At the Flower Mound Town Council meeting on Dec. 21, Don McDaniel made an unofficial announcement of his intention to be a candidate for the council next May, while he was speaking about the investigation into the charges of an ethics violation by Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Itamar Gelbman.
McDaniel ran for Town Council Place 3 in May, but lost to Kevin Bryant.
During his speech requesting Gelbman to resign his council seat, he revealed what might have motivated him to take the step to run again for council.
“I was advised I should stay ‘above the fray,’ if I intended to run this coming May,” he said. “And that’s part of what’s wrong with politics in our Republic, at all levels.”
McDaniel also addressed Bryant directly, saying he has changed his mind about him.
“Kevin, I’m sure I spoke with Mr. Gelbman regarding what I perceived as your lack of experience; it was a campaign and should come as no surprise to anyone,” he said, “I stand behind anything I say privately or in public.
“In the last few months, you and I have become friends and we’ve developed a mutual trust and respect. You’ve proven to be an honorable and respected councilman.”
McDaniel is currently in his third term on the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission. He also served two terms on the Transportation Commission and aided in setting new standards for school crossing guards.
Recently, he supported the successful “Save the Cabin” campaign and was elected to the Flower Mound Foundation Board.
He has also held board positions for both the Wellington Elementary and McKamy Middle School PTAs, including being a representative on the LISD Council of PTAs Board of Directors and the LISD Bond Oversight Committee.
In May 2016, the scheduled council seats up for election will be: Mayor, now held by Tom Hayden; Place 2, held by Bryan Webb; and, Place 4, held now by Steve Dixon. None of those council members have issued any comments about their intentions to run again for office.
In addition, Place 1 will be open. Former council member Mark Wise currently holds the position, but has stated he will not be a candidate for council in May.
Wise was selected by the council to fill Place 1 following the resignation by Brian Rountree on Oct. 20.
Charges of an Ethics Ordinance were also brought against Rountree, but he chose to resign from council prior to the issuing of a subpoena for his testimony under oath to independent investigator Ross Foster.
The key timeline dates for the Town Council election on May 7 are: first day to file officially is Jan. 20; the last day to file is Feb. 19; and, the first day of early voting is April 25.
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