Marvin Crenshaw Sues Mayor Tom Leppert

I’m going to try really hard to type this with a straight face. I’m not going to be snarky or mean. It’s the holidays. Goodwill toward all men and so forth.

But so anyway, Marvin Crenshaw, one of the original plaintiffs in the landmark 14-1 voting rights case, apparently needs to spend some time with Ben Roethlisberger on the sideline. Crenshaw, it seems, has suffered a head injury and ought to sit out for a few plays. Because he is suing Mayor Tom Leppert. In a suit filed on November 19, Crenshaw says:

ln his zest to be the first strong arm dictator Mayor of Dallas Texas in the 21st Century and to be the chief flunky for the Dallas Citizens Council, “TL” violated the City Charter, corrupted the City Council, intimidated the City Manager and staff, stole from the budget, lied and betrayed the citizens of Dallas, Texas.

There’s more. You can read it for yourself. It seems to center on that Christmas party in 2007, the one the mayor held with some of the city staff and some councilmembers at Ross Perot Jr.’s pad. Also, there’s a matter involving a city construction deal with Turner Construction, Leppert’s former employer. I’m no lawyer. Maybe that’s why I’m having trouble figuring this whole thing out. Crenshaw seeks injunctive relief. And $75,000.

(I’m sorry for the Roethlisberger joke. I tried. I promise.)

3 comments

  1. Is Marvin Crenshaw related to Sandra Crenshaw? They seem to be drinking the same cactus juice, or whatever it is that makes one crazy.

    @ 2:41 pm on December 4, 2009
  2. Typical of Dallas politics; Crenshaw has lost all touch with reality and ought to be on lithium (or even something stronger). That being said, does anyone really doubt that Mayor Tom has used his time at the helm to advance his own agenda? As a true “constructionist”, he seems to believe the city’s problems can be solved by building; a city owned hotel, a few bridges and a doomed to fail tollway. The real issue is the impact his thinking is having on communities; the failing records of street repairs, the reductions in senior and recreation services in underserved areas.
    Am I the only one who thought the position as mayor would be a quick springboard to another eleceted office?

    @ 11:05 am on December 6, 2009
  3. Tim, in reference to Leppert’s party at Ross Perot Jr.’s pad, you understand that when you say “some of the city staff” were present, you’re talking about every single upper-level employee, right?

    City Manager Mary Suhm
    City Secretary Deborah Watkins
    City Attorney Tom Perkins
    City Financial Officer David Cook
    City Auditor Craig Kinton
    First Assistant City Manager Ryan Evans
    Assistant City Manager David Brown
    Assistant City Manager A.C. Gonzalez
    Assistant City Manager Jill Jordan
    Assistant City Manager Ramon Miguez
    Mayoral Chief of Staff Chris Heinbaugh
    Mayoral Deputy Chief of Staff Paula Blackmon

    And, sure, “some” councilmembers were at the party, too. If by some, you mean twelve of fourteen.

    Mayor Pro Tem Elba Garcia
    Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway
    Jerry Allen
    Tennell Atkins
    Carolyn Davis
    Vonciel Jones Hill
    Sheffie Kadane
    Linda Koop
    Pauline Medrano
    Ron Natinsky
    Steve Salazar
    David Neumann

    Only Hunt and Rasansky did not attend the soiree.

    @ 1:21 pm on December 7, 2009

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