Slow Out the Gate

But others say that Hill's council endorsements are meaningless. Fantroy is seriously ill; Reese has tuned out of local politics; and Chaney doesn't have any type of coattails. Other than an endorsement from state Senator Royce West, Hill doesn't have the top-shelf black politicos on his side.

Interestingly, the candidate who has the machinery to run well in the south is a white guy from North Dallas, former Mayor Pro Tem Max Wells. Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price, one of the most powerful black politicians in North Texas, has endorsed Wells. In addition, Price's longtime sidekick Kathy Neely is working as a political consultant for Wells. Like Johnson did for Leppert, Neely has introduced black voters to Wells, having organized at least five town hall meetings where people could talk to her candidate.

Leppert has also garnered key support in the southern sector. The Reverend Frederick Haynes, who is the pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church off Interstate 20, has endorsed Leppert. Haynes, whose church has 8,800 parishioners, was credited for helping turn out the black vote for the Democrats in their November sweep of every county-wide race.

The question is whether these endorsements matter. Or maybe that's not the question at all.

"It tickles me that many people are making a big deal that so many black people are in different camps," says Willis Johnson. "I think that's great. Why not be in every camp? Are all white people voting for Tom Leppert? Absolutely not."