Dallas

Indicted Commissioner John Wiley Price Defeats Challenger in Primary

The bitter contest between Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price, top challenger Dwaine Caraway and two other candidates went to the voters Tuesday.

Former Dallas City Councilman Caraway, businessman Micah Phillips and former Balch Springs Mayor Cedric Davis asked voters to replace Price, who faces a federal bribery trial in September.

Price easily won re-election four years ago despite publicity about the pending corruption investigation.

Two Republicans are also seeking the seat, but the district is heavily Democratic and the primary is considered the big test for Price.

Price supporters believed he would see victory again Tuesday, and the early vote results did indeed give him a margin to avoid a runoff. He arrived at his watch party in the lead and many of his old supporters were still proud to be seen with him.

State Sen. Royce West was there, along with two of Caraway's former city council colleagues.

Price thanked supporters and said they saw beyond gimmicks and recognized his 30-year record in public office.

"It's been an interesting campaign. The national campaigns didn't have anything on what we had in District 3, and unfortunately we had some infusion in this campaign that was not necessary at all," Price said.

That's a reference to the gospel radio station dispute that's still under investigation by Dallas Police Department assault detectives. A Caraway aide sued Price over the incident.

One of the most heated contests on the Dallas County ballot is for the county commissioner’s seat between incumbent John Wiley Price and challenger Dwaine Caraway.

Caraway Concedes Election to Price

Coming into Super Tuesday the Caraway campaign knew it was facing an uphill battle. Price has held the commissioner's court seat for 30 years.

Caraway trailed Price by more than 5,000 votes once early voting results were released, yet his campaign was hopeful they could make a push. By the end of the night, Price maintained his lead and Caraway conceded the race to his political rival.

"I want to take this time to thank all of our supporters and constituents that came out to be supportive of me and my campaign. I want to congratulate John Wiley Price for the victory. I want folks to understand that we will continue to move forward," Caraway said.

With Price facing federal corruption charges, Caraway was asked what a potential arrest would mean for voters.

"That's not for me to decide. The voters have chosen to send him back to commissioner's court to be the Democratic nominee," Caraway said. "Whatever may come and whatever may be in the cards for Mr. Price, that is something the judicial system is going to have to deal with and the commissioner's court."

Despite the bad blood between the competitors, Caraway said he would support Price's campaign in November.

"I'm going to support the Democratic ticket 100-percent," Caraway said.

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