There’s more to it, of course. Moncrief is physically imposing — he’s well over 6 feet tall and works out with a personal trainer three times a week. He makes quite an entrance into a room, trailed by aides and security guards. His glare is famous.
That has served him well on some issues — the city’s bond elections have passed overwhelmingly despite protests about spending on the Trinity River Vision project. When plans for the Southwest Parkway were threatened because of a dispute over right of way in the Union Pacific rail yard, Moncrief personally negotiated with railroad President Jim Young
Moncrief also organized a coalition of nonprofit groups, government agencies and volunteers who drew up a long-term plan to combat homelessness.
Moncrief has also drawn some bad reviews for both his style and his tight control over public meetings.
When the city appointed a task force to write its gas drilling ordinance, Moncrief named the chairman. When Jeff Halstead was hired as police chief, Moncrief personally pinned Halstead’s badge on his chest. That didn’t happen when the last two chiefs were hired.
Moncrief shut down a speaker during a council meeting in March, when more than 100 people packed City Hall for a vote on drilling at Greenwood Cemetery. Speakers are supposed to stick to the topic and can’t attack individuals.
Billy Bradbury, a frequent speaker on gas drilling, started talking about "dirty drillers." Moncrief switched off the microphones and made it sound as if he would cut off any other speakers if Bradbury continued.
Moncrief has other levers, too. He has worked behind the scenes to get friendly faces on council committees, and he took away a ceremonial title from the late Councilman Chuck Silcox. W.B. "Zim" Zimmerman, who’s running for Silcox’s spot, said Moncrief "bullied" council members.
Moncrief shakes off the criticism.
Gas drilling
One thing that has changed since the last time the candidates tangled is the slate of issues. The Barnett Shale gas boom was under way in 2007, but it reached a fever pitch in 2008, prompting debates about how the city should regulate drilling sites, pipelines and other issues.
Gas drilling is "probably one of the toughest challenges I’ve had since taking this job," Moncrief said.
Picht and McBee both say Moncrief’s involvement in the oil and gas business has made him blind to the problems the industry has caused in neighborhoods.
Moncrief’s family has been in the oil business for three generations, and he has business deals with 56 oil and gas companies, earning a minimum of $628,000 in 2008. He said he has no interests in any wells in Tarrant County, although he has business relationships with most of the big players in the Barnett Shale.
"I think my knowledge of the oil and gas business has probably been more helpful than harmful," he said.
Transit
Two years ago, the city was grappling with a backlog of street construction and trying to get the Legislature to pass a funding bill for mass-transit service in North Texas. As the election approaches, the city is still trying to get the Legislature to act on mass transit, and the street backlog is still there — perhaps worse.
"If we’re attending to these issues, how is it we’re $1 billion behind on neighborhood streets and arterials, and it’s doubled since Mayor Moncrief has been in office?" McBee said.
Picht said Moncrief has focused too much on downtown development and the Trinity River Vision project instead of listening to the concerns of neighborhoods.
"Every time we had a substantial increase in revenue, we spent it on something else," Picht said.
Picht wants to see power in the city decentralized — not only by opening satellite offices in suburban areas but also by creating council seats in those areas.
Moncrief said the downtown projects broaden the tax base. "It benefits the people out in the neighborhoods by bringing people to those hotel rooms," which produce sales taxes, he said.
Meanwhile, the city has spent $315 million on streets in the last two years — $150 million in certificates of obligation, $150 million in a 2008 bond election and $15 million in revenue from gas drilling on city property. But Fort Worth’s population has grown by 28 percent since 2000, and its road network hasn’t caught up. And construction costs rose so fast during the last five years that the city’s buying power deteriorated.
With early voting just over a week away, Moncrief said he’s planning to attend one forum, although the exact timing hasn’t been determined. He’s also sitting on about $185,000 in campaign contributions, compared with $12,000 for McBee and $4,000 for Picht.
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