A friend of the show forward a letter from Mayor Mike rawlings youth glove dispatched a few weeks ago to A few days ago Michael Lindenberger asked Mayor Mike Rawlings for his thoughts on the Trinity River toll road Mayor Mike Rawlings declined this week to explain where he stands on the Trinity River toll road. He said he'll do so as part of the "public participation process" associated with the public hearing scheduled May 8. Rawlings wrote this afternoon to explain why he wasn't going to sit down and discuss his thoughts on the road with me next week, as we had anticipated. Michael, thank you for your thoughtful questions; they each individually make a point but I feel it is important for the citizens of Dallas that I speak in a complete fashion on the Trinity River. I plan to discuss my position as part of the public participation process on this project. Moving forward, we must always strive to construct this project in a fashion that maximizes the true potential beauty that the Trinity River brings to our city as well as the open space it provides. But we also have a transportation problem in the core of our city that must be addressed too. These two items must be intertwined with one another and work hand-in-glove. The impact the Trinity River Project has on my GrowSouth initiative is tremendous because it has the potential to unite the city; currently sub-optimal highway systems divide it. It is an issue we must deal with. And finally I want to honor the decisions the citizens and City Council of Dallas have made, but at the same time, it is my obligation to examine and optimize every aspect of this project. We must come to a place where we can align. If you are using Internet Explorer 8, make sure InPrivate Filtering is turned off and InPrivate Filtering data has been cleared. To turn off InPrivate Filtering go to Tools / InPrivate Filtering Settings, select the "off" button and click "OK". We welcome your thoughts, but for the sake of all readers, please refrain from the use of obscenities, personal attacks or racial slurs. All comments are subject to our terms of service and may be removed. Repeat offenders may lose commenting privileges. Transportation writer Michael Lindenberger, reporter Theodore Kim and editorial writer Rodger Jones cover the subject from tollways to traffic, roads to rail. They invite tips and feedback from decision-makers and commuters alike. The newly-formed Dallas High Schools Alumni Association is hosting a candidate forum for the individuals running to serve on the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees. The forum will be held this Saturday, April 28, from 10 a.m.-noon at the Museum of Biblical Art, 7500 Park Lane at Boedeker. The event is free and open to the public. All of the candidates running to serve on the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees have committed to attend. Welcome remarks will be given by Mike Rawlings. Immediately following the forum, guests are invited to visit the museum free of charge. The mission of the Dallas High Schools Alumni Association is to build a framework that is mutually beneficial to high schools in Dallas and to assess issues that are larger than any one particular campus. If you are using Internet Explorer 8, make sure InPrivate Filtering is turned off and InPrivate Filtering data has been cleared. To turn off InPrivate Filtering go to Tools / InPrivate Filtering Settings, select the "off" button and click "OK". We welcome your thoughts, but for the sake of all readers, please refrain from the use of obscenities, personal attacks or racial slurs. All comments are subject to our terms of service and may be removed. Repeat offenders may lose commenting privileges. Several weeks ago, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings told us he'd be endorsing candidates for the Dallas Independent School District board of trustees. But a few days later he came back and said, well, he'd be endorsing, all right, just not as "Mayor Mike Rawlings," since the city's code of ethics prohibits elected city officials from using their titles when making nods. But, hey, said Rawlings: "I can as a citizen endorse anyone I want.". "These three candidates represent exactly the kind of high-caliber leaders we need on the Dallas ISD school board. Improving our public education system is the most important thing we can do as a community to ensure the vitality of our city in the future. The Board of Trustees has recently been able to pass several progressive reforms that will result in higher educational outcomes for our kids, but we still have a long way to go, and we need courageous leaders that are willing to continue to push the district forward. It's clear to me that Dan, Elizabeth and Trustee Nutall are all focused on doing what is best for our children, and that each of them have the experience and skills necessary to be successful. There are 157,000 students in this city counting on us to get it right. I am confident these three leaders will be a part of fulfilling that promise to our kids.". To which EducateDallas's co-chair, Mark Melton, adds: "Dallas is incredibly fortunate to have community leaders like Mike Rawlings who recognize that every citizen has