News

Dallas County Judge Race

BILLY CLARK CLAY JENKINS EDWIN FLORES LAUREN DAVIS

Early voting: February 14-25 Primary is March 1 General Election is Nov. 8

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(COURTESY PHOTOS, ILLUSTRATION: MELANIE THORNTON)

THE MARCH TO NOVEMBER

Democratic incumbents face challengers in some races Two Republicans ready to face off against Jenkins

By Bethany Erickson

bethany.erickson@peoplenewspapers.com

Before Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins can face a Republican challenger, he’ll need to take on attorney Billy Clark in the Democratic primary on March 1.

Jenkins announced in November that he would run for a fourth term.

“I am filing for re-election because there is still a lot of work that needs to be accomplished in Dallas County,” he said. “From fighting back against COVID-19 to making sure our children have access to quality education and health care, I am ready to continue this fight alongside the people of Dallas County.

Clark, an attorney from Cedar Hill, has more than 20 years of military experience.

Before starting his legal career, Clark was a teacher at Klein Forest High School in Houston. He was the senior aerospace science instructor for the Junior Air Force ROTC program. After Hurricane Harvey, Clark returned to Dallas County.

He said he’s running because he feels that he could be more proactive than his opponent — and a prime example of his frustration is the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

“The initial vaccine rollout was mass chaos,” he said in a Facebook post. “Frustration and confusion created doubt in our county government’s ability to manage the process.”

But the county judge race isn’t the only one that will be busy. Four Democrats will face off to see who will face GOP incumbent Dallas County Commissioner JJ Koch, whose district includes much of Preston Hollow and the Park Cities: Tom Ervin, Michelle Faulkner, Philip Kingston, and Andrew Sommerman.

Democratic incumbent State Sen. Nathan Johnson didn’t draw a primary challenger. Still, Elizabeth Ginsberg or Freda Heald are on the ballot for the Democratic primary for State Representative District 108 (held by Republican Morgan Meyer).

Democrats Charlie Gearing, Alexandra Guio, Chris Leal, Kendall Scudder, and former Rep. John Bryant have all thrown their hats in the ring to replace outgoing State Rep. John Turner, who represents District 114.

Other Democratic primary races include:

County Treasurer: Pauline Medrano

District Clerk: Amye Thompson Hollins, Felicia Pitre

County Clerk: Ann Cruz, Marcus Turner Jr., John Warren

State Rep. District 103: Rafael Anchia

State Board of Education, District 12: Alex Cornwallis, Roberto Velasco

By Bethany Erickson

bethany.erickson@peoplenewspapers.com

Two will face off in the Republican primary for Dallas County Judge, and both Edwin Flores and Lauren Davis feel they bring something different to the job — something the county needs.

Flores has served two stints on the Dallas ISD school board, from 2005 to 2012 and from 2015 until now. Gov. Greg Abbott recently appointed him to the Texas School Safety Center Board of Directors. Flores is an attorney and also has a doctorate in molecular immunology.

“The vision Edwin Flores has for Dallas County is similar to the vision he had when he first ran for school board – to provide strong common-sense leadership in order to transform the way Dallas County operates,” Flores’ campaign website said, adding that he was “appalled” at how politicized the pandemic has become.

“They (politicians) have tried to polarize communities between the masked versus the unmasked and the vaccinated versus the unvaccinated,” the campaign said. “As county judge, Edwin will restore individual liberty, focus on growing our economy, and work to enhance services to Dallas neighborhoods and businesses.”

Davis, the chief culture officer and co-founder of the men’s grooming company The Gents Place, insisted the Dallas County Judge doesn’t need to be a lawyer.

“The official position is the top administrator and ‘CEO of Dallas County,’” she wrote. “I’ll bring good judgment back to this position, the same way I’ve done as a mother, successful business owner, and proven community leader over the last 15+ years.”

Dallas County commissioner JJ Koch, whose district includes much of Preston Hollow and the Park Cities, won’t face a challenger in the Republican primary, and former Dallas County District Attorney Faith Johnson will try to regain her old job and is the sole contender in the GOP primary for that seat.

Democratic incumbent State Sen. Nathan Johnson and his Republican challenger Brandon Copeland can start campaigning for the general election pretty much immediately, as neither drew primary challengers.

GOP incumbent State Rep. Morgan Meyer (D-108) and District 114 candidate Mark Hadju didn’t draw challengers for their primary races, either.

Other Republican primary races:

County Treasurer: Shelly Akerly

State Board of Education, District 12 (GOP): Pam Little

Preston Hollow Top Producer

Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa became one of several superintendents - and one of three in the Dallas-Fort Worth area - to resign his post. He’s led the district for more than

13 years. (PHOTO: COURTESY DALLAS ISD)

‘I Love My Job’ Hinojosa says political climate didn’t spur decision to retire

By Bethany Erickson

bethany.erickson@peoplenewspapers.com

Between his two stints as superintendent of Dallas ISD, Michael Hinojosa has seen a few things — including a recent tornado and a pandemic. But in January, he announced that the next major event the district would face would be of his making — he is retiring.

Hinojosa joins a growing number of school administrators leaving their posts — including Kent Scribner with Fort Worth ISD and Jeannie Stone with Richardson ISD, who announced they were leaving their districts in January and December, respectively.

The 42-year educator indicated his imminent departure during a phone call with fellow superintendents on Jan. 12. During a board of trustees briefing the next day, he announced his intention to resign.

“I’m very proud of what this district has accomplished,” he told reporters during a pause in the meeting. “It’s taken a lot of blood and sweat and tears.”

Hinojosa pointed to what the district achieved during his two tenures — most recently, a trajectory that has marked Dallas ISD as one of the most improved urban districts in the country and earned the district the distinction of best large school district in the state last year by H-E-B.

Hinojosa said that he knows that superintendents are leaving in what seems like droves, and that many attribute it to the political climate — but his decision was his feeling the district was so improved that he could hand the reins over to someone new.

“I love my job, and I love my job every single day,” he said, saying the cultural and political wars didn’t contribute to his decision, but that he knows it is “wearing people down.” “I’m not going to apologize for being outspoken, but it doesn’t apply to my case,” he said. He said his decision boiled down to a desire to see new blood continue improving the district. “I could’ve finished my contract,” he said. “But they (school

I’m very focused board trustees) need to find someone who on landing this can keep this magic airplane in the next going for 10 years and 20 years.”six months. He was also adaMichael Hinojosa mant that his decision wasn’t a negative. “I’m not stepping down; I’m stepping up,” he said, adding that stepping down seems negative. “I’m not dying.” But he’s not sure what he’s “stepping up” to — rumors have had him running for Dallas mayor, but he was quick to deflect that when asked. “I’m very focused on landing this airplane in the next six months,” he said. “This is not about me and not about my future.” School board president Ben Mackey said that the board wouldn’t make any official moves until the next board meeting at the earliest. But, the search process would start in January and include public input, he said. The goal would be to have a superintendent candidate identified by the spring and in place before the start of school next year, Mackey said. “This is just the beginning of this process.” SUPER SEARCH Follow the selection process for the next Dallas ISD superintendent at peoplenewspapers.com