Dallas mayoral candidate Darrell Jordan says he did not plagiarize when lifting, verbatim or nearly verbatim, entire sections of other people's documents in crafting "The Darrell Jordan Accountability Pledge & Plan of Action to Reduce Crime" and "The Darrell Jordan Crime Reduction Plan."

"If there are similarities, there are similarities. Darrell looks at other ideas where people have been successful," said Jack Klaus , Mr. Jordan's campaign manager. "Just because you like a good idea that's out there doesn't make it plagiarism. If it's a good idea, it's a good idea."

Former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez, R-Colo., who wrote an accountability pledge last year that's nearly identical to the pledge Mr. Jordan released this year, doesn't quite agree.

"Mr. Jordan's accountability pledge bears a remarkably strong resemblance to the accountability pledge I put forward last fall. You know what they say – imitation is the highest form of flattery," Mr. Beauprez wrote in an e-mail.

In his crime reduction document, Mr. Jordan also used numerous passages from a report written last year by Kansas City's Commission on Violent Crime. In both instances, Mr. Jordan, a lawyer and 1995 mayoral election runner-up, did not credit or cite the original authors.

Dave Levinthal

Nearly 400 people gathered at the Belo Mansion last week to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Dallas Democratic Forum.

Former Vice President Walter Mondale was the keynote speaker.

He told The Dallas Morning News that he was excited about the presidential race, though he remained undecided.

"I'm watching things for a while," he said. "But people will have to make a decision early. This race could be over before the gun goes off."

Almost every major Democrat in town attended the event. A special award was given to longtime Democrat and political donor Jess Hay.

Said one Democrat, "We were divided, and Jess Hay threw a blanket over us."

Gromer Jeffers Jr.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson was in Dallas on Sunday for a fundraiser sponsored by former state Rep. Domingo Garcia and Dallas lawyer Adelfa Callejo. He was calling in markers from 2003. That year, Texas Senate Democrats stalled a GOP redistricting proposal by escaping to Albuquerque.

"I took good care of them," Mr. Richardson said. "Now it's time for them to take care of me."

Gromer Jeffers Jr.

Dallas City Council member Angela Hunt wants voters to decide in November whether to move the toll road proposed for the Trinity River project.

Longtime adversaries Laura Miller and Ron Kirk oppose Ms. Hunt's efforts.

"I had to do something to bring Ron and Laura together," Ms. Hunt said.

Gromer Jeffers Jr.