On politics

The mayoral run-off between Tom Leppert and Ed Oakley takes place in Dallas tomorrow. I didn't vote for either of the candidates in the May 12 primary. Both Leppert and Oakley have similar positions on the major issues facing the city. Leppert has been weak on details, speaking only of a "vision" for the city and, as a political neophyte, has nothing to run on except his tenure as a CEO of a giant construction company. Oakley has a batty idea of tearing down crime-ridden apartment complexes,* but at least he has some experience as a member of the city tribal council and has lived in the city for more than a few years.

There are, of course, some differences between the two candidates. Leppert has the support of the city's business establishment and apparently of the religious conservatives as well. Oakley has been endorsed by the Dallas County Democratic Party even though this is a supposedly non-partisan election. More importantly, Oakley is openly gay. If elected, he will be the first openly gay mayor of a major U.S. city.** Whether he will be the first crappy openly gay elected mayor of a major U.S. city remains to be seen.

Sexual orientation, surprisingly, has not been much of a factor in the race. Maybe that is because since Oakley is out of the closet, there can't be a whisper campaign. At least one religiously conservative PAC did a bunch of robocalls this past week that just happened to inform the recipients that Oakley is gay. But not to worry, the gays are fighting back with their own GOTV effort: no cover at two of the gayborhood's corporate bars*** (S4 and Sue Ellen's) this Saturday and Sunday with a stamped voter registration card indicating that you voted in the election! Woohoo!

Me? I'm voting for the 'mo. We need to break another ceiling, even if Oakley isn't that different from Leppert. Plus, few things would be more awesome than a gay mayor of President Bush's future home and site of his library.

The pessimist in me gives the race to Leppert by 2%. Last November's Democratic tidal wave that swept over Dallas County likely won't come back this time since there is no "straight" (haha) ticket voting. But you never know.


*Where will the residents go?
**Providence, RI is not a major city.
***One company, two city blocks, four different bars.