Mayor's Race: Bob Dallas Focuses on Four Main Issues

Bob Dallas announced Sunday that he is running for the Mayor’s seat in Dunwoody.

The Dunwoody attorney and current head of the city’s Planning Commission made his announcement Sunday night at the Dunwoody Homeowner’s association meeting.

Dallas, 55, lives south of Dunwoody Village. He’s married with five sons and has lived in Dunwoody since 1983.

Dallas said he has four main issues:

-       Maintaining a very sound economic development plan

-       Focusing on public safety and code enforcement

-       Reflecting the city’s values in land use and zoning policy

-       Ensuring the city take advantage of transportation and parks to substantially improve the quality of life.

He worked in the office of Gov. Sonny Perdue as Director of Highway Safety from 2003 to 2010.

Dallas also served as a citizen volunteer on the District 1 Planning Commission for DeKalb County for 12-and-a-half years.

Dallas said brings an expansive knowledge of planning and transportation to the table, both in his work with planning commissions as well as with the Governor’s office.

He was the past president of the Spruill Center for the Arts, the Vermack Swim & Tennis Club and was involved in the establishment of the city of Dunwoody and the creation of the Perimeter Center Improvement Districts. He’s the past chairman of the DeKalb County Republican Party and helped to found Safe Kids Georgia.

He said he hopes to continue the work done by the city’s current mayor, Ken Wright.

“I respected and appreciated the city council and Mayor Ken Wright have done,” he said. “He was the right mayor to be the first mayor.”

Dallas said he’d like to follow in those footsteps, heeding what he calls “The Dunwoody Spirit,” which says focuses on community collaboration, listening to and weighing every opinion, and being frank and transparent with citizens.

“I think Dunwoody’s best days are ahead of it,” he said, pointing to opportunities for parks and transportation improvements, and striking the right balance in residential and economic development.