China Trade Mission
Tianjin Visit
Qingdao Visit
Dalian Visit
Shenzhen Visit
Hong Kong Visit

Mayor Leppert's

2009 Inauguration Speech

2007 Inaugural Remarks
Audio of Inaugural Remarks

City of Dallas Mayor

Tom Leppert was elected mayor of Dallas in June 2007.

Since taking office, Mayor Leppert and the City Council have pursued policies that have dramatically improved the quality of life in Dallas. The crime rate has been reduced by double digits, major firms like AT&T and Tenet Healthcare have moved to Downtown Dallas and construction is underway on Main Street Garden, the Woodall Rogers Deck Park and the Calatrava-designed Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge over the Trinity River. Construction will also soon begin on the Convention Center Hotel, more college football games have found a home at the Cotton Bowl in Fair Park, and new plants in Southern Dallas and at the Inland Port have created hundreds of new jobs.

Additionally, the Mayor has pursued a strong trade agenda leading delegations to China, Taiwan and Mexico. He has a leadership role in the US Conference of Mayors and chairs its influential Metro Economies Committee.

Mayor Leppert has also pursued a strong education agenda. The Mayor’s Intern Fellows program is in 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 thousands of 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.

Last year, he was named to the White House Fellows Commission and D CEO Magazine named Mayor Leppert the CEO of the year.

Prior to becoming mayor, Leppert led major corporations in the areas of construction, financial services and real estate. As CEO of Turner Construction, he moved the Fortune 500 firm’s headquarters to Dallas. He also was chair of the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce and still serves on its Executive Committee.

A lifelong community volunteer, he has served numerous community groups and charitable organizations on both the local and national levels. The Mayor served as a White House fellow in both the Treasury Department and in the White House.

Mayor Leppert holds an M.B.A. with Distinction from Harvard Business School and graduated cum laude from Claremont McKenna College.

He and his wife Laura live in Dallas. Their son Christian and twins, Catherine and Ryan are all in college. They are members of Park Cities Baptist Church.

Programs...