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ARLINGTON — Robert Cluck helped lure the Dallas Cowboys to town five years ago, and he’ll still be mayor when the Super Bowl kicks off at the new $1.1 billion football stadium in Arlington in 2011.
Cluck received overwhelming support in his fourth bid for the top seat, winning 65 percent of the vote with complete, unofficial returns. Cluck raised the most campaign cash of all Arlington council candidates this election — $38,324 — and still has more than $104,000 in his war chest, according to finance reports."There are a lot of challenges, but there are a lot of opportunities," said Cluck, a 70-year-old physician. "We’re on the verge of this city getting really big things economically that will put us on the map. It’s going to be a very positive experience the next two years."Jerry Pikulinski, a retired economist who ran against Cluck in 2005 and 2007, received the second-highest support with 26 percent; candidates Stephen White, Aaron Bickle and Lane Weston each receiving 4 percent or less.Cluck said balancing the budget will be one of his top priorities, which also includes attracting new businesses and fighting gang violence. The Arlington City Council is considering cuts to city services to avoid an estimated $4 million budget shortfall this year and a projected $11 million shortfall next year caused by declining sales and property taxes.District 3Robert Rivera won his third bid to represent southeast Arlington with 68 percent of the vote.During the campaign, Rivera dramatically outspent his challenger, raising more than $37,000 and spending nearly $36,000 by the end of April, according to city records. Marvin Sutton, an air traffic controller, got 32 percent of the vote. Sutton raised just over $6,000 and spent about $5,000 in his second bid for the District 3 seat. Rivera said he’s proud of the improvements in his district, which has the lowest crime per capita of allcouncil districts and has seen economic growth with new businesses such as the Arlington Highlands shopping center near Interstate 20. Rivera, who pushed for the graffiti abatement program to erase the markings, said he still wants to see the city adopt a juvenile curfew to help cut crime. District 4Kathryn Wilemon won her fourth bid to represent west Arlington with almost 76 percent of the vote in a race against retired city employee Richard Weber. Wilemon said she will continue to seek economic development opportunities because the key to stabilizing the city’s budget is bringing jobs to Arlington.District 5Lana Wolff, plagued by personal attacks not by her challenger but by a former council member, won her bid for a fourth term to represent east-central Arlington with 52 percent of the vote. Wolff said revitalization of east-central Arlington, the oldest part of the city, is one of her top priorities, along with eradicating neighborhood blight.Terry Meza, an attorney and political newcomer, got almost 33 percent of the vote. Pilot Michael Driscoll, who did not actively campaign, received about 15 percent of the vote. Dick Malec, a former Arlington council member, publicized details about Wolff’s husband’s legal and financial problems.Jimmy Wolff faces felony fraud charges in Oklahoma and an unresolved multimillion-dollar lawsuit. Wolff has maintained that she has nothing to do with her husband’s financial dealings and that Malec’s ill will is a result of her not choosing him as a political consultant.Susan Schrock, 817-390-7639
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