Outgoing Dallas City Council member Mark Clayton on Wednesday announced he's backing Erin Moore in the race to replace him.
The endorsement came one day after early voting ended and just days before Election Day.
The incumbent for District 9 — which includes Lakewood and the White Rock area — decided not to seek a third term, citing the need to spend more time with his children. Clayton wasn't seen as politically imperiled; he had handily won both of his elections.
On Facebook, Clayton wrote that he had previously "tried to stay out of" the campaign to succeed him. But, he wrote, he grew tired of "a couple instances lately where candidates have implied my endorsement or have put themselves out there that our views are aligned when I most certainly know they're not."
Clayton did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
In his endorsement of Moore, Clayton wrote that he regarded Moore as thoughtful, reasoned and customer-focused.
Moore, who has served as an executive assistant for Dallas County Commissioner Theresa Daniel, thanked Clayton on the Facebook post.
The other candidates in the race are political consultant Paula Blackmon, neighborhood activist Sarah Lamb and Tamara "Tami" Brown Rodriquez.
Blackmon, who has the fundraising lead in the race and touts numerous high-profile endorsements — including police and firefighters associations and former mayors Ron Kirk and Tom Leppert and current mayor Mike Rawlings — called Clayton's endorsement "a Hail Mary pass."
"I have the support of many neighborhood leaders, many business leaders, former mayors and former council members," she said. "I am clearly the one who is suited to lead the district. I know the issues. I know how to get things done."
More than 4,700 voters in the district have already cast their ballots in early voting and by mail. Election Day is Saturday.
