When Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price berated Commissioner Elba Garcia at a budget workshop last week, it was the last straw for Minister Dominique Alexander.
On Monday, as president of Next Generation Action Network, the largest civil rights organization in North Texas, Alexander emailed Price and hundreds of county employees, calling the commissioner’s outburst the latest instance in a pattern that amounts to “abuse of power.”
“Your aggressive posture, bullying tone, and manipulative maneuvers are not only harmful to your colleagues but toxic to the democratic process,” Alexander wrote in the letter. “To go after a respected leader such as Dr. Garcia, a wife, a mother, a trailblazing Latina leader in Dallas County, demonstrates a pattern of control and disrespect that can no longer go unchecked.”
In an interview with The Dallas Morning News, Alexander said he decided to send the letter after being contacted by multiple elected officials about Price’s outburst and his actions that can appear to overstep the authority of his office. With 40 years in his seat, Price is one of the most influential politicians in Dallas County.
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Price did not respond Monday to a phone call, text message or email sent to him and his staff for comment.
Earlier this month, The News reported that Price deployed a fire marshal peace officer to bailiff a justice of the peace court after the courtroom judge emailed him a list of grievances about the precinct’s constable, who is mandated by law to bailiff the court and serve papers. The move came after the state admonished Dallas County for using the fire marshal employees for non-fire and arson related duties.
In his letter, Alexander said using the constables as “political pawns” and this attempt to turn the Marshal’s Office “into your own personal police force despite warnings from the state” amounts to “abuse of power” that fractures the community.
The letter is a surprising stand from Alexander, who has been a supporter of Price.
Alexander is a community activist who founded Next Gen in 2014. He’s led protests against police brutality, including one in 2016, where a sniper killed five officers. Alexander at the time condemned the violence.
In an interview Monday, Alexander said he publicly supported Price due to his decades of civil rights work when the commissioner was indicted in a federal corruption case in 2014. (Price was found not guilty of bribery and fraud in 2017.)
However, now, Alexander wrote in his letter, “your conduct has placed you on the side of obstruction rather than progress. The community sees it, county staff feel it, and your colleagues live it daily. Enough is enough.”
Price’s outburst toward Garcia on Thursday came during a discussion about constable funding. Budget Officer Ronica Watkins was explaining a proposed allocation of $570,000 for new positions and equipment in Constable Precincts 3 and 5. Price interrupted with a “Stop, stop, stop” and asked, “Why the hell all of a sudden” Precinct 5 was getting additional funding.
When Garcia tried to interject with some detail, Price yelled: “Stop! I’m not talking to you!”
“OK then don’t say nothing to me,” he continued. “Goddamn it! I said I was talking to [Watkins]. Do not interrupt me! Don’t interrupt!”
It was not the first time. In March, during a discussion about the county’s organizational chart, Price interrupted Garcia as she was talking. “You don’t need to scream,” Garcia told Price. “Stop it. I am sick and tired!” Price yelled. “You’re not my god—n mama — stop it!
In a statement to The News on Monday, Garcia said Price’s decades of work have “opened doors and created opportunities that deserve to be recognized” and as the senior member of the court, Price “brings invaluable institutional knowledge and continuity.”
“At the same time, as elected officials, we have a duty to lead with decorum and diplomacy,” Garcia said. “Our constituents expect us to work collaboratively with our colleagues, our staff and community partners to address the many pressing challenges facing Dallas County.”
Garcia said she will continue serving constituents and “working productively with all of my colleagues and staff in the best interests of the people we serve.”
County Judge Clay Lewis Jenkins did not respond to questions emailed to him and his staff on Friday, and resubmitted on Monday in light of Alexander’s letter.
In an interview, Alexander noted he has seen Price demean other county staff in meetings.
Price routinely grilled Elections Administrator Heider Garcia in meetings, often raising his voice. Earlier this month, Heider Garcia announced he would be resigning to work in the private sector effective Aug. 29. He told The News Price’s treatment of him played no role in his decision. Alexander said the treatment was unacceptable.
Precinct 2 Constable Deanna Hammond previously told The News she believes her lack of friendship with Price contributed to his attempt to replace her deputy constable with a fire marshal to bailiff Judge Katina Whitfield’s court earlier this month.
She said Price “overreaches his power of authority,” on her office.
In his letter, Alexander said he believes Price should publicly apologize to Garcia, “to recognize that leadership rooted in fear, aggression, and control is no leadership at all. Our next generation is watching.”
County Commissioner Andrew Sommerman said the court has a decorum policy that should be followed, but an apology “is a gift that can only be given willingly: it can not be taken from someone.”Sommerman said Garcia “is a force in Dallas County and nationwide in the Latino community. She has dedicated her life to service and progressive policies. She deserves respect.”
The very act of Alexander’s letter is significant in itself, said Precinct 5 Constable Michael Orozco
“For years John Wiley Price has operated without being challenged,” Orozco said. “Minister Alexander’s public condemnation is significant because it comes from inside the community he claims to represent. If he’s attacking fellow minority leaders, it forces us to ask—who will he turn on next?”