Are the McDougals leaving Lubbock politics?
by Jody L. Slaughter
editor and publisher
First, Lubbock mayor Marc McDougal announced that he would not seek Delwin Jones' seat in the Texas House. Then a day later, McDougal's father, Delbert McDougal, announced his retirement from the Lubbock Reese Redevelopment Authority, citing frustration with criticism that he was using his position to line the pockets of his family's real estate business.
The criticisms were not completely unfounded as McDougal Realtors, McDougal Properties and McDougal Construction--the Holy Trinity of Lubbock real estate--have made handsome profits from a number of vast and often controversial development initiatives across the city.
An example is the North Overton Development Initiative which forced dozens of low income families out of their homes to make room for high-priced luxury apartments and ritzy shopping centers. Every aspect of the project from demolition and construction of the new buildings, to leasing and ongoing maintenance was carried out by McDougal companies and their contractors. Delbert, the patriarch of the McDougals' vast real estate empire--and Marc to a lesser extent--have sometimes been criticized for this conflict of interest.
In a statement following his resignation, Delbert stated that he wants to run his business without being 'targeted' by critics. He also expects the rest of his affluent family to follow suit.
"Basically, we're just going to pull back from all those committees and run our own business," he told the Lubbock A-J.
But will the rest of the McDougal clan take his advice?
Earlier this year, when Marc McDougal announced that he would not seek a third term as Lubbock's mayor, many assumed that he would challenge octogenarian Delwin Jones for his seat in the Texas House. On July 11, Marc appointed his brother, Mike McDougal, as campaign treasurer but he now says that he will not seek the House seat. But, as the saying goes, nothing in Texas politics is final until the filing deadline.
It seems as though the McDougal family is at a crossroads. Do they follow the wisdom of their patriarch and focus on doing what they do best--making tons of money in real estate? Or do they seek higher ground in state politics, as the younger generation seems to envision? It's a classic battle of old school versus new school, money versus power. Marc McDougal may just end up being the wild card in the deck of Texas politics this election season.
editor and publisher
First, Lubbock mayor Marc McDougal announced that he would not seek Delwin Jones' seat in the Texas House. Then a day later, McDougal's father, Delbert McDougal, announced his retirement from the Lubbock Reese Redevelopment Authority, citing frustration with criticism that he was using his position to line the pockets of his family's real estate business.
The criticisms were not completely unfounded as McDougal Realtors, McDougal Properties and McDougal Construction--the Holy Trinity of Lubbock real estate--have made handsome profits from a number of vast and often controversial development initiatives across the city.
An example is the North Overton Development Initiative which forced dozens of low income families out of their homes to make room for high-priced luxury apartments and ritzy shopping centers. Every aspect of the project from demolition and construction of the new buildings, to leasing and ongoing maintenance was carried out by McDougal companies and their contractors. Delbert, the patriarch of the McDougals' vast real estate empire--and Marc to a lesser extent--have sometimes been criticized for this conflict of interest.
In a statement following his resignation, Delbert stated that he wants to run his business without being 'targeted' by critics. He also expects the rest of his affluent family to follow suit.
"Basically, we're just going to pull back from all those committees and run our own business," he told the Lubbock A-J.
But will the rest of the McDougal clan take his advice?
Earlier this year, when Marc McDougal announced that he would not seek a third term as Lubbock's mayor, many assumed that he would challenge octogenarian Delwin Jones for his seat in the Texas House. On July 11, Marc appointed his brother, Mike McDougal, as campaign treasurer but he now says that he will not seek the House seat. But, as the saying goes, nothing in Texas politics is final until the filing deadline.
It seems as though the McDougal family is at a crossroads. Do they follow the wisdom of their patriarch and focus on doing what they do best--making tons of money in real estate? Or do they seek higher ground in state politics, as the younger generation seems to envision? It's a classic battle of old school versus new school, money versus power. Marc McDougal may just end up being the wild card in the deck of Texas politics this election season.
posted by Jody L. Slaughter at 11:53 PM
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