whether Rawlings thinks the city pension fund is too generous in the these tough economic times (2:40), and Rawlings links its importance to employee morale. But how can we retain that amid looming budget cuts (4:08)? Rawlings also tells us how much impact he thinks he can have on that issue when it comes time to review the next budget this fall (4:50).

Check back Friday for more of our discussion on the budget deficit.

As Election Day approaches, we continue our Advocate video podcast series on the Dallas mayoral race, talking with each of the major candidates about their platforms. Through the series, we aim shed light on the candidates’ leadership styles and tackle the big issues facing the city.

We already talked with District 12 councilman Ron Natinsky and former Chief of Police David Kunkle. Next up, publisher Rick Wamre and I sit down with former Park Board president and homeless czar Mike Rawlings.

In Part 1, we discuss Rawling’s plan for DISD and why the mayor should devote time to a system that functions independently of the city. We ask about the reality of school funding and how that plays into his plan (3:34). And, we talk about the importance of PR when it comes to growing DISD, which tends to carry a negative reputation in most neighborhoods (5:10). Next, we discuss how education fits in with other major issues facing the city (6:24). And finally, Rawlings’ two children attended private schools — what’s with that (8:54)?

Check back Thursday for the next installment of the podcast, focusing on how Rawlings plans to bring more businesses to Dallas and create jobs.

Election Day is May 14, and early voting begins May 2.

The “traveling circus” (as David Kunkle describes it) entered the ring yet again for another debate on who’s best fit to be the next mayor of Dallas.

All four candidates — Mike Rawlings, David Kunkle, Ron Natinsky, and Edward Okpa — attended last night’s mayoral forum at Vickery Towers in East Dallas, hosted by a long list of surrounding neighborhoods, including Vickery Place, Belmont Heights, Cochran Heights, Greenland Hills (Kunkle’s ‘hood), Henderson, Hudson Heights, Lakewood Heights, Lower Greenville, Lowest Greenville West and Munger Place.

After the Observer’s Jim Schutze billed a previous performance as “a thing so dull they should have posted warning notices, ‘Do not operate heavy equipment immediately after attending.’ What I wouldn’t have given for a Red Bull.”

Well, moderator and long-time Vickery Place resident Bruce Thomas was determined to liven things up on this round, channeling his professor persona complete with visual aids. And a Red Bull sign to signal each candidate when they’ve rambled on too long.

Read the highlights after the jump:

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Photo by Rachel Stone

Dallas City Council voted this week to spend $10.7 million in fees to Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, who will design and build pedestrian and bicycle components for a new bridge to replace the Interstate 30 bridge. Both Oak Cliff city council members, Delia Jasso and Dave Neumann, voted in favor of the spending.

But Neumann’s opponent in the May election, attorney Scott Griggs, says he would have voted against it.

In total, the planned Margaret McDermott Bridge is estimated to cost $314 million. Hiring Calatrava for only the pedestrian and bike ways, and allowing the Texas Department of Transportation to build the rest, reduced the cost, which had been estimated at $500 million.

City council voted 13-1 in favor of the Calatrava fee, the money for which comes from several sources: $5 million is from an anonymous private donation, $2.1 million comes from money left over in Calatrava’s original contract, and $3.5 million comes from bonds, which are expected to be repaid through regional transportation fees.

District 14 City Councilman Angela Hunt was the only dissenting vote. Her main concern: the state’s transportation department has said Dallas might not get $92 million in federal funds for the bridge because of pressure from tea partiers to end federal earmarks.

Hunt says the city should allow the transportation department to build a “plain vanilla” bridge and save taxpayer money amid its economic woes.

“I do believe that in these economic times, it doesn’t make sense to spend extra tax dollars, public funds, taxpayer money on elaborate architectural construction when we have real infrastructure needs,” Hunt said during the Wednesday city council meeting.

