Category: Politics

Early voting starts on Monday, April 24. For those that have any interest in my thoughts on the council election race, read on. Otherwise, have a great day and move on

A preamble to this post is that I am not basing my choices on all the normal election “issues” (e.g. infrastructure, public safety, growth, etc.) but focusing on the candidates that share my beliefs and values and what “community” means to them (through the election 2023 looking glass). Human decency, respect, and ethics are my main focus in the council race.

Naturally, it goes without saying that these are my words, and are not representative of any groups, organizations, or other associations I may have or are connected to.

FRISCO MAYOR – UNDERVOTE (i.e. no vote for any candidate)

I’m under-voting in this race (i.e. no vote). Neither of the two main candidates (or the third) has convinced me that a vote for any of them is worthwhile.

Jeff Cheney made his position VERY clear on what he thought of some members of the LGBTQ+ community last year when he was kind enough to share that we are no longer relevant, and he did not need “our” support. I have struggled with Cheney for a good amount of time, as I don’t think he is a very strong leader, and in my view, he tends to have a preference to work more through manipulation rather than collaboration. I had hoped that Cheney would be a good mayor, but he just isn’t. IMHO, he is the worst mayor who has held that position since I moved here in 1999.

I met with Mark Piland for Frisco a while back and when we spoke, he said all the right things, and while he seemed like a far better candidate than his opponent, over the course of the last month or so, I decided to rethink this. I shared with Piland that in my view, his biggest challenge was going to be the “guilt by association” which is strong in our community and has been for a while. I also said that my focus was going to be on issues that were important to me, rather than the usual (see preamble above). Over the course of the last month or so, many of his supporters tend to be made up of people who are attacking our trans-youth, our teachers, removing more local control from citizens, and other current right-wing extremist views. He hasn’t rejected these ideals, values, or beliefs, and in some cases endorsements, and when you don’t reject them, you accept them. This is the only reason I’m not giving my vote to Piland. You can’t be a candidate that wants to bring change to the rhetoric that is currently going on in our city, and yet surround yourself with groups of people who are responsible for it. Piland is a good guy and if he had not jumped into bed with the people he has chosen to, my choice could have been different.

FRISCO COUNCIL PLACE 5 – UNDERVOTE (i.e. no vote for any candidate)

This one is tougher, as I like Laura Schavrien Rummel, but she has aligned herself with anti-LGBTQ+ members in our community and as I mentioned above, this is a major driving force right now for me given what is happening in our community. Her silence on the issues facing the LGBTQ+ community has been a little disappointing, but understandable given her support base this election. Anwar seems like a nice business guy, but he lacks a great deal of experience, understanding, and knowledge. Another undervote (i.e. no vote) from me.

FRISCO COUNCIL PLACE 6 – UNDERVOTE (i.e. no vote for any candidate)

Brian Livingston for Frisco is running unopposed. So there is absolutely no need to vote for him as he is going to win. Livingston is not a friend of the LGBTQ community in the slightest, but in his defense, he has never hidden this and has still taken the time to meet with members of our community over the years. He doesn’t represent many of the LGBTQ+’s beliefs or values, but he does meet with his constituents. IMO, he has political aspirations to move up, he is building his “team” for the 2026 mayor’s race which will most likely have him on the ballot.

Of course, like I have said every election season, do your own research, figure out who is your best candidate for what you believe in, and remember to vote. Take friends to vote, ask your neighbors to vote, but just vote!

Always fun to get a different version of history presented to you on a hump day. Woke up this morning with a question about my alleged support for one of the candidates in the Frisco runoff election (yes, Virginia THERE IS a runoff election in Frisco).

To be clear, I am not supporting either of the two candidates publicly, but I definitely am doing all that I can privately to help one of them succeed over the other. Side note, from a diversity perspective alone Frisco Council changes regardless of the winner.

It seems that my having a coffee and chat with a city council member is news in Frisco (mind-numbing, I know). Yesterday, I met with Brian Livingston (at his request) at Summer Moon Coffee – Frisco TX (very tasty coffee) for approx. 1 hour.

