Former Dallas City Councilman Dwaine Caraway is in a tough 2017 campaign to replace Councilwoman Carolyn Arnold, the person whom he endorsed to replace himself just two years ago.
"It's my responsibility to come back and correct the mistakes that I put on the citizens of District 4," Caraway said. "Things have gone backwards."
Caraway was forbidden from running for the Dallas City Council District 4 seat again in 2015 after winning it four times.
Arnold did not return repeated message for an interview but has touted her efforts many times recently.
Arnold held a groundbreaking ceremony for new homes in The Bottom neighborhood near the Trinity River on the day Caraway filed to run against her in February.
"We're sick and tired of being sick and tired," Arnold said that day. "My goal is to bring The Bottom up to the top, alright? And we're going to do that with the blessing, the support of the community, community partners."
The most obvious sign of the break in their friendship came when Arnold crashed a September press conference Caraway staged to support the proposed Oak Cliff deck park, which Arnold strongly opposes.
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"We're not concerned about the amenities," Arnold said. "We're concerned about the necessities."
Arnold calls the proposed park over Interstate 35E in front of the Dallas Zoo "wreck park" for the damage she claims it would do to the adjacent 10th Street historic district. Arnold believes the park would lead to gentrification of the neighborhood, making it unaffordable for the people who currently live there. She wants money for the park spent on basic services instead.
"I cannot have my constituents neglected by some vain, vanity project," Arnold said at the time.
Arnold has been extremely vocal at Dallas City Council meetings.
On Jan. 18 she accused other council members of disrespecting her for moving forward with the deck park against her wishes.
"For you to speak on behalf of my constituents is an insult," Arnold said. "It is the greatest form of disrespect that any council member can experience sitting behind the horseshoe."
Caraway said Thursday that Arnold has blocked or failed to support numerous improvements that would have helped her district.
"We're trying to improve Oak Cliff, the Southern Sector and all of the city of Dallas," Caraway said. "We can't just jump up and say no to projects that are positive."
Caraway was no stranger to controversy in his eight years as a Dallas City council member, during which he also briefly served as Dallas mayor.
He championed the plastic grocery bag fee to fight litter, but the fee was eventually repealed in 2015 amid store and customer complaints and a manufacturer lawsuit.
Caraway nearly came to blows on cellphone video at a 2016 gospel radio studio appearance with Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price, who later beat challenger Caraway for reelection to the county post.
"I'm probably a much better city representative and can get things done, with a proved record of getting results," Caraway said.
Early voting is already underway for the May 6 city election.
