By Bill Zeeble, BJ Austin, KERA reporters
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-705037.mp3
Farmers Branch, Irving TX – Bill Zeeble, KERA reporter: It was a happy evening at Tim O'Hare's victory party. O'Hare wrote the controversial ordinances targeting illegal immigrants. Last night, voters once again backed him. Early votes put him ahead of Gene Bledsoe, with roughly 2 thirds of the vote. A few hours later, the lead was essentially the same.
He's got 63.8 percent to Bledsoe's 36 percent yeay!!!
Zeeble: This small town of 14-thousand voters generated big headlines when O'hare's first ordinance to fine landlords who rented to illegal immigrants was passed by the council. Last year, voters approved a rewritten ordinance that would force renters prove to their legal status. It's still in court. O'hare says that was just part of a bigger plan to improve Farmers Branch.
Tim O'Hare: What we've tried to do is revitalize and re-develop the city . And maintain the best police and fire departments in the metroplex, keep taxes low and address illegal immigration. It's all part of one package. And the residents approved it overwhelmingly last year to address that. We've done so. We're a few years from a final resolution but I'm confident in the end we'll prevail and it'll help our city get better.
Zeeble; Mayor-elect O'Hare says there's a lot more to Farmers Branch than illegal immigration, and he expects a major property development announcement soon. As for the illegal immigration ordinance, he defends it, and says the city will take it all the way to the Supreme Court, if necessary. Bill Zeeble KERA news.