Posted on Mon, May. 07, 2007

Immigration vote has two sides racing
By PATRICK McGEE
Star-Telegram staff writer

Opponents of Farmers Branch's actions against illegal immigration get out the vote at Cuquitas Restaurant on Saturday afternoon. They called residents to remind them to vote and car-pooled voters to City Hall to cast their ballots.

FARMERS BRANCH -- Political activists are hustling to get out the vote as a high-profile municipal election approaches on how to deal with illegal immigration.

On Saturday's ballot are two City Council seats and an up-or-down vote on an ordinance that would ban people from renting apartments in Farmers Branch if they cannot show proof of citizenship or legal residency.

Two candidates strongly support the council's stand against illegal immigration, and three oppose it. Residents and outside groups have divided into two intensely busy armies laboring to get like-minded voters to the polls.

The council voted 5-0 in November to make English the city's official language and to have a police officer trained to coordinate with federal officials on the enforcement of immigration laws. The council also voted unanimously to ban illegal immigrants from renting apartments in the city.

The moves drew the attention of immigration activists and have attracted four lawsuits. The council has since tweaked the rental ban and put off its implementation unless voters approve it.

Political action committees on both sides were born. Their coffers swelled by thousands of dollars. Their leaders pledged victory at the ballot box.

Both sides say they've planted hundreds of campaign signs, stuffed envelopes, worked the phones and walked many blocks going door to door to talk to residents.

For the ordinance

In early voting, the number of ballots cast has already more than doubled the total of the last election. Supporters of Ordinance 2903, the only referendum on the ballot, said they're hopeful but are pushing forward as if they do not have a vote to spare.

"I am working as if I am well behind, but I am encouraged by the size of the turnout," said Tim Scott, a candidate for Place 1. "I am cautiously optimistic." He faces Jose Galvez and Berry Grubbs, both of whom oppose the ordinance.

Robin Bernier, treasurer of Support Farmers Branch, which is pushing for the ordinance's passage, takes the same approach.

"I know we're going to win, but we can't relax," she said.

Her group has raised $6,185.

Frank Mages thinks voters will approve the measure in a landslide that will reverberate beyond the city.

As the owner of a plumbing company, Mages goes to many Farmers Branch homes, and says he constantly hears support for the ordinance. He thinks it will pass and snowball into something stronger.

"I think 2903 will become House Bill 2903. I think it should start here," he said. "We should give an example."

Against the ordinance

Opponents were a little more guarded in predicting victory; some foresee outright defeat.

"I don't think we're going to win the 2903," resident Rick Lyon said.

Lyon has spoken out against the ban at council meetings. But after talking to many other residents, he says he believes he's in the minority.

Candidate Tony Salerno, another opponent of the ban, is a bit more optimistic. "We definitely made up some ground," he said. "I think we started behind. I think it's going to be a close election; I just think we need to have a good turnout."

Salerno is running for Place 4 against David Koch, who supports the ordinance.

Activist Paul Heller also said his side spotted the other a head start. "We started from a point that was way down and now I think we're competitive, so I'm hopefully optimistic," Heller said.

Christopher McGuire said he "got all kinds of hell" from activists on his side after he told the media that he thought his side would lose 2-to-1.

But there's still room for hope, said Travis Carter, treasurer of Let the Voters Decide, which opposes the ordinance.

"We're optimistic that if the people who are opposed to this ordinance will get to the polls, we will win," he said.

Carter is the president of Carter Public Relations, which was hired by Bickel & Brewer, a law firm that has filed two of the four lawsuits against Farmers Branch. The two Dallas businesses ran a successful petition drive to put the ordinance on the ballot. The law firm gave $40,000 to Let the Voters Decide, according to campaign reports. Carter Public Relations donated $2,500 and later made a $9,258.46 no-interest loan.

Patrick McGee, 817-685-3806
pmcgee@star-telegram.com

http://www.star-telegram.com/189/story/93592.html