Meet Tom Leppert
Tom Leppert was elected mayor of Dallas in June 2007.
Since taking office, Mayor Leppert has aggressively pursued policies that have dramatically improved the quality of life in Dallas. In the areas of public safety, economic development, education and the environment, Dallas has emerged as a focal point in the nation.
The crime rate has been reduced by double digits due to a major expansion of the police force and the implementation of new approaches to law enforcement in the City.
The economy of Dallas continues to expand. Downtown Dallas is experiencing a renaissance with AT&T, Tenet Healthcare and over 50 other companies having moved to Downtown Dallas, and the opening of the world-renowned AT&T Performing Arts Center. Major new investments such as Dallas Convention Center Hotel, Main Street Garden, the Woodall Rogers Deck Park and the Calatrava-designed Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge over the Trinity River are now under construction. And targeted efforts in underutilized areas of the southern and western part of the City have produced record investment and new opportunities for the future. Additionally, the Mayor has instituted a strong trade agenda leading delegations to China, Korea, Taiwan, Mexico and Canada.
Mayor Leppert has also pursued a strong education agenda. The Mayor's Intern Fellows program just completed its second year placing high school students from challenged schools in corporate offices for the summer. Operation Front Door has transformed the curb appeal for several campuses. The Ready to Read pre-literacy program has reached over 40,000 children and the Mayor's Chesapeake Energy Scholarships continue to provide financial support for students. Mayor Leppert donates all of his mayoral salary to scholarships.
Dallas has also emerged as one of the top sustainable cities in the country. Working closely with the building and design industry, Dallas was the first large city to develop comprehensive "green building" standards and has been recognized nationally for a variety of other initiatives in this area.
In addition, Mayor Leppert has led two major referendum efforts in three years, a reform of local ethics standards and the holding of tax rates while Dallas has continued to make these major investments.
Prior to his election, Mayor Leppert led major national and international corporations in the areas of construction, financial services and real estate, including CEO of The Turner Corporation, the nation's largest general building company. A lifelong community volunteer, he has served numerous community groups and charitable organizations on both the local and national levels. He has been recognized nationally for his leadership, including "CEO of the Year" for 2008 by D Magazine, the "Torch of Conscience Award" from American Jewish Congress, and "The Global Cross Millennium Award for Corporate Environmental Leadership" from Global Green.
Mayor Leppert is on the Executive Committee for the US Conference of Mayors and previously served on the White House Fellows Commission.
Mayor Leppert holds an M.B.A. with Distinction from Harvard Business School and graduated cum laude from Claremont McKenna College. The Mayor served as a White House fellow in both the Treasury Department and in the White House.
He and his wife Laura live in Dallas. Their son Christian and twins, Catherine and Ryan are all in college. They are members of First Baptist Church and Park Cities Baptist Church.
