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Updated: Tuesday, Apr. 10, 2001 at 01:50 CDT

Town rallies support from home team

Every time I see frustrated homeowners in greater Northeast Tarrant County fighting a proposed big-box store or bemoaning a developer who clear-cut a piece of land with beautiful old trees, I want to give them Flower Mound Mayor Lori DeLuca's telephone number.

Of all area mayors -- with the possible exception of highly successful Grapevine Mayor William D. Tate, who has presided over the city's amazing renaissance -- DeLuca has had the biggest impact on her community.

She started a political organization in 1996 called Voters United to Preserve Flower Mound, which tries to do what its name says. The group began endorsing candidates sympathetic to homeowners' wishes, and in four years, the group has won every contested election.

Voters United supporters occupy all five seats on the Town Council, and since 1998, DeLuca has served as mayor. Last month, the council passed a master plan that tries to balance homeowner interests with business interests in the town of about 51,300 people.

Compared with the old master plan, however, this new one is, well, decidedly green -- green as in grass and trees, not development money.

Developers squawk, of course, but there isn't a lot they can do about it, especially when Voters United claims a membership of 4,000 residents, many of whom like to vote.

Equipped with simple tools such as email, a fax machine and a bulk mail permit, DeLuca's group attempts to inform and energize voters, mostly through a candidate survey that makes no bones about the group's interests ("Would you accept any campaign contributions from developers and builders?").

Saturday night, I attended the political organization's fourth annual convention at Circle R Ranch for a glimpse of the workings of this unique confederation.

The speakers included two of the biggest names in Denton County -- County Judge Scott Armey and Lewisville schools Superintendent Clayton Downing -- who gave overviews of government doings to almost 200 people.

Other attendees included a county commissioner, a district judge, a justice of the peace, a constable, a criminal court judge and several school board members. Yet Voters United is strictly local and does not endorse candidates in other races. That doesn't stop the name players from showing their respect -- that's the only way to describe it -- for this homeowners political machine.

"I'm wearing my colors," Armey told DeLuca with a big smile when he greeted her. Armey sported a bright yellow T-shirt with the Voters United name.

"That's awesome," DeLuca replied. "Where'd you get it?"

"Saved it from last year," Armey said.

I asked Armey whether he supported Voters United candidates.

"Not necessarily," answered Denton County's top elected official. "I've worked closely with Mayor DeLuca and Voters United. I try to be an advocate and a resource for every one of our cities."

In the audience, residents such as Nelson and Judy Ringmacher, who moved to Flower Mound three years ago from Round Rock, were eating barbecue and enjoying the speeches.

"We like the idea that the homeowners have a real say in the community, and it's not controlled by the business interests as other communities are," Nelson said. "It's just a big homeowners association. That's how I look at it."

Judy Ringmacher complained that Round Rock was once a beautiful town before it became "Dell City." She said she wanted to prevent Flower Mound from being "left to the developers."

A silent auction offered 250 items from computers to oil changes, which were donated by supporters and area businesses. The money raised -- last year's total was $10,000 -- will pay for a mailing of the candidate survey to every household.

Actually, it's not much of a survey, because the two candidates running for Town Council who are not supported by Voters United did not answer.

"No, I didn't know that a requirement to run was to answer a survey of theirs," candidate Chrisy Long told me by telephone the next day. "I would be more than happy to address issues in a public forum, but I don't think giving a one-word answer to any of their questions would do it any justice."

Long works part time for an insurance company that belongs to the Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce, obviously a collection of business interests not enamored with the direction Flower Mound has taken.

"I'm not necessarily opposed to Voters United," she said. "From what I've seen, we're both trying to preserve Flower Mound." She is running because "I have noticed there is a lack of diverse representation on the current Town Council."

Long said she did not attend the convention because she had a prior commitment. She and another candidate opposing Voters United -- Roger P. Whitney, who did not return a phone call seeking comment -- will have a fund-raiser Saturday night.

The Voters United assembly, however, felt more like a band booster club meeting than a political gathering.

Maybe that's because the type of people who usually attend band booster club events were in attendance. It wasn't the usual political crowd, and that's the key to Voters United's success.

Dave Lieber's column appears Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays.

(817) 685-3830
www.star-telegram.com/dave
dlieber@star-telegram.com

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Pol. Adv. Voters United to Preserve Flower Mound, Vicki Fulfer Treasurer
P.O. Box 270477 Flower Mound, TX 75027