Elba Garcia Goes Griggs

By Robert Wilonsky Mon., May 9 2011 at 4:33 PM

Categories: Campaign News

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I've been trying, with no luck, to talk to Dallas County Commissioner Elba Garcia about why she's endorsing Scott Griggs over Dave Neumann in the race for District 3's seat at the City Hall horseshoe. Garcia served on several committees with Neumann during her tenure on the council -- among them the Public Safety and Finance, Audit & Accounting committees. So she knows Neumann. I see she didn't endorse him in 2007 either.

Griggs posted her endorsement on his website Friday -- nothing much, just the picture you see here and a few sentences.

"I have seen Scott in action. He has the experience and dedication District 3 voters deserve. Please join me in supporting Scott Griggs for Dallas City Council."

I've been trying to reach Garcia for a little more explanation. But her chief of staff, once and former political consultant Brooks Love, says she's been in meetings all day and hasn't come up for air. Incidentally, late last week Elba's husband Domingo endorsed Mike Rawlings for Dallas mayor.

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Sure hope you're right, Sharon, the crowd that's supporting him are used to controlling the agenda. . .
aye Elba, i did not know you could do it like that
Griggs definitely has to be careful. Dealing with the Garcias is like playing footsies with a rattlesnake. Hope he's keeping his eyes wide open; like others here have already posted, she wouldn't have endorsed him unless he was already a sure thing. Therefore, one hopes he didn't make any unsavory deals with her or the Dallas County machine she represents. If it turns out he betrayed his constituents to get in tight with Elba Garcia and all that mess, I suspect his tenure on Council will be rather short.
Scott is not like Elba or Domingo. He's smart as a whip and does his homework. He will drive the rest of the council crazy by demanding they follow the rules. That is not a criticism. His smarts and integrity will make for a better council because some with less scruples will not want to cross him or be compared to him. I'm sorry he has any connection to the Garcia's, but he will not be controlled by them or their puppet. Go, Scott!
Elections are tough business but I must agree with Grump and others, Elba and Domingo would not endorse anyone if they thought they would lose. IMO Scott is clearly the better candidate but no one wins if you don't vote. You may plan on voting for someone or you may be motivated to vote against someone but the fact remains that the easiest and most conveinent way participate in local democracy is during early voting and it ends today. If you have not voted yet you have till 7PM to do so today to take advantage of the conveinence of multiple locations. Here is a Google map and list of every early voting location in the City of Dallas (http://goo.gl/2m80P) It only takes 5 minutes to vote early and there is a location near your home or work. Today you can go on your lunch hour or if you have plans for lunch you can get it done after work. When 10% of registered voters turn out in local elections you get what you pay for. Vote local and vote early, make a difference today. Let's do this together. You have till 7PM to make it happen. www.billymacleod.com
As to why she did not endorse Neumann in the past, it's all party. She was not going to go on record endorsing a Republican, unlike her DINO successor, Delia Jasso.
"Elba Garcia about why she's endorsing Scott Griggs over Dave Neumann in the race for District 3's seat" Answer: It's because Griggs is going to win. Running to the front of the parade to show she's a leader and then claim credit for a election victory she had no connection to.
I think this more or less puts a nail in the coffin for Neumann. Elba Garcia may not be a person who I think highly of, but she's unlikely to come out in favor of someone who might lost. The real question is whether Griggs has been actively seeking this endorsement or whether she just wanted to be on the record as supporting the eventual winner. If Griggs was seeking it, then I think we can kiss any hopes of being a different kind of councilman goodbye. The Garcias are both machine politicians, and even a good person who tries to do business with the machine gets chewed up.
Too bad politics is so mean. If u looked up lady in the dictionary, you'd see Dr. Garcia.
I'll bet Elba endorsed Scott Griggs because she thinks he's going to win and wants to be on the power side.
OK!! YOUR ALL CAPS CONVINCED ME! THANKS!
+1
SCOTT IS WHAT DISTRICT 3 NEEDS. NEUMAN CANNOT BE TRUSTED AND NEEDS TO GO. HIS WORDS MEANS NOTHING AND HIS VOTES AS COUNCILMAN HAVE BEEN OF LITTLE BENEFIT TO THE SOUTHERN SECTOR. CHECK HIS RECORD.
How could you trust anyone who sleeps with Domingo Garcia? Yeeech!!!
That's what I am worried about - her endorsement might have cost Griggs my vote.
In her dental practice does she have a sliding fee scale based on her patients' income? Does her husband have the same in his legal practice? Does she not realize that the illegal immigrants with no drivers license or insurance and the uninsured driving poor are already subsidized by those who have insurance through the higher rates the insured pay to cover damages caused by the uninsured? She just lost my vote in the next election, the woman comes across as an idiot.
Hmmm..... I like Scott a lot but I don't trust Elba at all...... I hope you are able to find out more about this.
Ahh...I remember that quote like it was yesterday.
Did she give her endorsement in Spanish or English? I sometimes have a hard time figuring out what language she is speaking.
<a href="http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2008/05/the_city_council_had_plenty.php">Yeah...</a> "Speaking more passionately than I've ever heard her, Garcia spiraled into a bit of a rant, resulting in the quote of the day while suggesting the city ask the Legislature for more affordable insurance. 'Why can't they have insurance based on your income? If you make more money, you pay more. If you make less money, you pay less. Wouldn't that be fair? Wouldn't that be equality for everyone? I think so," she said. 'So I have, Mayor, say this before, but this insurance has to be for everyone, including immigrants that sometimes could not have a driver's license.'" Equality for everyone, Scott, based on your income. Wouldn't that be fair? I think so.