Picking a Mayor on a 'Slow Saturday'

Picking a Mayor on a "Slow Saturday"

By Robert Wilonsky Sat., Jun. 18 2011 at 6:51 PM

Photo by Nick Rallo

Toni Pippins-Poole, Dallas County's Interim Elections Administrator, earlier this afternoon

We're, what, nine whole minute away from our first look at early-voting results ... like anyone cares. I spoke with Toni Pippins-Poole, Interim Dallas County Elections Administrator, earlier this afternoon, and she described the action at the polls as "so, so, slow -- about what we expected." Which is to say, maybe 10 percent; 11, if we're lucky. (When I voted at Leonides Gonzalez Cigarroa, M.D. Elementary School at noon, I was No. 90 -- surprisingly high.)

Nick was out and about and stopped by Stemmons Freeway HQ (a "relaxed atmosphere," he reports back) shortly after I spoke with Pippins-Poole. Turns out, Nick has just missed John Wiley Price, who, for some reason, finds himself at DalCo offices during Election Days these days. Says Pippins-Poole, "He wants to know how it's going," when I asked why a county commissioner's hanging around. "And then he told us the sad news," referring to Al Lipscomb's death. She says Price stops by every time they're counting ballots. "He asks us if we need food, or if there are any concerns about the elections."

Not many concerns, though: She told Nick it's been a "slow Saturday [with] not many calls. Not many people calling about where their polling location is." She blames it on Father's Day. That, and the fact it's 193 degrees.

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That One

The County Commissioners Court funds and oversees the Elections Dept. for Dallas County. It's not automatically inappropriate for a County Commissioner on election night to make sure that everything is going smoothly.

Crazy Larry

We need election monitors in this city. Especially ones to keep an eye on JWP.

Wylie H.

Is it just me, or is it wildly inappropriate for one of the most powerful elected officials in Dallas County to be hanging around the Board of Elections on election day-- isn't that the kind of stuff that takes place in 3rd world countries?

Blew2002

My mother works there and she can tell you first hand about all inappropriate and illegal activities JWP and Toni Pippin-Pool are involved in. Just like Bruce Sherbet and Danny who are very good people she is also being rail roaded out of her job. As of today June 27 2011 I think we are about to find out what's really been going on.