Dallas Mayor Resigns
Dallas, February 24, 2011 -- Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert has announced his resignation effective at 5pm, Friday, February 25th. Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway will fill the vacancy until the mayoral election May 14, 2011.
Leppert made his resignation plans public in an emotional address to the Dallas City Council yesterday. He thanked the citizens of Dallas while choking back tears. During his tenure, Leppert led the winning fight for a convention hotel in May 2009, saying a taxpayer-owned hotel would create jobs, increase tax revenue and save the city’s failing convention business.
It’s widely speculated that Mr. Leppert is stepping down from the mayor’s job to run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by retiring Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX). Political observers say Leppert may have an uphill battle winning the Senate Republican primary fighting a field of candidates with greater name recognition, most notably Texas Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst. In a recent Texas Tribune poll, Dewhurst had 27 percent support of likely primary voters.
Leppert has held the position for nearly 4 years, winning a run-off election against former Dallas city councilman Ed Oakley in June 2007.
Before winning the mayor’s job in 2007, Mr. Leppert was Chairman and CEO of Turner Construction Company, the largest commercial builder in the United States.
Posted on Mar 4, 2011 by Constance Hannon
