The race to represent Lake Highlands on the Dallas City Council is in the home stretch. Incumbent Jerry Allen and his challenger Don Sanders have planted their signs and debated the issues for months.

We know you lead busy lives and may not have been able to attend one of the debates, so we asked the candidates to help us bring the debate to you. The rules were simple: we emailed both candidates the same nine questions and asked them to send us their answers.

We’ll release a new question and answers each weekday until the May 9th election.

Question One: What are your qualifications to represent Lake Highlands on the City Council?

Don Sanders:

I have over 33 years of business experience working for Bank of America or one of its predecessors until I retired. This includes several years performing and managing various accounting functions early in my career. It also includes over two decades of managing many different statewide and nationwide functions including operations, technology and projects, general business administration and operations for governmental agencies. While in these roles, I served several times as a lead liaison with various marketing and sales functions and as a lead representative for intracompany financial accountability. The last responsibility I had was for over 4 years and included several thousand employees and an annual budget of over $200 million with operations across the US.

I also have served as a member of the board of directors of several organizations over my career including Crimestoppers, Communities in Schools, and Jaycees. I have also been PTA President and served on the board of two Homeowner Associations (one as President for two terms). I have done volunteer work with many different organizations over the years. Since retiring I have volunteered with Habitat for Humanity as a core volunteer, Samuell Farm and Children’s Medical Center Annual Holiday Parade.

Jerry Allen:

I’ve called Lake Highlands, Texas my home since 1962. I was fortunate to be on the LHHS Basketball team that won state in 1968. Many said we couldn’t do it, but in true Lake Highlands style we did! I began my banking career more than 30 years ago and have delighted in providing banking services for many of the nonprofit groups in Lake Highlands. My wife Patty and I have raised two LH Wildcat daughters. I currently represent District 10 on the City Council where I serve as Vice Chair of the Finance, Audit & Accountability Committee. I also serve on the Economic Development Committee, the Public Safety Committee and the Transportation and Environment Committee.

I’m currently serving on the Police & Fire Pension Board of Trustees and on the National League of Cities Finance, Administration and Intergovernmental Relations Committee. I previously served on the DART Board where I was Chair of the Ethics Committee and Vice Chair of the Budget/Finance Committee. I’m also the former Treasurer of the RISD Tomorrow Foundation. A few other ways I’ve served Lake Highlands were as former President and Treasurer of the Exchange Club of Lake Highlands and as founding Director of Wild for Cats Academic Booster Fund. Finally, I’m proud to be the recipient of the Lake Highlands High School PTA Wildcat Award.

These are a few of the many public ways I’ve tried to give back to Lake Highlands. The most important thing is that people know I’m always at the forefront in putting Lake Highlands issues first!


Question Two: What is your plan to continue the downward trend of crime in Lake Highlands?

Jerry Allen:

I’m very proud of the fact that crime in District 10 is down 27% year to date. Our district is 5th best in the city when it comes to lowest crime and I won’t rest until we are at the top of that list. Our community prosecutor, Kelly Gregan has done a fantastic job as have our men and women in uniform. I’ve enjoyed a great working relationship with Chief Kunkle, Deputy Chief Lawrence at the Northeast substation and with the police who protect our streets and homes every day.

When re-elected, I’ll continue our monthly meetings with city department heads, the northeast police, code compliance officials and community crime volunteers. I’ll continue to have a personal presence at multi-family apartment complexes in the area while working with the police to lower crime there and make them safe for the law abiding citizens who live there. I do believe the new ordinance dealing with the owners of multi-family dwellings will give the police teeth to crack down on those owners if they’re not in compliance.

The message we want to get out to Lake Highlands is that fighting crime is important to us and we’re constantly working to get the bad guys out of our community.

Don Sanders:

I will support the crime task forces and other crime prevention volunteers to help them be more successful in addressing code compliance and reducing crime. Many say they have not received the commitment they need to achieve the results they must have. I will work with city staff to be sure they have the support, focus and resources. I will also work to increase the number of police officers assigned to the district with particular emphasis on the area north of LBJ. Police substation and code compliance offices are needed in the northern sector of the district to address the environment where crimes originate and to have better presence and response.

Apartment owners must be held accountable when they continually avoid complying with city code. I will be diligent in improving the quality of life for apartment dwellers while cleaning up or eliminating apartments that breed the wrong environment. This will reduce crime further for all of us in the district.

