Openly gay former councilmember, 2007 mayoral candidate says he is exploring his options for returning to public service

Ed Oakley

Ed Oakley may run for his old District 3 Dallas City Council seat in 2009.

Oakley, the openly gay former councilman who served three terms before stepping down to run for mayor last year, filed a campaign treasurer report with the City Secretary’s Office on May 28, records show. The report doesn’t specify which office Oakley plans to seek, but he lives in District 3 and says he doesn’t plan on moving.

There will be no citywide mayor’s race until 2011. Oakley, who would have been the first openly gay mayor elected to represent a top 10 U.S. city, lost to Tom Leppert in a runoff in 2007.

Contacted this week, Oakley said he hasn’t decided whether he’ll run in District 3, which is currently represented by Councilman Dave Neumann. Oakley could also run for county or state office in 2010.

“It allows me to raise money and decide later what office I’ll seek,” Oakley said of the report. “It basically keeps you legal with the state in raising money.”

Oakley filed the report in advance of an annual birthday fundraising party that’s set for June 19. Oakley, who will turn 56 on June 10, said he’s held the party each year since he was first elected to the council.

“I have been asked to consider a number of offices, but I believe all politics is local,” a letter accompanying an invitation to the party states. “If I am going to get back into public service I should go where I am best able to serve. So I want you to come to the party and let’s talk about it. You help me decide; you tell me what I think I should do. We are going to explore the possibilities and have some fun doing so.”

Oakley said he’s been encouraged by supporters to stay involved in local affairs since losing the mayor’s race. He said he currently serves on the boards of the Trinity Commons, Zoological Society, Oak Cliff Chamber, North Texas GLBT Chamber and Japan America Society.

“I’ve stayed directly involved because people have asked me to,” Oakley said, adding that running for political office again is “a foregone conclusion.”

In 2010, Oakley could run for state House or Senate, or county commissioner. But he lives in the districts of Rep. Yvonne Davis, Sen. Royce West and Commissioner John Wiley Price, all popular fellow Democrats.

“Those are pretty far-fetched seats,” Oakley said.

Some have also speculated that Oakley may run against Jim Foster, the openly gay Dallas county judge who’s also a Democrat, in 2010.

Neumann, who replaced Oakley on the council, said he “absolutely” plans to seek re-election in 2009.

“I would say very clearly that Ed Oakley did a good job when he was a councilmember,” Neumann said this week.

“I would also say, it’s all about moving forward,” Neumann added.

Neumann beat out eight other candidates in last year’s District 3 race. He defeated openly gay candidate Joseph Hernandez in a close runoff, capturing 52 percent of the vote to Hernandez’s 48 percent.

Hernandez said this week he’ll wait to see what Oakley does before deciding whether to run in District 3 again.

“I would never pit myself against Ed Oakley, because I firmly believe in his commitment to the district,” Hernandez said.

Oakley’s departure from the council, combined with his defeat in the mayor’s race and Herndandez’s loss in District 3, left Dallas with no openly gay representative on the council for the first time in 14 years. Oakley said he believes that should be a concern for the LGBT community.

“The best people to deal with our issues is us, and if we’re not sitting at the table, we have to depend on someone else to take care of those,” Oakley said.

Neumann said he considers the LGBT community an important part of District 3 and has made an effort to be inclusive.

Earlier this year, Neumann was credited with facilitating a significant increase in training on LGBT issues at Dallas Fire-Rescue.

“That has started, and that started under this councilmember’s service in office,” Neumann said. “That is one of many things we have done to move forward and make sure that everyone is treated with equality.”

Patti Fink, president of the Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance, said although DGLA has been working on the Fire-Rescue training for years, Neumann was “instrumental” in finally making it happen. Jeff Strater, vice president of DGLA, called Neumann “an ally to our community.”

But Fink acknowledged that Oakley would undoubtedly enjoy strong gay support if he were to run for City Council again.

“I think Ed Oakley has a big place in our history for sure, and I think he’s revered in our community,” Fink said. “People love Ed. I love Ed. He’s brought so much to our community, over many, many years, even before he was on the council, and he still does.”

For more information about Oakley’s fundraiser, call 214-744-4424.



This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition June 6, 2008.