Some mayors of Texas’s largest cities appear headed for easy re-election in May, according to an article in the Texas Tribune.
The Tribune notes that Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson is unopposed, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker has token opposition, as does San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg.
It’s a walk in the park for them, the Tribune notes. Hey, this makes me say: Not so fast.
Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio’s incumbent mayors face easy May races | The Texas Tribune
I recall a time in my hometown of Portland, Ore. — another “big city” of some note — when the incumbent mayor, Francis Ivancie, was thought to be headed toward easy re-election in 1984.
Then along came a saloon owner named Bud Clark, who surprised everyone with an upset victory. How did he do it? Well, Clark had appeared on a poster promoting the arts community in which he posed with his back to the camera, he opened his trench coat in front of some statue and the caption read: “Expose yourself to art.”
A word of warning to Nevadans – High Plains Blogger (wordpress.com)
Ivancie thought he’d make a big deal out of the “immorality” of such a poster. He turned a non-issue into a big issue … except that it backfired on the mayor. Portland voters became smitten with Clark’s approach to life in general and in municipal governance.
So, they elected him.
This is my way of saying that the big-city mayors in Texas need to pick their battles carefully if they intend to stay in office.