Eddie Bernice Johnson discovers existence of suburbs

In nine-plus years, with one brief hiatus, of covering news in south suburban Dallas for Today Newspapers, I have NEVER seen Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson. I’ve met members of her staff, who have held a couple of community meetings for her. But, I’ve never seen her.

Not after the 2004 flooding in Lancaster, even.

It’s as if, for the 16-plus years since she was elected to Congress, only the city of Dallas was “really” part of her Congressional district. That’s also even though the suburban portion of District 30 represents about one-fifth of the district by population.

In contrast, Kenny Marchant of the 24th District has been in Cedar Hill more than once that I’ve seen, in DeSoto, and elsewhere, despite the fact that the portion of our south-of-the-Trinity suburbs that constitute his district is a smaller percentage than for Johnson.


Well, apparently EBJ had President Barack Obama take a look at her Congressional District map with her, because she’s finally visiting the suburbs.

And how did Obama help? Well, she’s visiting a road construction project that, via the Texas Department of Transportation, is getting some Obama stimulus money.

Her motivations are so transparent to be laughable. Increasing the political factor, with U.S. Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary John Porcari scheduled to be in attendance, I guess EBJ had to show up.

Also, apparently suburban media don’t exist. I have yet to get an e-mail from her office about this event on my newspaper office e-mail.

That said, a Democratic opponent to EBJ who promises to campaign down here in the burbs next spring will get plenty of space here. And, a Green candidate who runs against her in the general will get even more coverage.

Update, 2017: The actual ceremony was on the Cedar Hill side of 67 and thus in Marchant's district, to boot.