Dallas City Council member Chad West has canceled a political fundraiser hosted by developer Ray Washburne amid questions about a potential conflict tied to Washburne’s push to relocate City Hall.
The move came after The Dallas Morning News contacted West about the event, considering Washburne’s recent proposal to move City Hall and repurpose its prime downtown site, including for a possible arena.
West, whose district covers parts of Oak Cliff, chairs the City Council’s finance committee, which is weighing what comes next for the building. He also leads the city’s ad hoc committee focused on recruiting and retaining pro sports teams.
Washburne has proposed moving City Hall into a seven-story, 300,000-square-foot office building near the Omni Hotel and Pioneer Park, with a new council chamber built in front of the historic Founders Square site that he owns.
Political Points
Ray Washburne, owner of Highland Park Village and Mi Cocina, poses for a portrait at the Mi Cocina Restaurant in Highland Park Village in Dallas, Texas on Aug. 14, 2024.
Azul Sordo / Special Contributor
City Hall options
The city has invited outside groups to submit ideas as part of its broader review of City Hall’s condition and future options. West said Monday council members had not yet been told who submitted proposals and were expected to receive more details during a February council committee meeting.
The fundraiser had been scheduled for Monday but was postponed because of the winter storm.
Supporters of the I.M. Pei-designed city structure raised questions about the overlap between the redevelopment proposal and the campaign event. Some preservation advocates shared with reporters the flyer promoting the fundraiser at a suite in Highland Park Village, owned by a Washburne-led partnership’s suite.
Reached by phone late Monday, West said he initially did not believe there was a conflict, adding he was not aware of any pending zoning requests, tax abatements or city contracts tied to Washburne.
“So if he had something pending for the city, then he would not be able to be hosting for me,” he said.
But by Tuesday, West said Washburne’s newly surfaced plan changed the situation.
“Given Ray’s new proposal, I see it necessary to cancel the fundraiser,” West said.
Washburne said Tuesday the fundraiser was planned last fall “before there was any talk about City Hall or the arena so it’s better just to cancel.”
Donors in the mix
Fliers for West’s fundraiser went out early January, and other influential developers such as Jack Matthews and Carl Anderson were co-hosts. Matthews is leading the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center rebuild and has properties spread close to the southern half of downtown Dallas.
West said Washburne had done events for him every campaign cycle, and the latest was aimed at replenishing his office holder account. He said he did not have a fundraising goal.
“I’m not fundraising for any different office,” he said.
West, who is serving his last term, said he’s used his officeholder funds for supporting local events, such as the Oak Cliff Skatepark, Mardi Gras parade and local sporting events that are not covered by taxpayer funds.
The use of officeholder funds has come up recently at City Hall at an ad hoc administrative affairs committee.
City Secretary Bilierae Johnson said the city doesn’t track officeholder accounts, as they are optional. A Texas Ethics Commission guide says an officeholder may accept both campaign and officeholder contributions, and both are considered “political contributions.”
In filings, candidates do not have to distinguish between campaign expenditures and officeholder expenditures.