Griggs, who aims to unseat District 3 councilman Dave Neumann, agrees with that take. The cost of a basic Texas Department of Transportation bridge is about $170 million, and “with all the bells and whistles”, it would be about $220 million.

It would be great to have the signature Calatrava-designed bridge triplets, as planned. But asking taxpayers to pay Calatrava $3.5 million is outrageous considering recent funding cuts and a property tax hike, he says.

“We need to live within our means, and there is a question as to where this money is going to come from,” Griggs says, noting the questionable $92 million earmark.

Neumann believes spending on Calatrava will create economic development.

“Clearly, we need to step forward and say we need more than a standard … bridge,” Neuman said Wednesday. “An improved, signature style Margaret McDermott Bridge will bring economic development to West Dallas.”

During the same meeting, Neumann voted in favor of a specific use permit that allows another scrap metal yard in West Dallas.

The Dallas Morning News editorial board urged council to deny that permit:

The proposed business runs diametrically opposed to what West Dallas can and should be. In recent years, the city has widened Singleton, stepped up code enforcement, cut acres of weeds and leveled drug houses. Recently, an innovative planning group, the City Design Studio, completed a long-range plan to encourage new retail and other development near Singleton — a process that took into account the desire of residents of the La Bajada and Los Altos neighborhoods near the soon-to-be-completed Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge to preserve their communities. Dozens of nonprofit groups also have worked to improve housing and education in this area.

Yet, the City Plan Commission last May opted for more of the same when it approved the auto parts salvage yard, a project that isn’t remotely consistent with the vision for a cleaner, safer West Dallas. Since then, angry businesses and residents in West Dallas have forced council member Steve Salazar to delay council action.

Although the salvage yard is in Salazar’s District 6, it backs up to the Westmoreland Heights neighborhood, which is in Neumann’s District 3.

The last thing West Dallas needs is another scrap yard, Griggs says.

“We’re sending a mixed message for development in West Dallas,” he says. “You have to have a single vision for West Dallas.”

Scott Griggs is pretty cool. He’s a chess master with a chemistry degree and a new urbanism accreditation.

So definitely, for sure, not cool in the high school sense.

But compared to his opponent for City Council District 3, incumbent Dave Neumann, Griggs came off like George Clooney eating ice cream at the Old Oak Cliff Conservation League’s candidate forum Monday night.

The forum allowed anyone to ask questions of each candidate separately, Neumann followed by Griggs. So they were asked different questions, and neither had the chance to respond to the others’ statements. In fact, neither heard the others’ statements.

While Neumann faced the crowd, nervously running defense while drawing feedback on the microphone, Griggs was outside. And once Neumann’s turn was over, he bolted. Organizer Barbara Barbee said he had a prior engagement at 8 p.m. and had requested to go first.

When it was Griggs’ turn, he hopped up on a table, made a joke about finally getting to the good part of the show, and made sure he was holding the microphone right.

Here’s what each candidate said:

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The Old Oak Cliff Conservation League is hosting a candidate forum for the two men running for City Council District 3.

Each of the candidates, incumbent Dave Neumann and challenger Scott Griggs, will get 40 minutes to take and answer questions from voters and the league.

The forum is at 7 p.m. Monday, April 11 at the Avalon at Kessler Park (map).

A crowd of homeowners gathered at the home of Glee and Ray Huebner to hear what the mayoral candidates had to say.

Lake Highlands homeowners group last night hosted a mayoral candidate forum featuring Ron Natinsky, David Kunkle and Mike Rawlings.

About 75 people, give or take, showed up to the home of Glee and Ray Huebner — they came from several Dallas homeowners associations, women’s groups and “an exercise class,” Glee Huebner noted. “We wanted to have a good crowd for you,” she told the candidates.

No need to go into detail here about the candidates platforms. You can learn more than you ever wanted to know in our video and blog series, here in our 2011 Elections topics page.

I’ll touch on a few areas that seemed of most concern to the neighbors in attendance. (more…)