Issue of Dallas' next mayor isn't so clear-cut

[ccharles000]

Swirling rumors that Tom Leppert would resign as Dallas mayor to campaign for a U.S. Senate seat appear to have cooled a bit since Kay Bailey Hutchison said she'd remain in Washington at least until after the March gubernatorial primary.

But Hutchison's delay in resigning her seat may simply provide more time for mayoral contenders to plan their campaigns and scour the city for support.

"The push date for the first domino has been pushed back," said lawyer Michael Boone, former chairman of the Dallas Citizens Council. "But everybody thinks that if she pulls that trigger, the dominos will go. Everybody is still trying to get ready for that."

Some City Hall observers sense that Leppert wants a different challenge and could leave after steering the city in a positive direction. So civic and business leaders want their candidates of choice to be ready if Leppert steps aside.

"He's either going to leave next year or he's going to leave when his term ends in 2011," said political consultant Brooks Love, a former assistant city secretary. "Either way he's gone. Groups are already moving to position their next candidate."

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