Rich Sheridan
Dallas City Council candidate Rich Sheridan is gay-baiting in the District 13 race, where four candidates are vying for the seat including openly gay businessman Leland Burk.
Sheridan says he sent the above email to 50 churches in District 13 and four downtown Dallas congregations. The email was also sent to an extensive list of media contacts. The email asks, “Is Openly Gay Leland Burk’s District 13 City Council Candidacy Part of Dallas GLBT agenda?”
Sheridan describes himself as an “agitator, watchdog, gadfly and rabblerouser,” but says he doesn’t want to be labeled a bigot.
He’s well known at City Hall and County Commissioners Court where he has been removed from chambers by police for refusing to relinquish the microphone.
Leland Burk
His email rants on any variety of topics over the years usually boil down to blaming the Dallas gay agenda with an explanation that he is not homophobic and has a gay best friend, lesbian sister and mother-in-law.
Burk and Jennifer Staubach Gates are the two frontrunners in the race. Gates, the daughter of Cowboys legend Roger Staubach, has said she doesn’t feel Burk’s sexual orientation should be an issue.
One of Dallas’ most conservative districts, District 13 covers all of Preston Hollow and includes the home of President George W. Bush.
