Most Dallas County commissioners, in the hope of getting better press, now favor hiring a public relations expert to help them shape and deliver the county's position on important issues and controversies.

When the idea of a county public information officer first was raised several months ago, most commissioners opposed it, saying it wasn't needed.

Then commissioners did away with the county's generous senior tax exemption in exchange for passing a senior tax freeze. After a public outcry and a flood of e-mails and phone calls, they reinstated the exemption shortly afterward.

After that misstep, more bad news followed when the federal government sued the county to help enforce an agreement over required improvements to the jail system.

In fact, the county has been bombarded the last couple of years with negative reports about its jail system and the medical and mental health treatment it offers to inmates.

"This court needs a way to get the message out and project this court in a positive light," County Judge Jim Foster said Tuesday.

Commissioners did not say Tuesday whether they preferred to hire a media consultant or an in-house county spokesperson. And they didn't discuss how to award a potential contract for the work. There are two options: identify and contract with a "desired professional" or distribute a request for qualifications and then select someone from the list of candidates.

Commissioners also didn't mention by name former Channel 11 reporter Sarah Dodd, whose inquiry two weeks ago to two court members sparked discussion about a media consultant in the first place.

Ms. Dodd, who married Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle in December, resigned as a reporter this summer and launched her own media consulting business, Dodd Communications. She approached Mr. Foster and Commissioner John Wiley Price two weeks ago about a contract.

A contract was drafted for Ms. Dodd for $8,000 a month without any discussion or briefing and scheduled for approval by commissioners last week. It was pulled from the agenda days before the meeting and rescheduled for Tuesday as a discussion item only.

"I recognize one thing – that we're drowning," said Mr. Price, who initially objected to a public information officer.

Commissioner Maurine Dickey said the court must act in a proactive rather than reactive way to news "so the public knows what we do."

But Commissioner Kenneth Mayfield, the lone dissenter, said newspapers aren't going to publish stories just because a county media consultant sends them ideas in a news release.

"What's newsworthy are the decisions we make," he said. "We're all accessible to the press. I'm not about to filter what I say through another person."

Mr. Mayfield said hiring a consultant or public information officer is a waste of taxpayers' money. And he said the sheriff, the health and human services department and district attorney don't all need the spokespeople they currently have.

Allen Clemson, the Commissioners Court administrator, said he will speak further with the commissioners about which route to take and then give them something to vote on within the next two weeks.

Mr. Clemson has said the purpose is not to put misleading spin on issues or obfuscate legitimate news stories.

A written report he gave commissioners Tuesday said the county has not been able to offer adequate and complete information on news events.

"We have also missed numerous opportunities to go on the offensive and communicate major and meaningful achievements," the report said.

Mr. Clemson's report also listed "over-reported setbacks" that included jail health allegations, the Justice Department lawsuit, the senior tax exemption and tax freeze, the settlement of lawsuits and the ouster of former Constable Mike Dupree for alleged criminal and civil violations.

A media consultant, the report said, would receive a 12-month contract and would be on call to train key elected officials and senior staff, "prepare and coach responses for interviews and events" and handle media relations.