His election opponent, Dr. Elba Garcia, questioned whether he belongs on the ballot. You must be current with your taxes. We should all be cut by the same scissors, and I think it's irresponsible for a person who votes on how to spend our tax money to not pay his own taxes and to not pay them on time. Brooks Love, the city's elections manager, said people elected to the council aren't supposed to be allowed to serve if they have outstanding tax bills with the city. The News also checked criminal court records for all council candidates.
None has charges outstanding, but a few have been convicted of crimes.
Council member John Loza, seeking re-election in District 2, was convicted of driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, in August 1999. He was sentenced to two years' probation. Mr. Loza, chairman of the council's public safety committee, publicly apologized at the time for his arrest, which occurred in Austin. Roy Williams, a longtime community organizer running in District 6, pleaded guilty to two counts of driving while intoxicated in 1996, according to Dallas County records. He, too, was placed on two years' probation.