ROCKWALL — In the state's smallest county, politics has gotten personal.
"Every time I turned around it was jokes, such as asking if I was gay," said Judge Mark Russo, Rockwall County Justice of the Peace for Precinct. 3. "They actually at one point sent a person with Down syndrome asking where my boyfriend was."
Russo — who is married with a young child — filed a harassment complaint with the Rockwall Police Department after he said he was bullied by Rockwall's Mayor David Sweet, who was just elected County Judge, and City Council member David White.
Russo said both men are behind insults, text messages, and even late night door-knocks since September 2013.
In one instance a couple of months ago, a surveillance camera caught a red Chevrolet pickup truck — similar to White's — speeding away from Russo's front door, with the judge running after it.
"It did scare me, and I didn't get a 'Sorry.'" Russo said. "If it was just a joke, why wouldn't you have stopped and say, 'We were just kidding.'? And they've done that before. They didn't do that this time. They really did strike fear in me."
All three men used to be friends. Sweet and White were both even in Russo's wedding.
"Over the years, he and I have had fun at each other's expense, joking and pranking as friends do," White said. "All of that changed recently when I heard a rumor that he made a criminal complaint against Mayor Sweet and myself. We had no details of the allegations, but decided it was in the best interest to avoid talking to Mr. Russo. He has concocted a story to come after me in a politically motivated attack."
The allegations are political, White explained, because he recently announced he wants Russo's elected position.
In a statement to News 8, Mayor Sweet echoed White's version of things: "I have considered Mark a friend for many years, and actually was in his wedding and part of the celebration of the birth of his child. I had heard rumors of his allegations, and I was very pleased with the results of the investigation. I do strongly believe his allegations are politically motivated as a result of Mr. White's consideration of running against Mr. Russo in two years."
"For me personally, I have nothing but personal respect for either one," Russo said.
Rockwall police turned over Russo's harassment claim to a Texas Ranger, who concluded that no crime was committed. He did, however, call the conduct "unprofessional."
The police records, investigative findings and surveillance video were just released publicly after last week's election.
