In the year since we brought things into the open with a clean breath of fresh air at City Hall, we have learned about corrupt spending practices and unethical conflicts of interest that waste your money... and keep Dallas from being the great city of our dreams.

It's wasteful spending like this that not only forces tax increases and cuts in vital services... but also really make you wonder: who is City Hall looking out for?

Others like City Hall the old way, when they could make deals behind closed doors with your tax money.

If there's one thing I hope people are certain of it's this: I'm looking out for YOU - the taxpayer.

My mother, Maxine, was married at 16 to my father Raymond, and in 56 years together, he was the only man she ever had.

Sometimes my family got me in the door. Somebody would say, 'Bruce Dern's daughter - sure I'd like to meet her.' It was a point of interest. But after five minutes of talking about my father, I still had to read for the part.

L.A. is cool. If I could have the rest of my family out there, I think it would make it that much better for me. As far as work and the weather, you can't really beat it. I just wish they had the New York social life out there. That would make it perfect.

I think my feet were on the ground, and I had good family around me. It comes down to who you are and your upbringing.