Email AuthorSam Merten
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Consultant to Tom Leppert and John Carona Says it's Going to Be "a Long, Painful Process" Waiting for Senator Hutchison's Next Move
December 31, 2009 in Unfair Park
John CaronaOn Tuesday, state Senator John Carona said he'd "give consideration" to a mayoral run should Tom Leppert vacate office early in pursuit of Kay Bailey Hutchison's U.S. Senate seat....
We're Guessing the Waterfall on Woodall Rodgers Isn't Part of the Deck Park Plans
December 30, 2009 in Unfair Park
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Top 10 Mayor Tom Photos of '09
December 29, 2009 in Unfair Park
Mayor Tom Leppert isn't an easy interview to snag these days. At least, not for us here at the Observer. But that doesn't stop us from catching a glimpse of...
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Data Collector Quoted in DMN Crime-Stats Story Now Says "I'll Take Kunkle's Side"
December 22, 2009 in Unfair Park
Patrick MichelsIs Kunkle a numbers-fudger or simply exercising good judgment in dealing with confusing federal guidelines?Another front-page story last week in The Dallas Morning News criticizing the Dallas Police Department's...
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Top 10 Schutze Columns of '09
December 18, 2009 in Unfair Park
I know what you're thinking: The year is almost over, and I need more Schutze! More Schutze you say? Me too, which is why I took a look back at his...
With City's First Municipal Management District Official, Let the Self-Taxing Begin!
December 15, 2009 in Unfair Park
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More Ammo for Eric Johnson in Primary Battle Against Terri Hodge, But Will it Matter?
December 11, 2009 in Unfair Park
For reasons we can't explain, politicos are sticking by state Representative Terri Hodge in her bid for an eighth term in office despite the pending March 8 trial for her...
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Moves by Texas Rangers at Winter Meetings Has Our Baseball Weenie Harden-ing
December 11, 2009 in Unfair Park
Meet the Rangers' new ace: Rich HardenDespite the financial restraints stemming from the team's unresolved ownership situation, Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels skillfully inked the most dominant free-agent starter...
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Amidst Poorly Run Trinity Committee Meeting, We Learn the City is TxDOT's Contingency Fund for the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge
December 08, 2009 in Unfair Park
Patrick MichelsDave NeumannDave Neumann kicked off the city council's Trinity River Corridor Project Committee meeting this morning by revisiting last week's decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which...
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City's CFO Dave Cook Retires. Oh, Well. We'll Always Have the Convention Center Hotel.
December 07, 2009 in Unfair Park
Sam MertenCook (pointing) leads a group of citizens attempting to find budget cuts at the White Rock Lake budget forum in June.While the city's chief financial officer began his career...
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So That's Why Governor Rick Perry Jumped On the Tea Party Bandwagon
December 07, 2009 in Unfair Park
Danny FulgencioGovernor Rick Perry?For polling purposes, Rasmussen Reports pretended the Tea Party movement organized as a political party and then tossed it into a mnage with the GOP and Dems....
Bill White Officially Enters Gubernatorial Fray
December 04, 2009 in Unfair Park
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Former Council Member Donna Blumer Defends Cathie Adams; County GOP Chair Neerman Says He's Done Criticizing Her
December 03, 2009 in Unfair Park
One month into her tenure as state Republican Party chair, Cathie Adams has caused the party's executive director to resign and took sides in yet another GOP primary race.Despite the...
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Mayor Leppert Says Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge "Will Be Finished as Promised" as Corps of Engineers OKs Construction on Approaches
December 01, 2009 in Unfair Park
Photos by Sam MertenKevin Craig of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mayor Tom Leppert and council member Dave Neumann this afternoon at the Trinity Trust.Supporters of the Margaret Hunt...
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Judge Agrees Two Charges in Corruption Case Warrant Further Consideration, Dismisses Motions for New Trials
November 30, 2009 in Unfair Park
Sam MertenDon and Sheila Hill cross Commerce Street this afternoon after Judge Lynn said she'd consider arguments against honest services and money laundering charges.Four of the five defendants convicted last...
See, We Asked Bill White That Question Four Times Because We Knew He Was BS'ing Us
November 23, 2009 in Unfair Park
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Hutchison on Meet the Press: If Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner's Gotta Go, Then Congress "Shouldn't Keep Our Jobs Either"
November 23, 2009 in Unfair Park
NBCHutchison and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) during the introductions. Could Kay look any more uncomfortable if she tried?Kay Bailey Hutchison's appearance Sunday on Meet the Press could have been an...
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Cracking the Mystery of TxDOT's Proposals to the Corps: Do Nothing and Build a Pile of Dirt.
November 20, 2009 in Unfair Park
Sam MertenIn case you missed it, Michael Lindenberger reported in Saturday's Dallas Morning News that the Texas Department of Transportation finally submitted its proposals to the U.S. Army Corps of...
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GOP Chair Jonathan Neerman Says DA Craig Watkins is Trying to "Start a War" By Sending E-Mail Claiming He Attacked His Family
November 19, 2009 in Unfair Park
Nearly three months after he told us that Tanya Watkins -- the wife of District Attorney Craig Watkins -- working as a campaign consultant for judicial candidates posed an "ethical...
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Catching Up With Mayor Leppert in Asia If Only Because We Miss Him When He's Gone
November 17, 2009 in Unfair Park
All photos courtesy of the Office of the MayorLeppert and the trade delegation make a stop during their trip to Daedeok Innopolis (Hmm ... seems familiar)From the looks of the...
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And Who's Behind Door No. 3? David Finn's Out, Danny Clancy In As Latest GOP Candidate Trying to Oust District Attorney Craig Watkins.
November 13, 2009 in Unfair Park
Danny ClancyHere we go again. First it was Phillip Linder. Then it was David Finn. Now Danny Clancy is the latest criminal defense lawyer to announce his plans to do...
Don't Worry. Mayor Leppert's No-Show at Kunkle's Goodbye Wasn't a Slight. Just Turns Out He Had Somewhere Else to Be. Or Not.
November 12, 2009 in Unfair Park
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Geez. That Didn't Last Long. Phillip Linder Out, David Finn In As GOP Candidate for DA.
November 11, 2009 in Unfair Park
David FinnLess than two months after we introduced you to criminal defense lawyer Phillip Linder, the would-be Republican challenger to Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins has stepped aside and...
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GOP Chair Neerman Brushes Off Governor Perry Calling Him "a Great Kid" But Won't Take Back Comments About Cathie Adams
November 10, 2009 in Unfair Park
Sam MertenNeerman's right. He does have a lot more gray hair than Perry.When Dallas County Republican chair Jonathan Neerman told us that the election of Cathie Adams as the state...
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Mitchell Rasansky Says He's "Leaning Toward" Running for Dallas County Judge; Potential GOP Foe Wade Emmert "Not Worried"
November 04, 2009 in Unfair Park
Brian HarkinSure, you've probably already heard by now that Mitchell Rasansky might run for Dallas County judge. However, the benefit of not speaking with the former North Dallas council member...
