Brookhaven Courier

Issue date: 4/2/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Chris Vivero Farmers Branch City Council hopefuls discuss immigration among other issues.

Brookhaven College was host to a debate between candidates running for two positions on the Farmers Branch City Council.

A dispute between a couple of attendees over immigration policies represented the political air of the discussion.

The panel of candidates included Jose Galvez, Berry Grubbs, David Koch, Tony Salerno, and Tim Scott.

Galvez, who has been involved in the community for 15 years, is the first Hispanic to run for office.

The candidates began by saying what, if elected, mattered most to them to work on in Farmers Branch.

Galvez's goals included helping the Hispanic community unite and increasing revenue.

All candidates seem to be interested in increasing revenue, working on affordable housing and improving the standard of living in Farmers Branch.

Koch said he wishes to implement an English immersion program rather than English as a second language. Many people disliked this idea.

Galvez said recent enforcement of making English the official language in Farmers Branch was not necessary.

Scott mentioned his desire to help senior citizens find homes and to put a cap on their taxes so they can afford to stay in them. The other candidates seconded this idea. As the panel mentioned the areas important to them, immigration was not discussed until the microphone was opened for questions. Immigration policies of Farmers Branch immediately dominated the discussion.

Questions regarding this issue were brought from both opposing and supporting arguments of ordinance no. 2903. This ordinance, if passed, will affect the illegal immigrant population.

Galvez and Salerno were the only two who disagreed with the ordinance and planned to vote against it.

"This ordinance is not only wrong but it is racism," Galvez said.

Salerno said there were other important issues at hand, and if elected he would work with the Hispanic population.

Many of the attendees were passionate about this topic on both sides. Two disagreed enough to point fingers at one another and exchange "shame on you," comments. This heated issue showed candidates' opinions.

A listener heckled Scott and called him a racist, which he denied.

Overall, even though the discussion was empowered by immigration issues, the candidates each had something different to bring to the foreground in this year's elections.

Each candidate encouraged Brookhaven students who are Farmers Branch residents to vote May 12 and to volunteer for political campaigning.

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