CEDAR HILL—The City of Cedar Hill will hold a run-off election on Saturday, June 10, for City Council Place 2. The candidates on the ballot are incumbent and local businessman Daniel C. Haydin, Jr. and Shenita Cleveland, CEO of Diverse Global Strategies in Dallas.
Haydin and his family have lived in Cedar Hill 36 years. He is a graduate of Kimball High School in Oak Cliff with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Dallas Baptist University. He owns two businesses in Cedar Hill: The Haydin Insurance Group and Split Endings Salon, which he co-owns with his wife, Darla. Their two daughters are professional hair stylists there as well.
Haydin also served five years on the Board of Adjustment. As a council member he served as council liaison between public safety police and fire; director for Cedar Hill Crime Control and Prevention District; and Best Southwest Transportation Committee.
He served on advisory committees for Cedar Hill Manufacturing Association; remodeling of Eastside Police Station 2003 Bond Referendum; Parks, Trail and Open Space Master Plan 2012; Winding Hollow Public Improvement District; and Red Oak Creek Trail. Haydin was Cedar Hill Man of the Year in 2002.
After 17 years on the Cedar Hill City Council and 3 as Mayor Pro Tem, Haydin says he has and will continue to work for the betterment of the community. He hopes to continue the path of responsible city government, keeping a strong, balanced economy.
He believes in strong public safety, strong code enforcement, capital improvements, responsible economic growth, and strong neighborhood and citizen involvement. A proponent of Town Hall meetings, Haydin says he has worked to build community relationships through PAC (policing and community together units).
Haydin Points to Accomplishments
“With the help of a lot of good people the last 17 years, I have worked to build a strong neighborhood presence for these PAC units with a goal to strengthen neighborhood associations,” Haydin said. “We started with 20 but now there is a PAC unit assigned to 43 different areas of Cedar Hill. There is a PAC officer to attend each town hall meeting in their community.”
Haydin says some of his major accomplishments as a council member include helping to cut $8M from the city budget without raising taxes; managing city debt and paying off long-term debt to give Cedar Hill ownership of their contracted water rights to Joe Pool Lake; and helping reduce crime rate by 16%.
He also helped approve infrastructure, implemented ordinances for multi-family housing, and emphasized city and private partnerships. Haydin was also instrumental in developing open communication with Chamber of Commerce and local businesses. As well as working on the city’s Comprehensive Plan. He hopes to continue his efforts on the Open space Strategy toward maintaining 20% green spaces for the city.
Haydin says “As your councilmember, I will act in an honest and ethical manner. I will guard your tax dollars. Listen to your opinions and needs, considering all the information before voting on issues. I have the same energy and desire I had when you first elected me. I think now, more than ever, experience matters in moving this city forward. The economic picture is bright for us to move forward and take our city to the next level.”
Cleveland Wants to Bring New Voice to Council
His opponent, Shenita Cleveland, is CEO and Founder of Diverse Global Strategies, whose stated goal is to “help redefine how the world’s leading companies make their most important decision about Partners, Projects & Public Commitment.”
Before DGS, Cleveland worked in the Construction and Trucking Industry, Parkland Health & Hospital System, David Mason & Associates (A/E) and as an M/WBE Consultant.
According to her bio, she led their firm’s business efforts on a wide variety of services critical to their success. This included reducing operations risks, increasing revenue and profit, partnership development, client retention and community-political engagement.
Cleveland is a member of several area business groups. She’s a participates on the Dallas ISD M/WBE Advisory Committee, Conference of Minority Transportation Officials, Hispanic Contractors Association and the Greater Dallas Planning Council.
She has participated in numerous community organizations, and has directly created jobs across Dallas/Fort Worth. She earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Grambling State University.
Runoff Election Day Is June 10
Cleveland says, “I choose to run, to bring a new and added voice to help shape the future of the community in which we reside. Choosing to run for public office is not an endeavor that should be taken lightly, whether you are an incumbent or candidate. We all must recognize that change in inevitable whether it’s within the landscape of our city, the addition of residents to our city or the makeup of our leadership.”
“I realize the current City Council’s idea to create a City Center Plan has been years in the making; however, due to the sheer size, scope of this “plan” and overlay, you, the citizens of Cedar Hill understand that any such plan would greatly impact and forever change the Cedar Hill we now know and love. Therefore, it must be reevaluated to ensure it conforms to the city you desire,” Cleveland said.
Cleveland added, “My hope is that we can develop a city whereby you will have all the necessary services right here, in Cedar Hill, without having to leave the city and whereby, your spending can be used here in Cedar Hill to provide for further growth, infrastructure and economic viability.”
Election Day is this Saturday, June 10, and the polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Polling is according to the voter’s assigned precinct, located on the voter registration card. For more information log on to Dallas County Elections Department’s web site. Voting sites are at Bray Elementary School, Belt Line Intermediate School and Lake Ridge Elementary School.
