Tom Leppert

"An Obvious Opening"

"[Leppert] has an obvious opening in a contest that previously lacked any candidate with strong executive experience or a strong geographic base." (Alex Burns, Politico's Morning Score, Politico, 2/28/11)

"He's a strong campaigner with gravitas and presence." (Gromer Jeffers Jr., "Ex-Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert Faces Tough Odds In U.S. Senate Run," Dallas Morning News, 2/27/11)

"When Leppert ran for mayor, he was all but unknown in city politics. But with an impressive resume as a successful business executive, he campaigned on a promise to restore respect and order to a City Council that had lost both and to move the city forward in reducing crime, building business and becoming a better place to live. Many say he did just that." (Rudolph Bush, "Tom Leppert Says He Achieved The Goals He Set As Dallas Mayor; Detractors Don't Agree," Dallas Morning News, 2/27/11)

DALLAS POLLSTER JOE COUNTER: "Leppert has potential for sure. His numbers in Dallas and North Texas are strong..." (Gromer Jeffers Jr., "Ex-Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert Faces Tough Odds In U.S. Senate Run," Dallas Morning News, 2/27/11)

"He's well-known in the largest media market in Texas." (Gromer Jeffers Jr., "Ex-Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert Faces Tough Odds In U.S. Senate Run," Dallas Morning News, 2/27/11)

"...[M]any observers anticipated he'd move quickly to gain an edge in the GOP primary for retiring Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's seat." (Sean J. Miller, "Dallas Mayor Enters Senate Race, Promises To Make 'Hard Calls'", The Hill's Ballot Box Blog, 2/25/11)

"He has pro-business credentials favored by many Republican voters." (Gromer Jeffers Jr., "Ex-Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert Faces Tough Odds In U.S. Senate Run," Dallas Morning News, 2/27/11)

"He Knew How To Make Things Happen"

DALLAS MORNING NEWS ASSISTANT EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR MICHAEL LANDAUER: "He set the bar high for competency. Sometimes we forget, with all the politics and promises, what it is like to have a thoroughly competent leader. He knew how to make things happen. He wasn't flashy, but he was incredibly effective, and that, more than soaring rhetoric, made people believe in Dallas. Given his CEO roots, it's no wonder he was so good at making people want to invest in this community." (Nicole Stockdale, "Tom Leppert's Legacy", Dallas Morning News' Opinion Blog, 2/25/11)

"Leppert developed a reputation as someone who listened carefully, took decisive action and gladly shared the credit. ... He also got things done." (Rudolph Bush, "Tom Leppert Says He Achieved The Goals He Set As Dallas Mayor; Detractors Don't Agree," Dallas Morning News, 2/27/11)

"In his four years as mayor, Leppert added hundreds of police officers, promoted economic development and pushed through ethics reforms." ("Dallas Mayor Resigns Amid Senate Speculation," Associated Press, 2/23/11)

"James Oberwetter, president and chief executive of the Dallas Regional Chamber, said Leppert was the driver in bringing AT&T to downtown Dallas -- one of the most important corporate relocations in years. 'He clearly played the role of principal in organizing the approach to AT&T. ... There has to be a leader, and he was as well-equipped to do that as any mayor we've had in recent history,' he said." (Rudolph Bush, "Tom Leppert Says He Achieved The Goals He Set As Dallas Mayor; Detractors Don't Agree," Dallas Morning News, 2/27/11)

"John Crawford, who leads the business group Downtown Dallas, said Leppert quietly did more for the city's core than anyone he could recall. 'I've been involved in city politics for over 35 years, and I don't know that I've ever seen as much done in as short a period of time as was put in place by Tom Leppert or put in motion by Tom Leppert,' he said, pointing to the convention center hotel and the realization of long-term projects like the Arts District, the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge and the Woodall Rodgers Deck Park." (Rudolph Bush, "Tom Leppert Says He Achieved The Goals He Set As Dallas Mayor; Detractors Don't Agree," Dallas Morning News, 2/27/11)

"A council that once spent more time bickering than conducting the city's business settled into a focused and often cordial group generally short on drama." (Rudolph Bush, "Tom Leppert Says He Achieved The Goals He Set As Dallas Mayor; Detractors Don't Agree," Dallas Morning News, 2/27/11)

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I bring a unique conservative approach to government.

I've created jobs, grown a business, and cut wasteful spending in both the public and private sector. I understand firsthand how decisions made in Washington affect the economy.

The federal government is overspending, overtaxing, over-regulating, and destroying jobs. To get our country back on track, we must reduce the role of government.

Making tough decisions in business and as Mayor was not easy, but I made the hard calls that are so lacking in Washington right now.

In the U.S. Senate I'll help create jobs, be a watchdog for taxpayers, fight wasteful spending, reduce the debt and stop the President's tax increases.

But as my term enters its final months, I have concluded that it is time to explore other ways I can serve the people of Dallas and Texas. Consequently, I will not seek re-election.
This has not been an easy decision. I love serving the people of this city. After almost four years in the job, Dallas is in good shape - despite a struggling national economy - and is well positioned to compete on a national and global stage.

We have tackled the tough issues with a view to the future and, as I think back on the goals we set four years ago, we have not only achieved those goals but exceeded them.

• Dallas is safer: We have increased the police force by 20% and adopted policies that give police the tools they need to fight crime. The impact has been stunning. Our crime rate is down 25% removing us from the top of the FBI's crime statistics list.
• Aggressive economic development and growth: Dallas is again known as business friendly. We have sought to keep taxes low, made the City more efficient and managed it fiscally in a way that reflects your values. Downtown is more vibrant than ever. Dozens of firms have relocated here. We made the tough choice to build a convention center hotel to support our critical convention and hospitality industry and protect the taxpayers' billion dollar investment in the Dallas Convention Center. New manufacturing and warehouse operations in Southern Dallas put hundreds of people to work. Our foreign trade missions are already bringing jobs and international investment.
• Education Priority: We showed that local government can improve education and shine a light on a factor that is critical to our city's success. We launched a city-wide, early literacy program, touching nearly 60,000 children. We have raised more than half a million dollars for scholarships. We placed hundreds of at-risk students as interns in organizations throughout our city, making the connection between a good education and a good career. We enhanced the “front door” of campuses and we launched the Mayor's Youth Fitness Initiative to help keep our kids healthy and fit.
• Ethics: Government is more civil and transparent at Dallas City Hall. Unruly debate once led the nightly news. Today, Council meetings are professional, on time and respectful, even when we disagree. We ensured an open and fair bid process for city contracts, like those at Love Field, making sure taxpayers get the best deal. And thanks to ethics, lobbying and campaign finance reforms, Dallas voters have more confidence that city government is open, honest and working in their best interest.

In short, there has been tremendous progress in a brief time. It's time to look at the next steps.

Over the next few weeks, with much thought and prayer, I will explore how I can best serve the people of Dallas, North Texas, and indeed the entire state of Texas. It is an exciting time to live here and I'm blessed to be serving the citizens of Dallas. When those next steps are clear, you'll be the first to know.


Tom