Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1094656
30 I t is a cold Monday night in early March, and Lynn McBee is sitting on a folding chair inside the African American Museum alongside six of the other eight candidates for mayor of Dallas. Having addressed crowds of all sizes as the figurehead or chairman of various community organizations and companies, McBee, 50, is right in her element at civic gatherings, including one such as this: a mayoral- candidate forum hosted by The Dallas Examiner. Even the Fair Park location is familiar territory: The African American Museum is less than half a mile from the Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School, part of the Young Women's Preparatory Network, for which McBee has been CEO for the last five years, earning a six-figure salary. But, tonight, rather than orating as a businesswoman, volunteer, board chair, or nonprofit representative, she is playing a new role: Lynn McBee, candidate for the city's highest public office. McBee has been campaigning for several months since making the decision to run for office in late 2018. Still, the political world, with all of its nuances, challenges, and complexities, is admittedly foreign to her. During the beginning of the forum, candidates are given two minutes for opening remarks. McBee delivers an earnest, straightforward introduction, in contrast to the polished, almost theatrical monologues given by her fellow candidates — many of them experienced or career politicians. MEETING McBEE BY LISA COLLINS SHADDOCK. PORTRAITS MISAEL RODRIGUEZ. AFTER DECADES OF BUSINESS, COMMUNITY, AND VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP, LYNN McBEE STEPS INTO A DIFFERENT SPOTLIGHT: CANDIDATE FOR DALLAS MAYOR. WE JOIN HER ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AS SHE NAVIGATES THE COMPLEXITIES OF LIFE IN THE POLITICAL EYE. Lynn McBee