Letter to the Editor: Bob Dallas Formally Announces Candidacy for 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.  With my record of public service, I commit to Dunwoody citizens:

Taxes, Economic Development and City Service:

                  I will not increase the property tax millage rate.

I will be frugal with every taxpayer penny.

I will continue to serve the Dunwoody Chamber of Commerce’s economic development efforts to bring new businesses to Dunwoody.

I will ensure that the City of Dunwoody attracts the top-notch employees who are committed to provide excellent customer service to Dunwoody citizens.

 Public Safety and Code Enforcement:

                   I will ensure that public safety is paramount and adequately funded.

                  I will ensure that code enforcement is conduced fairly and completely.

Land Use and Zoning:

I will ensure that the land use, zoning and business character area plans reflect Dunwoody citizen’s values and vision.

I will ensure that new development adheres to the adopted land use, zoning and business character area plans.

Transportation and Parks:

I will ensure that Dunwoody’s existing transportation infrastructure is maintained to the highest level.

I will ensure that Dunwoody’s parks serve the needs of its citizens and infrastructure is in place to provide sidewalks, paths and routes to reach Dunwoody’s parks and business character areas.

I will place the quality of Dunwoody citizens’ lives first and I will not widen Dunwoody roads.

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

The Dallas record of public service:

FAMILY

     Married to Liz Dallas; five children: Bradford, Jackson, Iain, Quincy and Whittaker

     Members of Kingswood United Methodist Church

PUBLIC SERVICE

City of Dunwoody Planning Commissioner, Chairman

Dunwoody Chamber of Commerce, Executive Board Member

Dunwoody Transportation Plan Stakeholder Representative

Dunwoody Convention and Visitors Bureau private sector advocate (former)

Dunwoody YES! Board Member (former)

Atlanta Regional Commission Class of 2008 Regional Leadership Institute Graduate

DeKalb County District One Planning Commissioner, Vice-Chairman (former)

State of Georgia Public Service Commission Hearing Officer (former)

DeKalb County Board of Education SPLOST 2 Oversight Committee member (former)

Forth Congressional District Republican Party Chairman (former)

DeKalb County Republican Party Chairman (former)

Safe Kids of Georgia, Founder, Director and President (former)

DeKalb County Children's Initiative and Collaborative Board

Co-Chair of Board and Executive Committee (former)

Dunwoody Home Owners Association, Board Member (former)

Dunwoody Rotary Club, Board of Directors Member (former)

Spruill Center for the Arts, Board Member and President (former)

Vermack Tennis & Swim Club - President (former)

DeKalb County Blue Ribbon Sales Tax Study Committee Member (former)

Chairman of the Citizens for Property Tax Relief in DeKalb County (HOST advocacy)(former)

Perimeter Community Improvement District (PCID) founding working group (former)

Georgia State University:

Alumni Club Presidents' Committee - Past Chairman

Law Alumni Club - Past President

EMPLOYMENT

BUSINESS ATTORNEY, CASEY & GILSON, P.C., Atlanta, GA, 2011-present

DIRECTOR, GEORGIA GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF HIGHWAY SAFETY, Atlanta, GA, 2003-2011

BUSINESS ATTORNEY, SHAW, EVANS & DALLAS, LLC, Atlanta, GA, 1997-2003

BUSINESS ATTORNEY POWELL, GOLDSTEIN, FRAZER & MURPHY, Atlanta, GA, 1989-1996

BELLSOUTH,1980-1989

Project Manager. Atlanta, Georgia, 1986-1989.

Project Staff Manager. Atlanta, Georgia, 1983-1986.

Assistant Staff Manager. Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, 1982-1983.

Assistant Manager. Stuart, Florida, 1980-1982.

Century 21 Real Estate Agent. Gainesville, Florida, 1978.

EDUCATION

JD, Georgia State University College of Law, 1989, Graduated cum laude, Top 10 percent

MBA Finance, University of Florida, 1980

BSBA Finance, Minor Real Estate, University of Florida, 1978

PROFESSIONAL

State Bar of Georgia, Member

Florida State Bar, Member

Real Estate Sales License, Florida (former)

ADDRESS

1445 Valley View Road, Dunwoody, Georgia 30338

770-913-0303(h)

770-331-4040(c)

Email: rdallas@bellsouth.net