McClelland Responds to DMN Editorial Board

Former Burnt Orange Report writer, John McClelland is running for Dallas City Council - District 12.

As is customary, the Dallas Morning News editorial board interviews all the candidates and "endorses" the incumbents based on some silly thing they pick out of a 5 minute interview. The response to the DMN Editorial Board is becoming an art form. WhosPlayin has published the response to DMN's recommendation of Michael Burgess for Congress, and Myra Crownover for State Rep. I simply can't break the tradition, so here's the response to the DMN Editorial Board from John McClelland - who like other challengers wasted a trip and some time to talk to a brick wall:

Letter to the Editor of the Dallas Morning News (sent 4/26):

While I respect the Dallas Morning News Editorial Board's decision to endorse my opponent on April 23, I do feel it necessary to challenge the editor's view that I am on the "wrong side" of the issues.

The issue I have with the Trinity River Project is not the project itself. The problem is our current Council's decision to place a multi lane high speed flooding toll road inside of the levee system at a cost of over $1 billion to taxpayers, as I stated in the editorial board interview. My opponent would have us believe that we have free money from the DOT to use for this pork project. But we all know that the money provided from the federal government is the same gas tax money that we all pay into the system. It is not a free handout. And scaring the taxpayers of Dallas into thinking the money is going to disappear if we do not hurry up and spend it is irresponsible journalism and an irresponsible statement from my opponent. And on top of the cost, are we really to believe placing a highway in a flood plain is a wise decision? We all need to be certain we are choosing the most cost effective and most reasonable option for this road.

Over the past several years in Dallas, the "hurry up and spend" method of government has gotten us into trouble. It is time for responsibility on our Council. It is time to put people into office that are fiscally responsible and will do what is right for Dallas. What is right for Dallas is not a natural and fiscal disaster. What is right for Dallas is a project we can all be proud of and we can say we did it the right way, without any regret. I challenge the voters of Place 12 and all of Dallas to remember this issue when they go to the ballot box starting next week and on May 12th.

If you live in North Dallas, do yourself a favor and read up on John McClelland before you go to the polls