<WH briefing mode on>

During that meeting, we discussed the following issues:

– health and how we are sometimes our own worst enemies when having to make changes to improve our health (though it is worth noting Brian has done a tremendous job with his goals),

– Frisco Fire Fighters requests of council and candidates and Brian’s support for these,

– The current state of play of the Republican Party locally and at higher levels,

– The lack of civility in local politics, and why that is the case in Frisco (and where it started, and how do we reduce it),

– a brief overview of the current workings of the current city council and its members, future plans and building on the plans that have been in place for decades,

– The city management team and the future of that post George,

– We each learned a little more about each other personally,

– We touched upon the current local city council race and the possible outcomes of that race (though not a focal point of the conversation), and the earlier race (May 1), and the quality of those candidates (and outcome of that race),

– We also touched – even more briefly – on the 2020 Council race.

What we did not discuss, and nor did Brian ask, is who I was supporting (see above).

During our meeting is when Jeff Cheney made his post, and this caused Brian’s phone to “light up” and our meeting ended shortly after that.

I thought the meeting was very cordial. And the coffee was really good.

<WH briefing mode off>

If anyone takes this to mean that I offered my support to either of the candidates during this meeting, this would be incorrect.

(originally posted on Facebook on May 26, 2021)

So today I get an invitation from City Councillor Pat Fallon to attend a fundraising event at his home for Texas GOP Chair Steve Munisteri. For $250 (minimum donation required), I’d get to listen to Mr Munisteri tell me how – among other things – the GLBT community should never be a part of the Texas landscape (remnants of Gov. Perry comments encouraging gay veterans returning from duty to live somewhere else¹). I’d also learn the reasons (I assume) why the Texas GOP wants to ban oral sex, re-criminalize sodomy, and provide government housing (i.e. jail) to anyone who issues a marriage license to a same-sex couple or marries them.

So I declined.

from: James Nunn
to: pat@fallonforfrisco.com
date: Thu, Jul 8, 2010 at 12:40 PM
subject: Re: Dinner with Texas Republican Chairman Steve Munisteri

Pat, I’m going to decline. I’d thank you for the invite, but it was quite offensive given the recent actions by the Texas GOP in relation to the GLBT community, so excuse my lack of appreciation for your gesture. If you were the “friend of the community” as you told many earlier this year (and last year), then you wouldn’t be doing this, or you certainly wouldn’t have offended me (and countless others) by not culling your list before sending this out.

James

Note 1: “Texans have made a decision about marriage, and if there is some other state that has a more lenient view than Texas, then maybe that’s a better place for them to live.” – Gov. Rick Perry, in response to a question about returning gay veterans who might want the right to marry in Texas.

As a neighbor, friend or work colleague, I am invading your inbox for a short moment to remind you that voting for the Frisco City Council Place 4 runoff election started today. Early voting runs through June 8 (no voting on June 6), with the runoff election being held on June 12, 2010. Details on voting locations and hours can be found here.

Another reason for this note is to answer a question that I’ve been asked by some of you: who would I like to see as the new council member for Place 4?

The answer to that question – for me – is simple: Jim Joyner.

I base this on two main factors. The first is based on his experience and secondly, Jim’s vision for Frisco as a vibrant and livable city. Both of these are extremely important to me for the following reasons.

Experience: Jim has previously served on city council, the CDC and other commissions and boards within the city. While I have not applauded every decision that Jim has made in his previous tenure on city council, Jim has always been open to discuss the issues with any citizen of Frisco to hear the different sides of the story. Much of the time, his judgment has been solid and his intentions always true.

Future Direction of the City: For years we had a very strong city council that had a clear vision on where Frisco should be in the future. Through these council members a city was created that became the jewel in Texas as one of the best places to live, work, play and grow (to borrow our city’s old motto). In that vision, Frisco has been a partner with other cities to build a strong regional response to the growing needs of our community and those around us. Jim has proven experience to understand the needs of our community and had the vision to support major initiatives like the Arts of Collin County project. Just as importantly, Jim is a fiscal conservative and also knows when to exercise restraint. A council member is one voice amongst 6 (7 in the case of a tie), and right now we need Jim’s voice on council to maintain a balance amongst those that support the vision that made Frisco what it is today.

Your vote is important, and I hope that you will stand with the many voices that know that a vote for Jim Joyner is a vote for a voice for all the citizens of Frisco.

If you have any questions or comments on my email, please reply to my email or call me at 469-287-8488.

Regards,
James Nunn