For the first time, Dallas has a viable openly gay candidate for City Council outside of heavily gay districts in Oak Lawn and Oak Cliff.
Leland Burk, 50, who founded First Independent Bank and is now a real estate and oil and gas investor, is running for City Council District 13.
Burk lives with his partner of seven years and has three children — twins in college and a high school junior still at home.
After District 13 incumbent Ann Margolin and her predecessor Mitchell Rasansky approached him to run, Burk said he discussed it with his family.
“My kids are so well adjusted, which played into my being able to devote the time,” he said. “And family comes first.”
Margolin, who is stepping down after four years on the council, called Burk smart and dedicated.
“And Mitchell [Rasansky] was very eager to see him on the council,” she said.
via Gay candidate to run in 1 of Dallas’ most conservative districts.
THE LOWE DOWN 