BUSINESS ATTORNEY DALLAS ANNOUNCES BID FOR DUNWOODY MAYOR
Like many Dunwoody citizens, I was both surprised and saddened to learn Mayor Ken Wright decided not to run for reelection. Mayor Wright represented the Dunwoody spirit of cooperation, consideration of all views and collegial interaction with all who came before the City. Mayor Wright will not only be known as Dunwoody’s first mayor, but as a gentleman who made our new City work. The Dunwoody spirit he demonstrated will serve as a legacy for many generations to come. It is that legacy I look to embody as a candidate for Dunwoody’s second mayor.
The creation of the City of Dunwoody
in 2008 was Priority #1 for the betterment of our community. After serving
as DeKalb County Commissioner Elaine Boyer’s planning commissioner
for over twelve years, I knew we had to become an independent city to achieve
our collective vision. That vision included effective public safety, zoning
and land use, code enforcement, parks, and transportation—all without
raising taxes. This vision was simply not possible under DeKalb County control.
There was a fundamental difference in perspective between DeKalb County
government and Dunwoody citizens that played out in virtually every public
arena.
The need for cityhood was first brought home to me when I co-chaired Citizens
for DeKalb County Property Tax Relief. Our group fought to give homeowners
the Homestead Option Sales Tax (HOST) property tax exemption. What to most
citizens appeared to be an easy vote was blocked by those in DeKalb who
wanted more control over homeowner assets, rather than homeowner tax relief.
Because we won and big government interests lost, all Dunwoody homeowners
continue to this day to pay less in property taxes.
The second class treatment of Dunwoody citizens by DeKalb County interests
was evident in issues large and small. While I was president of the Spruill
Center for the Arts, I witnessed as DeKalb County forced payment of rent
for use of county-owned property, while other arts centers around DeKalb
County did not. Dunwoody residents were seen as cash cows, rather than citizens
with rights and voices equal to those elsewhere in the County.
Worse yet, the very look and character of Dunwoody suffered. As a Dunwoody
Homeowners Association Board member who chaired the sign committee, I saw
how DeKalb’s sign ordinance was inadequate and too often unenforced.
Moreover, under DeKalb County control inappropriate zonings under archaic
zoning rules allowed apartments to be built without citizen input. Code
enforcement was absent. Transportation improvements were sporadic, when
they took place at all. While we were fortunate to have Brookrun turned
into a park, we soon learned real control and funds for improvement remained
in Decatur, not Dunwoody.
The last straw was a law enforcement presence which was spread too thin.
There were simply too few officers in Dunwoody to keep our community safe.
Faced with these challenges, the Dunwoody spirit kicked in. Many citizens
worked all facets needed to become a city. Along with four others, including
City Councilmembers Adriane Bonser and Denny Shortal, I served as a member
of the Dunwoody YES! Board. Our job was to educate the voter and encourage
a vote of YES! to cityhood. And Dunwoody did: by a mandate of over 80%!
The results have been nothing short of amazing. Local citizens stepped forth
from all over Dunwoody to contribute to its governance. I was honored to
be appointed by Mayor Wright to serve on the Dunwoody Planning Commission,
where I was elected chair. There I worked with many of Dunwoody’s
citizens to revise its zoning and land use plans to reflect Dunwoody citizens’
vision. We created business character area plans to manage the growth of
Dunwoody’s commercial districts. We have in place effective law enforcement
and code enforcement. Many of us worked on Dunwoody’s transportation
plan, which is now complete.
Local control has yielded local results: long-neglected Dunwoody roads are
being repaved, sidewalks built and bike lane and multiuse trails connecting
our parks planned. We own Brookrun, bought the “PVC pipe-farm”
and continue work on a parks master plan. I also advocated for Dunwoody’s
private sector hotels, not government, to manage the Dunwoody Convention
and Visitors Bureau. As a member of the Dunwoody Chamber of Commerce where
I serve on the executive committee and board, I have worked to maintain
a business-friendly environment needed to bring more businesses to Dunwoody.
Mayor Wright and the entire first city Council members deserve credit for
laying the groundwork for a better tomorrow. But the work must continue—this
is why I am asking for your vote for mayor. I am, of course, a longstanding
resident of Dunwoody, with a firm belief in the values of this community.
I also have the managerial, legal, political and economic experience to
implement our common goals. I worked in the private sector for BellSouth
and as a business attorney in one of Atlanta’s largest law firms.
I served as Governor Sonny Perdue’s Director of the Governor’s
Office of Highway Safety, where with many partners—including Dunwoody
police—we made Georgia safer, and significantly reduced Georgia crash
deaths with fewer state dollars. I know how government should operate and
know the State of Georgia legislative leaders who we must call upon to improve
the State laws which impact Dunwoody.
But most importantly, I understand that the City of Dunwoody is not just
about politics, infrastructure and economics. The schools, synagogues and
churches of Dunwoody form the nucleus of the volunteer spirit of Dunwoody.
I am so proud of my wife Liz, who serves alongside a large and tireless
group of Dunwoody citizens to benefit this community that we call home.
Liz serves at our church, Kingswood United Methodist. She volunteers at
our children’s schools, and in our community. Like so many Dunwoody
citizens, the Dallas family believes that in giving our time, we contribute
to our community—and that is what makes Dunwoody work for families.
Liz and I share a common dream for tomorrow, a dream that is firmly rooted
in family—both ours and yours.
The City of Dunwoody must continue to aspire to be as good as its people.
For the past 27 years, I have lived in Dunwoody and worked together with
many of you to make it better. I would be honored to serve you today as
mayor for a better Dunwoody tomorrow. I ask every citizen of Dunwoody to
look at my common sense, conservative civic record of service to know my
pledge to you is more than campaign words. For every commitment I make to
you, I have backed it up with years of dedicated civic experience and my
commitments reflect what Dunwoody citizens have worked so hard to achieve.
To paraphrase President Ronald Reagan, Dunwoody is a beacon of light atop a hill in a land we call metro-Atlanta. As we thank the tireless efforts of so many who worked so hard to make Dunwoody a great City, we can work toward our future and I believe our best days lie ahead. In sum, I will continue Mayor Wright’s Dunwoody spirit of cooperation, consideration of all views and collegial interaction with all who came before the City with the singular goal to make Dunwoody the great City we call home.
Bob Dallas, Candidate for Dunwoody Mayor
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LEARN MORE FROM BOB DALLAS ON HOW HE PLANS ON MOVING DUNWOODY FORWARD. Below are some of the pledges Bob promises if elected the next Mayor of Dunwoody
