An audio file shared with The Dallas Express allegedly reveals Irving City Council Candidate Tony Grimes lashing out at a campaign volunteer and city council candidate.
The audio starts with Incumbent City Councilman John Bloch saying, “Tony, I think you owe Diane an apology; that is no way to treat anybody, especially not a resident of Irving. You want to represent her? You need to treat people better than that.”
The man, who allegedly appears to be Grimes, responded, “You think I am going to represent a liar, scum? No, I am not. You can kiss my ass, as well.”
Bloch told DX that the incident occurred outside a polling station on April 29. The councilman said the confrontation occurred when Diane, a volunteer for the political organization Families For Irving, told Grimes that he ought not to talk over people and interrupt conversations. At this point, Bloch says Grimes responded with a series of rude retorts in the same vein as the “a$$” comment, the tail end of which Bloch caught on his recorder.
Here is the audio that was provided to The Dallas Express:
Speaking to The Dallas Express after the incident, Bloch said, “I am appalled at the way I saw Tony Grimes treat an Irving citizen today. I know the woman he verbally abused; she is a woman of great integrity and moral character. It is completely unacceptable for a public servant to show such contempt for the public he seeks to serve. I ask all District 1 voters: Is this the leadership you deserve? Can anybody who shows such contempt for an Irving citizen be fit to serve?”
The Dallas Express contacted Grimes to obtain his side of the story, telling him that the outlet had heard the audio and sought an explanation.
Grimes responded in an email: “That’s was not my response. Did anyone else hear that? Or do you have a recording. I’m forwarding this email to my attorney.”
The Dallas Express also contacted the volunteer to ask for her description of the incident, but she refused to comment.
These tense interactions follow a period of heightened turmoil in the Irving City Council race as the prospect of a casino looms.
The Dallas Express previously reported that a mysterious organization tied to the Las Vegas Sands, a casino developer, has poured nearly $100,000 into Irving’s City Council race. The expenditures have gone to support Grimes’s candidacies and those of other council candidates such as David Pfaff and Priscilla Vigliante.
Bloch was part of a coalition of council members who signaled disapproval of a measure to rezone an area of Irving owned by a Sands-affiliated company for casino gaming after a three-week-long public outcry against the proposed project raged from late February to March 20.
Nearly every candidate in the race has updated their websites to take a stance on the casinos or gambling before May 3 Election Day, including some candidates supported by the shadowy Sands-tied organization. Vigliante’s website states, “Priscilla is against gambling, and while she was on the Planning and Zoning Commission, she protected our neighborhoods and families by voting to stop the spread of poker houses in our community.”
However, Grimes’ campaign website does not address the matter.
Bloch’s website reads, “Given the demographic realities of Irving, and especially South Irving, John believes any benefit a casino and destination resort would bring to the city would not outweigh the host of social ills that would come along with it.”