Posted on Sun, May. 11, 2008

Capehart, LeBlanc re-elected in Arlington; at-large seats head to runoff

Shepard, McKissic vie for District 6; Glaspie and Bennett for 7

By Sally Claunch and Susan Schrock

Star-Telegram Staff Writers

ARLINGTON -- City Council members Sheri Capehart and Mel LeBlanc were re-elected Saturday, but the open, at-large District 6 and 7 seats will be decided by a runoff June 14.

Turnout was 5.6 percent of the 186,578 registered Arlington municipal voters.

At-large District 6

Robert Shepard, an attorney and former Planning and Zoning Commission member, garnered 47.2 percent of the vote in unofficial results. But it wasn't enough for a clear win over opponent Vera McKissic, an education minister at Cornerstone Baptist Church in southeast Arlington. McKissic won 36.8 percent of the vote.

The rest of the field was far behind, with political newcomers Dennis Hackler taking 6.5 percent of votes; Brian Willett, 5.5 percent; and Joseph Farah, 4.1 percent.

Shepard, 49, was the top money raiser with more than $35,000 in campaign contributions reported through early May. McKissic, 50, reported spending more than $30,000, most of it from a personal loan.

Shepard said: "With five candidates in the race, it's kind of impossible for it not to be a runoff. We'll gear up for the next one."

McKissic has recently been under attack by a former political consultant who sent computerized messages to more than 16,000 likely voters urging them to vote for anyone other than her. She was also targeted by an Arlington Police Association mailer that called her "confrontational."

On Saturday night, McKissic said she expected the race to be close, adding, "We'll just huddle up and start from ground zero."

The winner will succeed Councilman Steve McCollum, who did not seek a fifth term.

At-large District 7

The District 7 race was even closer. Former Arlington school district Trustee Michael Glaspie will face certified public accountant Jimmy Bennett, 47.

Bennett, a community volunteer, won 42.9 percent of the vote, and Glaspie, a minister at Mount Olive Baptist Church minister, had 44.8 percent.

Bennett, a first-time candidate, reported spending more than $26,000 on his campaign through early May. Glaspie, who served 17 years on the school board, reported spending more than $29,000.

The youngest candidate in the race, Robert Martin, 19, won 12.4 percent of the vote.

The winner will succeed Mayor Pro Tem Ron Wright, who did not seek a fifth term.

Southwest Arlington District 2

Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Sheri Capehart won a fifth term decisively over opponent John Jenkins, with 64.3 percent of the vote to his 35.7 percent.

About 6.5 percent of registered southwest Arlington voters turned out.

Capehart, 59, said she will continue working to improve roadways and sidewalks so that children have safe routes to school. She said she will also keep working to ensure quality development.

Jenkins, 41, a Dallas parks and recreation district manager, was making a second attempt to unseat Capehart. He took 35 percent of the vote in 2006.

Through early May, Capehart reported raising $9,660 and spending $3,040 on her campaign. Jenkins reported raising $6,364 and spending $14,202.82.

North Arlington District 1

Councilman Mel LeBlanc, 57, ran unopposed. This will be the medical product sales representatives' second two-year term representing north Arlington.