I will work with the Northeast Police Station to help them with needs they have to best deliver protection and safety for us.


Question Three: What is your take on the Shoreview/Ferndale redevelopment issue?

Don Sanders:

The Shoreview/Ferndale redevelopment, along with the Skillman/Church redevelopment, was a flawed process. The most important stakeholders, the residents, were not listened to when it came to rezoning and redevelopment plans.

Each time there is an opportunity for redevelopment, I will approach those residents most impacted to begin the process and then assure they are involved to the end. The goal is for a win-win. I will always remember the district belongs to its residents.

Jerry Allen:

Rezoning is always a tough issue – there’s passion on both sides of the fence. The communication process is the number one thing you always want to address.
We started by sitting down with the developer and the homeowners associations involved, these were open meetings. The developer explained three or four processes where they put together what they perceived to be the best use of that land. After that it was presented to the homeowners associations in multiple open meetings and the Lake Highlands Area Improvement Association for an open forum Q&A. Next it went to planning and zoning and finally came to the council itself.

The reality of the situation is more people are excited about that development than not. What we have standing there at the entry to Lake Highlands right now is a 15 year mostly vacant piece of property. Now that property is going to be turned around. Folks sat down, they worked with the developer, and to this very day continue to work with the developer.


Question Four: What area of Lake Highlands is most in need of redevelopment and why?

Jerry Allen:

Growing up in Lake Highlands, it was always apparent that Skillman was a central corridor for this community. It’s only natural that our first big redevelopment of the past few years would be the undertaking at the LA Fitness/Mi Cocina/Picassos corner while Prescott quickly followed on the east side with the Lake Highlands Town Center.

The TIF was created to bring new development to the Skillman corridor and has worked as intended with the Town Center. It is my belief that, at the end of the day, the LHTC will be but the first domino that fell, and others will follow suit. Another possibility is the Audelia and Walnut Hill area, just north of LBJ and before we know it perhaps Audelia and Forest. When re-elected, I will continue to help bring consensus between neighbors and developers to attain a win/win solution.

Don Sanders:

I believe there are several areas that are opportunities for redevelopment. Mainly, they are either aged retail shopping areas or apartments. Generally, the area with the most opportunities is the Skillman Corridor. Let’s all hope that the economy turns around quickly so the catalyst, the Lake Highlands Town Center, can be successful soon. There are certainly other opportunities scattered throughout the district, including far north and far south. There are other opportunities scattered around.

For me to unilaterally choose one is contrary to what I am campaigning to do. I want to listen to the residents and then work with developers and the city to achieve it. I will not impose any agenda. I will work for what those that live here want and where they want it. I believe that most of us in the district want redevelopment in the right way.


Question Five: What are your specific civic contributions to Lake Highlands?

Don Sanders:

I led an annual United Way fund raising campaign of $1 million at my previous employer. Those funds were used to support organizations all over the city.

I have volunteered with and financially supported civic organizations such as Lake Highlands Early Childhood PTA and Lake Highlands Junior Women’s League. I have performed various other volunteer functions over the years.

Jerry Allen:

I have been blessed to be involved with many wonderful Lake Highlands organizations including being a founding member of the “Wild for Cats” Academic Booster Fund, I am proud to have initiated the “Character Counts” program for the Exchange Club of Lake Highlands as well as serving as their President and Treasurer.

I served the RISD Tomorrow Foundation as their Treasurer and have been involved in many aspects of PTA. I have had a great time being the voice of Varsity Wildcat Basketball and enjoy volunteering for Lake Highlands Track and Field.

I truly believe that a major part of what makes Lake Highlands, Texas great is that so many give of their time and talents to improve the overall good.


Question Six: As a Lake Highlands resident, how does the proposed city-owned convention center hotel affect me and how should I vote on the issue?

Jerry Allen:

After sitting through briefing after briefing, twenty two to be exact, I came to the conclusion that the very best way to keep the tax burden on Dallas homeowners from increasing is to find new revenue streams, like tax revenues from the convention visitors.

I support the hotel and believe that revenue bonds are the proper way to finance the project. Denver built their convention center hotel with revenue bonds and the hotel has been a huge success. The Houston convention center hotel, also built with tax revenue bonds, has also been hugely successful.

