Local Politics

Dallas run-off election promises big changes in city council

Omar Narvaez, here at Dallas City Hall, is newly elected to the Dallas City Council.

Photo courtesy of Omar Narvaez

A run-off election in Dallas on June 10 knocked out three city council members and promises big changes for local politics and how the city will run.

This run-off was the aftermath of an election in May, when the three council members were unable to get a majority vote. In the run-off, all three incumbents lost for good.

In District 6, challenger Omar Narvaez overtook incumbent Monica Alonzo, 1,132 votes to 828.
In District 7, challenger Kevin Felder beat incumbent Tiffinni Young, 1,215 to 1,046 votes.
In District 8, Tennell Atkins beat incumbent Erik Wilson, 966 votes to 919.

District 6 is West Dallas, which includes the area near Trinity Groves. It's been the site of an ongoing struggle between tenants living in low-rental housing vs. developers who want the land.

District 7 is southeast Dallas and includes Fair Park. It has been the site of an ongoing struggle between rich people represented by Mayor Mike Rawlings who want to take control of the park, vs. the city of Dallas and its residents.

District 8 is southern Dallas. It represents a return to the city council for Tennell Atkins, who won his seat back after a two-year break. He joins returning council member Dwaine Caraway, who won back his seat in District 4 in the May election, beating Carolyn Arnold who held it for two years.

All three incumbents were allies of Mayor Rawlings; he had even officially endorsed Alonzo and Young. All three incumbents were backed by by For Our Community, a PAC run by political consultant Mari Woodlief.

The same group tried to oust city council member Philip Kingston in the May election, and lost. For Our Community not doing so well in trying to run Dallas these days.

Dallas County Elections Administration sequestered 797 mail-in ballots over allegations of voter fraud, but regardless of their status, those votes are not expected to change the outcome of these races.

Other races included a seat on the Dallas ISD board between incumbent Dustin Marshall, who also received major financial backing, and challenger Lori Kirkpatrick. It drew the largest number of voters, a total of 9,326. Kirkpatrick lost, 3,136 to Marshall's 6,190.

There were also two area mayoral races. In Farmers Branch, upstart Robert Dye beat city council member and candidate Harold Froehlich, 1,730 to 1,536. Carrollton elected Kevin Falconer, who beat Steve Babick, 3,171 to 2,129.

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RIP Pete

Dallas businessman and former Schepps Dairy owner Pete Schenkel dies

Courtesy photo

Pete Schenkel

Dallas businessman Pete Schenkel, a philanthropist and former owner of Dallas-based Schepps Dairy, passed away at his Highland Park home on November 27 while in hospice care.

Born and raised in South Dallas where he worked on his father's dairy farm, Schenkel worked his way up from a Schepps Dairy deliverer to become an owner of the company in 1987. He went on to serve as President and owner of Southern Foods, which later sold to Suiza Foods and became Dean Foods, for which he also served as president and board member.

A statement from the city of Dallas says that Schenkel "leaves a legacy where he will be remembered for sharing his success with others and for his steadfast commitment to serve with pride and humility. Pete was unwavering in his dedication to making Dallas one of the safest large cities in the United States and was instrumental in promoting our economic growth and social vibrancy. We will strive to carry on his legacy by continuing to make Dallas a better place for all."

Founded by Harmon "Hymie" Schepps in 1942, Schepps Dairy traded hands and emerged from a bankruptcy under the primary ownership of Schenkel, who was Schepps' business partner. In 2000, the company was acquired by Suiza Foods Co., which then merged with Dallas-based Dean Foods the following year.

Schenkel was also involved in Dallas politics from the '80s to the '00s, both with sought-after endorsements as well as working on campaigns for mayoral candidates such as Jack Evans and Ron Natinsky.

In 2017, he was honored with an award from the NFF Gridiron Club for his role in helping bring football back to the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day. He fought to keep the annual Texas-Oklahoma rivalry game at Cotton Bowl Stadium and has been the key negotiator in keeping the game there ever since.

Schenkel served on many influential boards that helped shape Dallas and North Texas, including chairing the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Board of Directors and the Methodist Health Care Foundation. After retiringm he remained active in nonprofit circles, helping direct a charitable fund with his wife, the Pat and Pete Schenkel Charitable Trust. He also served on the board of the Dallas Blue Foundation, which provides financial assistance to families of Dallas police officers killed or wounded in action.

His multiple awards and commendations including receiving the 82nd annual Linz Award for civic service in Dallas in 2011, as well as a Russell H. Perry Award from Dallas Baptist University, which lauded Schenkel for adhering to the highest ethical standards and being loyal to and respectful of friends and customers, as well as his modesty, shying away from the spotlight and shining it on others instead.

He's survived by his wife Pat, three children and seven grandchildren.

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