DALLAS — Dwaine Caraway's four-month stint as Dallas mayor has been interesting to say the least; some critics might say tumultuous at best.
"It's been a lot of fun," Mayor Caraway said on the eve of turning over the gavel to Mike Rawlings. "It's been something that's put a lot of naysayers to rest, a lot of the negative bloggers, they thought the "D" was going to fall off of Dallas. Instead, it stayed in place, and it was even shined up."
Just look at the outcome of the victory parade for the Dallas Mavericks, who brought home Dallas' first NBA Championship trophy.
"The planning of that parade was just fantastic," Caraway said. "Our citizens and city was in the spotlight. We shined across the world."
Other moments in the spotlight included the release of a police tape involving Caraway and a household confrontation with his wife, State Rep. Barbara Mallory Caraway. The mayor doesn't view that incident as overshadowing his job.
"Some of things that were in the news shouldn't have been in the news, and had it not been for me being a newsmaker, it wouldn't have been reported... probably," Caraway said.
What about that controversy involving Caraway giving controversial NFL quarterback Michael Vick a Key to the City? He maintains the media blew it out of proportion.
"Absolutely, but that's a part of the game," Caraway said. "But that did not stop us from keeping Dallas balanced and from keeping Dallas on the positive in the eyesight of the world."
Caraway said he is looking forward to going back to being the City Council representative for District 4, where he won 90 percent of the vote — proving there is confidence in Caraway working at City Hall.
"One day, who knows what will be on the next horizon for me? Maybe I'll run for mayor, and probably will," Caraway said.
When Mike Rawlings is sworn in as Mayor on Monday, Caraway said he will support him "150 percent." Caraway hopes Rawlings will immediately address education concerns, crime, and the creation of more jobs in the City of Dallas.
E-mail ddenmon@wfaa.com
