The race for Dallas City Council District 11 hasn’t received nearly as much attention as some of other contests in Saturday’s election. The area straddles what’s considered North Dallas and Far North Dallas.
One one side is Lee Kleinman, the COO of an Allen-based company called Bridge Metrics, which offers digital sales and marketing tools. On the other is Ori Raphael, a partner in Fresh Loc, which monitors temperatures in hospitals via “the cloud.”
Kleinman, 54, says he’s interested in a City Council seat as a capstone to his public service — as opposed to his 29-year-old opponent.
“I’m not here launching a career. I’m finishing a career,” Kleinman said. “I’m in a very good stage of life.”
Raphael sees that stage as something voters should be wary of.
“My opponent likes to say he’s at the end of his career; he has nothing to lose. Well, then that means he couldn’t care less what the taxpayers think,” Raphael said.
Kleinman’s got the endorsements of the establishment, including outgoing councilwoman Linda Koop and previous councilwoman Lois Finkelman, but does that guarantee a win over Raphael?
LEE KLEINMAN
His pitch: “I’m all about big vision, and I’ve got the background to execute it.”
Bike friendliness? He’s touted the Dallas Bike Plan as a necessary expense to improve the city’s quality of life.
Prior experience: Appointed to the Park and Recreation Board by Linda Koop, who is vacating her seat on the City Council because of term limits.
ORI RAPHAEL
His pitch: “I’m running to represent the taxpayers and voters and residents of District 11, to make sure our money is being spent on the things we need it to be spent on.”
Bike friendliness? He has suggested funding for trails could be cut to help finance everything from police patrols and library hours to his signature issue: streets and alleys.
Prior experience: Three years as an outreach coordinator in the Dallas office of Congressman Pete Sessions
