The Dallas Morning News

Nita Thurman Denton Bureau of The Dallas Morning News 

Published: May 3, 1998

 

Voters United sweeps Flower Mound council races; DeLuca new mayor

  

Lori DeLuca, who steered a grass-roots neighborhood watchdog group to political power in this southern Denton County town, was elected mayor Saturday, defeating eight-year council member Pat Moore. Ms. DeLuca, founder of Voters United to Preserve Flower Mound, drew 57.7 percent of the vote to Ms. Moore's 42.3 percent.

 

Three other candidates endorsed by Voters United won the other three council seats on the ballot, giving the group all six positions on the council.

 

Ms. DeLuca said Saturday's vote was evidence that people in Flower Mound want to stick with the master plan's map to control growth.

 

"We all four won," she said, "and I think we won because people believe in what we believe in. . . . They want to see Flower Mound developed according to the master plan. We have felt like we were beating our heads against the wall trying to get this council to listen."

 

Voters gave that signal last year when they elected three candidates endorsed by Voters United, Ms. DeLuca said. "And they said it in even bigger numbers this year."

 

Ms. Moore declined to speculate on what led to the Voters United victory.

 

"I wish her well," she said Saturday night, speaking over the noise of a crowd at her home. "We're having a party to thank all our supporters for their hard work . . . and maybe now I will have some time on my hands to devote to my family and do a lot of other things I haven't had time to do."

 

Ms. Moore said she prided herself on running a positive campaign in a heated and sometimes bitter race.

Voters United was celebrating at the Circle R Ranch.

 

In Place 2, Tom Cawthon, 36, took 54.7 percent of the vote to defeat Steve Mossman. Mr. Mossman was ousted from a council seat last year by a Voters United candidate. Mr. Cawthon will replace Bob Peffer, who did not seek re-election.

 

Cindy Travis won Place 4, Ms. Moore's former council seat, drawing 59.8 percent of the vote over opponent Tom Thompson.

 

In the Place 3 race, for the remaining year of former council member Rick Randall's term, Ted Baze won with 59.2 percent of the vote. His opponent, Travis Perkins, received 40.8 percent.

 

How long Mr. Baze will hold that seat remains uncertain.

Mr. Randall, who was endorsed by Voters United last year, was removed by the council in January after being convicted of misdemeanor assault for threatening his wife. But he is seeking a judicial ruling that could return him to the council and void the results of Saturday's Place 3 election. He is appealing his municipal court conviction in a Denton County criminal court. The 2nd Appeals Court in Fort Worth also is considering his claim to his council seat.

 

Copyright 1998 The Dallas Morning News Company