Issue date: 2/20/08 Section: NEWS

Media Credit: Whitney Buster Darac Favre, Richardson junior, says he is running for mayor of Denton because he "wants to change things for the better." Such as traffic and construction on Loop 288

When Darac Favre found out Denton Mayor Perry McNeill's term was nearly up, he realized it was his chance to make a move in the mayoral race.

Upon making the decision to run for office, Favre hit the ground running, created a platform, a Web site and began cultivating support. But his campaign isn't like other mayoral campaigns: between the phone calls and the policy writing, Favre balances classes and rugby practice.

The Richardson junior said he decided to run for mayor in mid-December when he noticed Perry McNeill's term as mayor was scheduled to end in May.

"I thought I would be a good alternative to the candidates running for office," Favre said, referencing Justin Bell and Mark Burroughs, who officially filed candidacy papers Tuesday.

Favre said the driving force behind his campaign is his effort to build the infrastructure of the city up to match the city's growth.

"The population of Denton is growing pretty quickly, so I want the new residents to feel welcome as far as helping Denton get ready by revamping the infrastructure and getting ready for all the big developments," Favre said.

Favre's platform also lists generating money for the completion of Loop 288, lengthening of entrance and exit ramps on Interstate 35E and environmental concerns.

Currently, all of the city's trucks run on bio-diesel fuel, a fact Favre said he is proud of. He said furthering environmental protection is the first thing he wants to address if elected mayor.

"I want to try to push the manufacturer of that fuel for resident use because I think that bio-diesel is an amazing creation," Favre said. "I think that more people should be using it."

Mayor Perry McNeill agreed that the use of bio-diesel fuel is one of the city's strengths. He said that as a retired NT professor, he welcomes and even encourages Favre's challenge in the race.

"I always tried to get the students to be aware of the citizenship responsibilities," McNeill said. "I hope that we continue to have that kind of activity from our students."

Steven Watson, an Austin junior and rugby teammate of Favre's, said he wasn't sure if Favre was serious when he said he was considering running.

"But I found out that he's actually going to pull it through," Watson said. "I looked on his Web site and saw that he wanted to change the traffic and stuff, which desperately needs to get done."

McNeill said whatever happens come election time, he is pleased to see young people are getting involved in politics and taking part in local government.

"I have no problem at all with students wanting to run," McNeill said. "That's what this country is all about."

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