Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings Will Run For Re-Election In 2015
Mike Rawlings was elected mayor in 2011 after defeating former Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle in a runoff.
Elected Mayor in June 2011, Mike Rawlings is working to improve the quality of life of Dallas residents and families. During his term, Mayor Rawlings launched a major economic growth plan, an arts initiative, helped recruit new leadership at Dallas ISD, elevated Dallas nationally and internationally with leadership on the U.S. Conference of Mayors and New Cities Summit. Within 6 months of being elected, Mayor Rawlings launched GrowSouth, a comprehensive economic development strategy designed to boosting the economic impact of Southern Dallas by 30% over the next five years. With a strategic focus on fortifying neighborhoods, boosting schools, creating investment opportunities and fast-tracking five key growth areas, GrowthSouth already been a catalyst for new economic investment, job creation and public-private partnerships in Southern Dallas.
In September of 2014, Dallas emerged again on a world stage as the U.S.’s first case of Ebola was diagnosed. Working around the clock with the Center For Disease Control, the Texas Department of Health, Dallas County Health and The White House, Mayor Rawlings was critical to creating a health strategy that limited the spread of the illness, and a communications strategy that encouraged calm caution. With care and compassion, the outbreak was quickly contained, and Mayor Rawlings set forth a blueprint for how future cities may deal with a similar crisis.
A lifelong athlete, Mike lettered in football at Boston College, where he received a Bachelor’s degree in philosophy and communications, Magna Cum Laude. Today, he serves on the Board of Trustees of Jesuit College Preparatory. He has been an active lecturer at many universities as well as an adjunct professor at SMU. Mike and his wife Micki have raised two children here in Dallas, Michelle (34) and Gunnar (26). (Mike Rawlings Bio exerpts from mikerawlingsfordallas.com)
