I hadn’t been paying attention to this election, but I’m glad I caught the result.
Unofficial election results show that Mark Hill has prevailed in the runoff election for Frisco mayor that garnered thousands of dollars in spending and donations. The two candidates’ views about this Collin County city’s Muslim population featured prominently in their campaigns.
Hill got about 58% of the vote, defeating his opponent Villhauer, who received about 42%.
The mayoral runoff in Frisco has faced division over Vilhauer’s comments about Frisco’s growing Muslim population.
At a Frisco Chamber of Commerce forum last month, Vilhauer expressed his support the Indian community in Frisco, which has also faced backlash over unfounded claims of H-1B visa fraud. But he said he doesn’t support the Muslim community.
“When it comes to people of Sharia that govern themselves, they are not welcome here,” he said. “I will never welcome them here. We’re going to fight that.”
Sharia Law is a religious code in the Islamic faith that isn’t enforceable in the U.S. Audience members at the candidate forum erupted in applause in response to Vilhauer’s statements. And others applauded when his opponent condemned the discourse about Frisco’s Muslim population.
“If you’re a family looking to move from anywhere in the state, Dallas, anywhere in the country, say New Jersey, Boston, San Francisco, or anywhere in the world, and you see some of the rhetoric going on these days, you’re not coming to Frisco, Texas,” Hill said.
The city council canceled public input for non-agenda items at meetings after hours of testimony at a recent meeting where many people testified against building a new mosque, Jain temple and Hindu temple. Several commenters who were against the mosque said they support Vilhauer for mayor.
Jeff Cheney, the outgoing mayor, said in a Facebook post most of the commenters who are causing disturbances aren’t local to Frisco.
“Most of the disrupters do not live in Frisco and many not even in the state,” Cheney said. “They have not been following our decorum rules and many cases their comments had nothing to do with city business or things we have no control over.”
The NY Times had a preview of this race on Friday, in a story I didn’t have time to read before the election. The story notes that Mayor-elect Mark Hill also describes himself as a “conservative Republican”, just one that I’d say uses a different definition of “conservative” than many of his party-mates.
Mr. Hill, 50, has cast the race as a referendum on the city’s future. In an interview before a campaign stop, he vowed to turn down the temperature and unite the city, and warned of dire consequences if Mr. Vilhauer were elected.
“What is the welcoming nature of Frisco in the years to come?” Mr. Hill said. “If you’re a strong family that is law-abiding, educated,” he said, “and you hear your leadership calling you names, stoking intimidation and other protests in your community, would you live here for long?”
I mean, I don’t know what the opposite side of that position is, but I’m glad it didn’t win. It’s fair to say that the once-sleepy Frisco has been going through some growth pains. I’m glad that didn’t manifest in this election. I’m comfortable calling this at least a hopeful sign that the current Republican messaging for November will not be as successful as they would like. CBS Local has more.
I just don’t understand the Sharia Law fear as espoused by numerous, fearful (TX) lawmakers. Didn’t Hot Wheels sign a law literally <12 mos ago outlawing Sharia Law (and Sharia compounds)… which was already illegal (as it can't supplant existing VA law) ? …and yet it's still trotted out at election time.
The boogeymen are piled up under TX GOP leader's beds, ass to elbows.
They’re inspired by the Austin Lounge Lizards classic, “Jesus loves me but he can’t stand you”
If there’s anyone here who’s trying to impose religious law, it’s the right wing Christians. No American Muslim has ever tried to put any restrictions on my lifestyle choices or political rights.