Monty Bennet aims to shape Dallas governance with ballot propositions

Monty Bennet’s push to influence local politics through the Dallas Hero propositions yielded mixed results Tuesday, reflecting a city deeply divided over the proposals’ potential impact.

Bennett, a prominent hotelier and conservative donor, succeeded in securing the necessary votes for two of the three propositions, the Dallas Morning News reported. According to the results, 55 percent of voters approved Proposition S, 50.52 percent backed Proposition U, while Proposition T garnered only 45 percent support.

The propositions, introduced by the Dallas Hero nonprofit, were designed to bring significant changes to the city’s governance and police funding structure.

The nonprofit group, supported by Bennett, and the Dallas County Republican Party, argued the amendments were vital to enhancing public safety and ensuring more accountability in government. However, many elected officials and civic organizations raised alarms about the potential negative impact on city services, with some warning the proposals could lead to severe budget cuts.

Proposition S would allow residents to sue the city if it fails to comply with local or state laws. Proposition U would require the city to allocate 50 percent of any surplus revenue to the police and fire pension system and increase the police force by 900 officers, with pay increases for law enforcement. Proposition T would have mandated an annual survey of at least 1,400 residents to assess the city manager’s performance, with results potentially leading to termination or financial bonuses.

Opponents, including the entire 15-member Dallas City Council; the entire five-member Dallas County Commissioners Court; former Dallas mayors Mike Rawlings, Tom Leppert, Laura Miller, Ron Kirk and Steve Bartlett; and others, argued the three propositions would make it harder for the city to operate efficiently.

They warned that the additional police funding requirements could lead to drastic cuts across other departments, creating strain on resources for essential services. Former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, who joined a coalition of former officials campaigning against the propositions, expressed concerns about the possible unintended consequences.

“That’s what the challenge has been all along, to educate people on the ramifications of these proposals which were not well thought out,” Leppert said. “If it looks like they’re failing, then it means maybe we actually did some education out there after all.”

With two of the three propositions passing, Bennett’s influence on Dallas politics has left a strong mark, aligning the city’s policies closer to his goals of accountability and safety. It also suggests that Dallas Hero may continue shaping local governance.

— Andrew Terrell