State Rep. Eric Johnson easily defeats council member Scott Griggs to become Dallas mayor
State Rep. Eric Johnson, who rose from the blight of West Dallas to a career in law and public service, defeated council member Scott Griggs on Saturday and will become Dallas' next mayor.
Johnson, 43, was backed by most of the city's business and political elite — including term-limited Mayor Mike Rawlings — and had a huge money advantage over his opponent. The election results showed the veteran legislator enjoyed strong support from northern and southern Dallas, while running well enough in the east to pull out an easy victory.
The Dallas lawyer campaigned on bringing the city together to solve its nagging problems, effectively casting Griggs as a dangerous divider who would set the city backward.
After his victory, Johnson commended Griggs for his eight years on the City Council. The state representative also said he's ready to take on his next challenge.
"Voters said 'We think you did a pretty good job in the Legislature, but we are ready for you to come home,'" he said.
Now Johnson, who is married with two young boys, will lead a city that has made strides under Rawlings, but still grapples with lingering problems such as an underdeveloped southern side, a recent spike in major crime, a shortage of police officers, corruption at City Hall and increased economic competition from other North Texas cities.
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/elections/2019/06/08/state-rep-eric-johnson-defeats-council-member-scott-griggs-become-dallas-mayor
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Go Dems!