I realize these are uncertain times, but we must make/keep our city competitive. This is about jobs, economic development and moving Dallas forward. A strong, vibrant downtown makes for a strong, vibrant Lake Highlands.

Don Sanders:

The hotel impacts all Dallas residents the same way. From the beginning, I have taken the position that the city council (regardless of who sits in the seats) does not have the authority to make a $1/2 billion decision for the residents of Dallas. Fortunately, 60,000 petitioners agreed and we the residents of Dallas will make the decision.

I do not think the city should be in the hotel business. I will vote YES on proposition 1. A city exists to provide services for its residents. Residents have enough risks without assuming those associated with a convention center hotel. I think a hotel is needed with a private enterprise as owner. The city should work creatively with interested parties toward achieving that. Regardless of the vote on the proposition, I will work to make a convention center hotel successful.


Question Seven: When your position on an issue is different from the majority of your constituents, what will you do?

Don Sanders:

I anticipate that my position on issues will seldom be different from the majority. I plan to make sure that appropriate transparency, communications and discussions are in place.

I will always solicit input from residents and listen before making any decisions. If my position is different after using this process, I will explain my reasons.

Jerry Allen:

When there is a clear majority, I will support the majority.

An example of this was the recent smoking ordinance. I started out against the ordinance because I felt it violated individual property rights but in the end 85% of the emails I received were in favor of the new ordinance and I voted accordingly.


Question Eight: What makes Lake Highlands special, and how will you work to keep our community moving forward?

Jerry Allen:

There’s a sense of tradition and continuity in Lake Highlands that’s difficult to explain if you didn’t spend your formative years here. Back in the 1960’s and 70’s when I was growing up in the neighborhood, just about everyone knew everyone. You can search and search but you won’t find a community that has a bigger heart than Lake Highlands.

As we went away to college and came back to raise our family, we were joined by many other Wildcats doing the same thing. Now, the next generation is returning to call Lake Highlands home. Because there are so many of us with that wonderful, shared experience of living the majority of our life in this neighborhood, there is an intangible but very real feeling we have about our community.

At the same time, we need to couple our collective experience and sense of tradition with an excitement and readiness to embrace change and move forward, thoughtfully. Fear and negativity is not the Wildcat way. It’s our time, it’s our turn to seek out and make great things happen.

Don Sanders:

We chose to live in Lake Highlands about nineteen years ago when we moved from Austin. We have chosen to continue to live here because we love the community. Both of our daughters grew up here and graduated from LHHS. Their families (Now three generations of us live here!) chose to live here for the same reason. It is a great area to have the quality of life we all want.

All-aged people moving to Dallas want to live here too because they hear what a great community it is. RISD is a very good school system and its many functions are top quality and a nucleus of much of the community atmosphere. There is a revitalization beginning to occur with many younger families moving here (many back to their roots) and doing great civic work. At times, it seems amazing that an area of about 100,000 can feel so small. The opportunity exists for the area to revitalize itself through community planned redevelopment for housing and retail to allow Lake Highlands to become “the only place to live in Dallas.”

I want to be a leader working with the district to address what is needed to continue and improve the community. It is not about what Don Sanders wants but it is about what he wants to do to help the community move the quality of life ahead for all.


These last few questions deal with the lighter, more personal side of both candidates:

What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
DS: I carry on a Texas tradition of cooking true “pit-smoked" BBQ.
JA: I'm a pretty good fisherman.

What would you choose for your last meal?
JA: Chicken fried steak
DS: BBQ brisket and pork ribs cooked by me

What is your favorite word, quote or saying?
DS: “Opportunity”
JA: “All dreams come true for those that have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney

What do you do for fun?
JA: My free time is limited, but my best times are spent just sitting around a fire with my friends.
DS: I spend time with family, hunt, fish and travel.

What book have you read most recently?
DS: Twilight in the Desert by Matthew R. Simmons
JA: Being on Council there is not much time for leisure reading. As a matter of fact, my first year alone on Council we were provided with over 21,000 pages of briefing background. That would be the equivalent of reading 15 books the size of War and Peace.

Editor’s Note: Our special thanks to both Jerry Allen and Don Sanders for participating in our online debate. While they may not agree on every issue, it’s obvious both men care about Lake Highlands and are passionate about leading our community forward.