a role to play when it comes to the success of our public education system.". The whole heads-up follows. Incidentally, EducateDallas is hosting a meet-the-candidates event today at Ocean Prime from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The three candidates receiving the PAC's endorsements will be there; so too the mayo .. pardon, Mr. Rawlings. "I am very grateful for the endorsement by Mike Rawlings. Mike said many times that stronger schools will strengthen our neighborhoods, our economy, our families and our shared future. I couldn't agree more. I pledge to be a consensus builder within the community of students, parents, teachers, administrators and the board. I will help govern Dallas ISD through fiscal responsibility, transparency, public integrity, and accountability. Together we will make sure every student receives a world-class education.". Update at 5:21 p.m.: Trustee Carla Ranger is not pleased with Rawlings's decision to endorse and with his endorsements. Writes Ranger on her blog this afternoon, the mayor is "meddling into the affairs of an 'independent' school district with no authority under state law" by throwing in with Jones, Micciche and Nutall. Speaking of the latter: Ranger also uses the occasion to pick a side in the District 9 race, throwing her support not behind her colleague and frequent sparring partner Bernadette Nutall, but by cautiously getting behind 20-year-old Damarcus Offord. Writes Ranger:. I personally advised Damarcus Offord not to run for the school board. I recommended that he complete his education and enjoy the years of college study. However, he made the decision to run. While Damarcus Offord is a young man, he has the caring heart of a public servant. I believe he will be a servant leader. School Trustees are provided excellent training by the Texas Association of School Boards. All Trustees of any age and regardless of background are required to receive yearly training. And it never ends. If elected, Damarcus Offord will be the youngest school board Trustee in Dallas ISD history. I believe he will be a sincere and independent Trustee of District 9. DALLAS, TEXAS – Mike Rawlings announced plans today to endorse candidates Elizabeth Jones (District 1), Dan Micciche (District 3), and Bernadette Nutall (District 9) for the 2012 Dallas ISD school board elections. "These three candidates represent exactly the kind of high-caliber leaders we need on the Dallas ISD school board," said Rawlings. "Improving our public education system is the most important thing we can do as a community to ensure the vitality of our city in the future. The Board of Trustees has recently been able to pass several progressive reforms that will result in higher educational outcomes for our kids, but we still have a long way to go, and we need courageous leaders that are willing to continue to push the district forward. It's clear to me that Dan, Elizabeth and Trustee Nutall are all focused on doing what is best for our children, and that each of them have the experience and skills necessary to be successful. There are 157,000 students in this city counting on us to get it right. I am confident these three leaders will be a part of fulfilling that promise to our kids.". "Dallas is incredibly fortunate to have community leaders like Mike Rawlings who recognize that every citizen has a role to play when it comes to the success of our public education system," said EducateDallas Co-Chairman Mark Melton. "The community in general, and the diverse communities within it, are demanding a new era of public education based on accountability, transparency and decision-making that puts the interests of kids over those of adults. It will take extraordinary leadership to attain the results that we owe to our city's children, and Mr. Rawlings' invaluable endorsement speaks volumes about the quality of leadership these three candidates embody.". The gravity of this year's school board elections has been evidenced by the large number of important endorsements received among the field of candidates. "There is great interest in these elections, and many organizations, private citizens and public officials are taking courageous stances with regard to school board candidates," said incoming EducateDallas Chairwoman Jill Louis. Candidates Micciche and Jones, as well as Trustee Nutall, have also been endorsed by numerous other organizations and individuals over the last few weeks. "In addition to Rawlings' endorsement, we have also been excited to see such a large consensus of important endorsements coalesce around our three endorsed candidates. It's great to see Dallas rally behind a common cause and support great leadership for our school district," said Louis. If you are using Internet Explorer 8, make sure InPrivate Filtering is turned off and InPrivate Filtering data has been cleared. To turn off InPrivate Filtering go to Tools / InPrivate Filtering Settings, select the "off" button and click "OK". We welcome your thoughts, but for the sake of all readers, please refrain from the use of obscenities, personal attacks or racial slurs. All comments are subject to our terms of service and may be removed. Repeat offenders may lose commenting privileges.