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Financial planner seeks Dunlap's spot on council
By Kelley Chambers, kchambers@starlocalnews.com, @KelleyChambers7 on Twitter
Three days after Plano Mayor Phil Dyer announced he would not be seeking re-election and former city councilman Harry LaRosiliere claimed his intent to run for mayor, another prominent community figure has thrown his hat into next year's election for a spot on the council.
Former planning and zoning commissioner David Downs announced on Friday his plans to run for Place 8, a spot currently held by Lee Dunlap. Dunlap has held the spot for two terms and will be ineligible for re-election due to term limits.
"I actually considered it about two years ago, but the city changed its terms and so that pushed things back a little," Downs said.
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| David Downs |
"Certainly, service to the city has taught me a lot," Downs said. "I understand how it operates and how all the different segments play."
In May, when Downs was presented with the Plano Chamber of Commerce's Distinguished Leadership Award for these and past contributions made for the betterment of Plano, Mayor Phil Dyer said Downs' record of community service is "truly extraordinary."
Downs said he hopes to bring a sense of progress to Plano through neighborhood revitalization efforts, as it continues to transition into a metropolitan city.
As the city gets older, it will be more important to attract younger buyers to existing neighborhoods, especially considering the fact that Plano is built out residentially, he said.
"I moved to the city in '72 and I've seen it change a lot over the years. Plano is a very diverse city these days," Downs said. "A lot of people don't like change. I'm very familiar with change, I've moved around lot in my life and it's going to happen, but the best way to deal with it is to control it."
The first day a candidate may apply for a spot on the ballot is Jan. 1. Candidates have until March 1 to file for the May 11 election, which includes races for mayor (Place 6), as well as Places 2, 4 and 8.
If elected, Downs said he also hopes to find ways for the council to work closer with the city's chamber of commerce, the school district and other community organizations in order to make Plano "the best it can be."
"I think we've got a great council," he said. "If you look at the remaining members of the council, I think their heart is in Plano, and I can't wait to be a part of that group."
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