Plano City Council Candidate Trying to Clear His Name Amid Email Scandal

Daniel Long
[photo courtesy of Facebook]

PLANO (WBAP/KLIF News) – Just days ahead of an election, a candidate for Plano City Council said police are investigating how an email with a homophobic slur was sent from his account to the Plano Police Association.

Daniel Long claims he was hacked and that he initiated an investigation into the situation.

“There is definitely no way that I would even think or do any of this. So, that’s why I have taken my computer, my Facebook account and that web page all to the Plano Police Department,” he said.

Last month, Long said he mistakenly sent an email to the Plano Police Association thinking it was a former firefighters group. When the police association responded, they received a one-word homophobic slur in response.

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance of North Texas shared a screen shot of the conversation online.

There’s a crowded field of candidates vying for a council seat. Long said the alleged hacking could be the by product of a packed ticket in Plano.

“When you get into a heated up election like we’re having here in Plano with four of the city council members up for election this time…there’s a lot of money for this and this is basically what happened,” said Long.

Long said he’s not directly accusing either of his opponents of supporting a hacker.

Meanwhile, there has been no evidence released to support the hacking allegation.

Long said his efforts to clear his name go beyond the election. He said he’s spent the last 15 years helping coordinate the police and fire’s Battle of the Badges Blood Drive and would never had done what he’s being accused of.

Election day is Saturday.