Mayor supports her council colleagues in election

By Maria Recio, Anna M. Tinsley, Dave Montgomery and Scott Nishimura

Star-Telegram staff writers

Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price is backing her fellow incumbents in their City Council races.

Councilman Sal Espino touted Price's backing in announcing his candidacy last week against former Councilman Jim Lane, who lost to Price in a bid for mayor in 2011.

Price has told all incumbents they have her support for the May 11 election. The current council is a good team, she said, and "I think they all deserve another term to finish the projects they started."

Funny guy

Fort Worth's sometime-in-house comic, Assistant City Manager Charles Daniels, was in the house for Tuesday's groundbreaking on the city's $97.5 million public safety center.

Introducing City Councilman Joel Burns, whose south side district includes the site, Daniels elicited howls after he asked the audience if anyone watched The Simpsons, then noted the TV show has a character " Mr. Burns" who "really looks like Tom Higgins," Fort Worth's city manager, who was seated near the front of the ceremony.

And in introducing Police Chief Jeff Halstead, Daniels surveyed the bank of television cameras and deadpanned, "Chief Halstead, we have four news cameras here today. Is that enough?"

Hat in the ring

John Stone , a popular Hill veteran, long-time spokesman and now chief of staff to U.S. Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, is going to make another run for the U.S. House.

But not from Texas, from Georgia, where Stone took on Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga., in 2008 and lost by more than 30 points.

Stone likes the way the redistricted seat looks around Athens, Ga., this time around and plans to challenge Barrow, reports Roll Call, and said he will resign from his position this summer to run.

Twin time

How can you tell U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, from his identical twin, San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro?

It's the ring.

Julian Castro is married and wears a wedding band on his left hand while Joaquin Castro is not and does not.

Former U.S. Rep. Jim Turner, D-Crockett, helpfully pointed out what may be the only sure-fire way to tell the two Democratic up-and-comers apart during the Texas Democrats' barbecue during the Inauguration weekend (Hosted by Lone Star Project director Matt Angle, a Fort Worth native).

Of course, that will only last until Joaquin Castro gets married.

Looking for comments?