All Hail John Wiley Price, the King of Dallas County, Ruler of All He Surveys

Categories: Get Off My Lawn

SHZ_GetOffMyLawn_TitleImageV2.jpg
​I watched that video of Tuesday's Dallas County Commissioner's Court meeting -- the one about Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price and the firing of elections administrator Bruce Sherbet -- and I swear that Price was doing a whole new persona. He speaks now with a new gravitas, slowly and deeply, and he uses the word "contemplates" a lot, as in "the statute contemplates."

JWP Fit at 50 calendar.jpg
​He really needs a black robe and a white powdered wig. I believe this is the new John Price. Long long gone is the young firebrand. I don't even see the middle-aged maverick in there any more. No, what I'm reading now when I watch the commissioner speak is a whole new character -- the High Commissioner, Governor General of Dallas County John Wiley Price.

Add it up. Through his flunky Dr. Lauren McDonald, Price now runs Parkland Hospital. He has total mind-control over Sheriff Lupe Valdez. By steamrolling Sherbet, the irritatingly honest man who ran the elections department, into resigning and replacing him with his own personal friend Toni Pippins-Poole, Price now controls elections. His pal and protégé Zachary Thompson is director of the county health department.

All of that writing I did about Price trying to squeeze the inland port project and turn it into his own private patronage pot? He did it, and he won. He probably destroyed more than half the economic value of the project to his constituents, but he preserved its potential value to him, and that's what counts, to him.

You know what I think the tone of gravitas is really all about? It's an expression of profound satisfaction. As he nears the autumnal passage of his long career, he is close to becoming what he has always dreamed -- ruler of all that he surveys.

And Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins? I'm not sure what his character is. Dormouse? Footman? Fool? Who cares? He's only in the play for a few scenes. Price is here for all five acts.

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Weekly Newsletter: Our weekly feature stories, movie reviews, calendar picks and more - minus the newsprint and sent directly to your inbox.

Privacy Policy
Sign up for free stuff, news info & more!

Tools

Auto

General

Home

Browse Voice Nation
  • Voice Places

    Voice Places

    Discover restaurants, nightlife, travel, shopping...

  • VOICE Daily Deals

    VOICE Daily Deals

    Get 50 to 90% off every day on restaurants, movies, massages...

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    More than 10,000 of the BEST things to eat, drink, and experience

  • My Voice Nation

    My Voice Nation

    Join the Village Voice community and get exclusive deals and info

  • Happy Hour

    Happy Hour

    Your local Happy Hour guide at your fingertips

or

Log in or Sign up

Social Connect:

Use your favorite account to access My Voice Nation.


Use your My Voice Nation account to log in:





Forgot password?
or

Sign Up or Log in

Social Connect:

Sign up for My Voice Nation with your preferred network.


Sign up for a My Voice Nation account:



Privacy policy