An array of prominent Democrats on Monday endorsed lawyer Eric Johnson for state representative in District 100, an area of southern Dallas that for 14 years has been represented by Terri Hodge.

Supporters called Johnson the tonic needed to revive a district plagued by blight and hopelessness.

Last week, Hodge pleaded guilty to income tax fraud in connection with the long-running Dallas City Hall bribery case. In a deal with prosecutors, she agreed to resign her House seat and end her campaign for re-election.

State Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, who had been assisting Hodge in her bid for re-election, said it was important for Johnson's supporters to take the March 2 primary seriously, even though the incumbent was out of the race.

"We still need to go out in force to make sure Eric is voted into office, so we don't have to worry about the politics after that," Anchia said.

Johnson hopes Monday's endorsements are the first of a stream of Democrats to join his campaign and to put aside any bitterness created by his candidacy against a popular incumbent.

Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price, a powerful force in southern Dallas politics and a Hodge supporter, said he would not endorse Johnson, choosing instead to "use my energies where they are best needed – in contested races."

U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson also has said she will not switch her endorsement of Hodge to Johnson.

Even though she's stepping down, Hodge's name will remain on the March 2 ballot. It's unlikely she could win the primary, but her strong name recognition and a small band of die-hard loyalists will make it necessary for Johnson to campaign as if he had a legitimate opponent.

If Hodge were to beat Johnson, precinct chairs in District 100 would select the Democratic nominee for the November general election. In effect, they'd be selecting the next state representative since no Republican filed to run in the heavily Democratic district.

Johnson said he would work hard to make sure such a scenario didn't take place.

"We're doing everything we can to make sure they have a choice to make on March 2, and they need to come out and vote for me," he said.

"We're going to continue our campaign the way we're done it for the last six months."

He told supporters he would focus his efforts in the Legislature on education, creating more high-paying jobs for the district and safer neighborhoods.

"Today represents the first step of many in that direction," Johnson said. "Education not only changes lives, but it changes entire communities."

Johnson also urged unity, reaching out to Democrats who didn't support him at the start of his campaign.

Hodge enjoyed support from a cadre of party leaders throughout Texas. Initially, in fact, Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins was the only major elected Democrat to support Johnson.

"We must come together to move District 100 forward," Johnson said. "It is truly a new day in District 100."

The Rev. Frederick D. Haynes III, pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in south Oak Cliff, praised Johnson for getting a Harvard education, then returning to Dallas to use it.

"He didn't stay on the East Coast. He came back home," Haynes said. "He invested in the community that invested in him."

Then Haynes told the crowd that the weather, and the fortunes of the area, would change.

"The forecast for District 100 is sunny," he said.

Others attending the show of support for Johnson included state Rep. Roberto Alonzo, D-Dallas; and Dallas City Council members Angela Hunt and Dwaine Caraway. City Council races, unlike state legislative races, are nonpartisan.