‘I'm Happy to Write a Check' If You Drop Out, Dallas County Commissioner Candidate Told Opponent in Taped Call

On a Tuesday afternoon in October, J.J. Koch called Stephen Stanley with an offer he thought Stanley couldn't refuse: Drop out of the Dallas County commissioner's race, and I'll pay your campaign debt. Stanley didn't go for it. Instead, he went public.Stanley, a former Garland council member, recorded the conversation and released the tape Thursday at a news conference. His allegation that Koch attempted to bribe him has rocked an otherwise quiet race for the Republican-leaning northern Dallas County seat.  Continue reading...