Ex-Wilmer mayor endorses sex offender

WILMER – Former Wilmer Mayor Linda Root publicly endorsed James Brian Sliter, the registered sex offender whose mayoral campaign drew international media attention.

Sliter has since withdrawn from the race (announced after The Ellis County Press radio program), but Root, who lost her re-election race three years ago after she lost a lawsuit against this newspaper, stated on a Wilmer-based news blog she was voting for Sliter.

Root’s lawsuit was also against several Wilmer citizens, including incumbent Mayor Don Hudson, whom Sliter would have faced on May 10.

During the court testimony in Dallas County district court over Root’s lawsuit, it was revealed that John Eggen, a Root supporter, had a run-in with law enforcement in Florida over allegations of male prostitution. Eggen has since taken a position with the Wilmer Chamber of Commerce.

 “Remember, I still own property in Wilmer, which means I STILL [emphasis hers] pay higher taxes,” Root stated on the Wilmer Public Citizen blog. “No I am not trying to run Wilmer from Red Oak, because I live in Red Oak. Unlike you, who live in Palmer, you ARE trying to still trying to run Wilmer. You got your fifteen minutes of fame talking on the radio, but what are our options? YOU or [Teresa] BAIN?

I am voting for Brian Sliter.…You both had your chance and he couldn’t run the city any worse than you two have.”