Scott Griggs Ousts Dave Neumann

By Robert Wilonsky Sat., May 14 2011 at 9:49 PM

From Jason Roberts's Facebook page

Moments ago, Still-Mayor Dwaine Caraway mazel-tov'ed Scott Griggs on taking District 3.

It was awful hard to hear Scott Griggs over the phone from the watch party that turned into a victory party. But with all but four out of 56 precincts reporting in from District 3, Griggs has ousted incumbent Dave Neumann -- 2,654 to 2,003, giving Griggs 57 percent of the vote. One could hear his supporters chanting in the background: "Nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah nah, hey hey hey, goodbye."

"We got it," Griggs told Unfair Park. "It's a new day, a new direction for District 3. Our message certainly resonated about public safety, about concerns about gas drilling, about economic development, about being careful with taxpayers' dollars." He said he knew from the moment early returns hit: He's won. And Neumann had lost.

I asked if he'd endorse Mike Rawlings or David Kunkle for mayor as they head into the June 18 runoff.

"I haven't given that any consideration," he said. "I don't have anything on my agenda past 10 o'clock tonight."

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Tex

Neumann managed to anger the homeowners when he helped get a five-story dwelling approved over near Timberbgrove when every homeowner signed a petition against it. Then he messed up when the DHA announced their move-in date for Cliff Manor. Neumann seemed to much in the pockets of developers for most in North OC.We're trying hard to not Plano-tificate our neighborhood. (We're Austin, without the self-righteousness.)

Cliff Dweller

That may be, Tex, but very few of the developers supported Neumann; they were mostly on Griggs' side. Perhaps they've misread him - here's hoping !

Cliff Dweller

Now all his endorsers come forward with their hands out. We'll be watching who gets his board and commission appointments. The crowd around him is scary, only time will tell if they able to influence him.

lynell

I expect code enforcement in District 3 to give way now to a whole new 3 ring circus of vibrant third world possibilities like dumpster pools, residential gun ranges and other favela innovations.

Dallas Diner

Ha, ha, ha, ha. You really think there has been any code enforcement in District 3? The only code enforcement I see is the code officers shopping at the illegal garage sales.

Jane Smith

What an improvement! Congrats, District 3 voters!

CrackerDaddy

Nice going District 3! Now, if we could only get rid of Sheffie.

G. Blanchard

I live in Austin, but I grew up in Dallas. I met Scott when he was at law school at UT in 1999. The voters who elected him will be pleasantly surprised to learn that he is a man of his word, a workaholic, and very, very talented and smart, razor-sharp, in fact (I met him playing chess at a coffee shop here). District 3 is luckier than they know!

Wylie H.

It will be interesting to watch the dynamics on City Council now with two intelligent, independent thinkers on board (Angela Hunt and Scott Griggs).

Maybet there is hope for the City of Dallas, after all...

Brenda Marks

Wylie, and when Sandy Greyson beats the Tea Party candidate we will have a third intelligent, independent thinker who understands the mistakes of the past and how to prevent them in the future.

Mark Anthony in Dallas

this assumes that Rawlings (if elected) won't push either one to the liferaft and not appoint them to any committees

but if Kunkle is elected, then you can be sure he will make Griggs at least a second on committees re environment and neighborhoods, and Hunt chair re environment and legal issues

more of a reason to elect Kunkle?

Bikes Rule

why do you assume Kunkle would pick Griggs for good committees?Afterall, Kunkle can't pick a good campaign mgr (CP). His South Dallas paid contact is out of touch and lives in the past. And, let's not overlook Kunkle's choice of Avi Adelman. Finally, we know Kunkle has issues choosing a bride.

So, from where I sit, I'd prefer not to have this poor decider choosing committee appointments.

Black Hole

That's a big assumption based on no facts whatsoever. I don't think Rawlings is much like Leppert, except for being in the business world. Rawlings is a Democrat, Leppert a Republican. Rawlings has been the city's homeless czar and president of the park board. He certainly isn't just hopping in the mayor's chair after being a CEO. Rawlings has a lot of experience working for the city. I don't think he is Leppert II.