CARROLLTON – The City Council election may be over, but the personal attacks and political fallout continue.

The four incumbents who were re-elected Saturday and others involved in the contentious races said they hope the ill feelings can be put aside so they can focus on issues facing the city.

But that may not be possible, given what's happened this week.

Place 7 challenger Charles Thrasher fired off an e-mail on Monday to his opponent, incumbent Herb Weidinger, accusing him of wrongdoing and chastising him for using a gay man as a volunteer in his campaign.

The widely circulated e-mail drew a blistering response from Mayor Becky Miller, who also said she wouldn't be surprised if some board and commission members who supported losing candidates are removed or not reappointed.

The heated campaign grew out of conflicting interpretations of term limits, an issue first raised by Mayor Pro Tem Ron Branson. Some residents formed a political action committee to campaign against three incumbents they said had "termed out."

City Attorney Clayton Hutchins had advised council members that any terms served prior to the 2001 charter election that changed terms from two years to three years didn't count toward term limits.

Mr. Branson and the PAC organizers said that wasn't the intent of voters.

Now word around the community is that returning council members Mr. Weidinger, Tim Hayden and Larry Don Williams may try to oust Mr. Branson from the mayor pro tem seat.

"He's the one that's going to suffer for it," Ms. Miller said. "He's the one that has to work with all of them, and when you work on the City Council, you can't get anything accomplished by yourself. They'll be very hard on him."

The incumbents said they have no plans to vote in a new mayor pro tem but are considering changing the selection process. Currently the position is handed off to the next person who holds the most seniority and has not previously held the position.

"Whether the council becomes a little more contentious now, I don't know. I hope not. We have a lot to do. ... It depends on how Ron approaches everything," Mr. Weidinger said.

Mr. Branson said removing him as mayor pro tem would be "petty."

"Most of our council people said one of the strengths of our council is we are able to disagree, discuss the issues, forget about it and move on. This is their opportunity" to prove that, he said.

E-mail attacks

Meanwhile, Mr. Thrasher continued the volleys this week with his e-mail.

"You were term limited and you did not leave with your integrity," Mr. Thrasher said in an e-mail to Mr. Weidinger on Monday.

He also accused Mr. Weidinger of lying about Mr. Thrasher's record while he was on the City Council in the late 1990s and his involvement in the city since then.

Mr. Thrasher also said a $2,500 campaign donation to Mr. Weidinger's campaign by Bronson Holdings, of which Steve Goodman of Goodman Homes is the officer on record, appeared to be "a fee for services rendered."

During the campaign, some said Mr. Weidinger and other city officials improperly helped Mr. Goodman push a project through the development process and that the donation appeared to be a payback for that.

Mr. Weidinger and city staff denied the accusations. Mr. Goodman did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Mr. Thrasher also referred to a meeting last year involving Mr. Goodman, Mr. Weidinger, Ms. Miller and others.

"I'm not sure who to believe came out of that meeting with checks in hand," Mr. Thrasher said.

He also criticized Mr. Weidinger, a Republican, for allowing a gay political independent to work on his campaign, referring to the man as "Gay Bob."

"You should be ashamed to let that big sissy near your campaign," Mr. Thrasher wrote.

Nonpartisan

Carrollton municipal elections are nonpartisan, but political clubs can endorse candidates.

On Thursday, Mr. Weidinger said, "I'm not going to dignify the e-mail except to say I think Mr. Thrasher embarrassed himself, his family, his church and the entire community."

He said he hopes the name-calling and accusations that marked the campaign settle down.

"I've been shot at so much during this campaign," Mr. Weidinger said. "My bullet holes are just starting to heal."

But Ms. Miller said she felt compelled to write Mr. Thrasher after seeing the e-mail.

Mr. Thrasher said Wednesday that it was a personal letter to Mr. Weidinger, not intended to be read by anyone else, and the comment about Bob McCranie, the person helping on Mr. Weidinger's and several other election campaigns, "probably wasn't appropriate."

He said the "Gay Bob" comment was a way of distinguishing Mr. McCranie from Bob Garza, who unsuccessfully ran against incumbent Pat Malone.

"I shouldn't have done it," he said. "Nothing hateful was meant."

Ms. Miller threatened to file a slander suit against Mr. Thrasher if "the lie about taking an envelope from Steve Goodman" resurfaces.

She also took Mr. Thrasher to task on his other comments.

"This email proves what a nasty hateful man you are, that is why are not able to get elected," Ms. Miller said, adding, "I don't know how you can call yourself a Christian, when all you can do is attack people, and spread lies."

Mr. Thrasher responded to Ms. Miller's message with more criticisms of Mr. Weidinger.

"I know you want him [Mr. Weidinger] in there because he will not stand up to you like I would have if elected," Mr. Thrasher said.

Ms. Miller on Wednesday described Mr. Thrasher as "hateful" and "petty."

As for board and commission members who sided against the incumbents, Ms. Miller said she wouldn't be surprised if the council members who appointed them to those seats remove them.

The incumbents all said this week they have no intention of doing so, but changes may occur when those seats come up for reappointment.

But Ms. Miller said the council appoints board and commission members because they share the same visions and goals.

"They're supposed to be working with you, not against you," Ms. Miller said. "When you speak against them saying they are doing illegal things ... I can't imagine why people think the City Council would keep them on the boards and commissions."

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