Leland Burk, right, via Facebook
Out businessman Leland Burk has filed to replace Dallas Councilwoman Ann Margolin in conservative District 13.
Burk, who founded First Independent Bank and is now a real estate and oil and gas investor, has been endorsed by Margolin and her predecessor Mitchell Rasansky.
Burk’s run marks the first time a viable openly gay candidate has sought office outside of the heavily gay districts in Oak Lawn and Oak Cliff.
District 13 has been redrawn to include all of Preston Hollow, which is in the center of the district. One of the wealthiest and most conservative areas of Dallas, Burk describes himself as a conservative and says his sexual orientation likely won’t be an issue during the campaign.
Jennifer Staubach Gates is the only other candidate who has filed in the race so far.
Between Burk filing in District 13 and Herschel Weisfeld in District 2, it’s likely Dallas could gain an openly gay council member this year. The last time Dallas had a gay member on the council was in 2007, when Ed Oakley resigned from office to run for mayor.
But with the filing deadline only two days away, who knows, we could see even more gay candidates pursue a bid for office.
