Ballots Cast to See Who Will Replace Wright

DALLAS — Ft. Worth-area voters went to the polls Saturday to choose a replacement for former House Speaker Jim Wright, who left Congress in June after being charged with ethics violations.

None of the four Democrats, three Republicans and one Libertarian were given much chance of winning the more than 50% of the vote necessary to avoid a runoff.

At the American Legion post where Wright and his wife, Betty, cast ballots, there was a steady stream of voters.

Turnout was expected to play a large part in the election because few issues divided the candidates, and many residents remained angry that they had to vote for anyone other than the popular Wright.

Voter turnout also was expected to affect an emotionally charged referendum on reorganizing Dallas City Council districts to equalize voting power between whites and minorities.

In the congressional race, a recent poll showed Republican Dr. Bob Lanier, host of the nationally syndicated television health show “60 Second Housecall,” and Democrat Pete Geren, a Ft. Worth lawyer and former aide to Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D-Tex.), to be front-runners. Each candidate had his party’s endorsement.

In Dallas, the reorganization proposal called for expanding the City Council from 11 members to 15, with 10 elected from single-member districts, four elected from overlapping “super districts” and the mayor elected citywide. Currently, eight council members are elected from single-member districts and three--including the mayor--are elected at large.

Proponents said the plan would give minorities a greater voice in city government. Opponents said it would dilute minority voting power.