DALLAS — WFAA invited each of the nine candidates for Dallas mayor to answer the following questions to help inform voters before the May 4th election.
Here are Jason Villalba's responses:
Occupation:
Attorney for the Law Firm of Foley Gardere, LLP
Education:
Baylor University - B.B.A. in Finance and Economics
University of Texas School of Law – J.D.
How long have you lived in the city of Dallas?
I was born in Dallas and lived in the City of Dallas until I was 4. I lived briefly in San Antonio, then moved back to the Dallas area until I left for college in 1989. I moved back to Dallas in 1996 after law school and have lived here ever since.
Why are you running for mayor?
Dallas is an amazing city with tremendous opportunity. But I happen to believe that our best days are ahead of us. I was born in Oak Cliff to a young, struggling, Hispanic married couple. Through the power of our community and from the support of so many caring and loving people in my life, my family and I have been blessed beyond measure. My loving wife of nearly 20 years and I have made a wonderful life for our children right here in Dallas. We send our little ones to DISD public schools, we serve our Dallas neighbors and friends on boards, commissions, the YMCA, Meals on Wheels and on the PTA. And we know that through dedication and commitment to service, we can make our community better and stronger. That’s why I choose to serve. I want to bring that servant’s heart to City Hall. I am from Dallas, am of Dallas and understand Dallas as only a Native Son of Dallas can. That insight gives me an intrinsic understanding of the complex challenges we face as a city. As well, my background as a financial analyst, business attorney, former Texas Legislator and DISD public school parent uniquely qualifies me to serve in this demanding role.
Prior political experience or civic leadership involvement?
Boards and Commissions
• Dallas Housing Finance Corporation
• Dallas Citizens Election Advisory Commission
• Dallas Zoo
• Dallas Holocaust Museum and Center for Education and Tolerance
• the Grow South Initiative
Political
• Chairman of the Dallas Republican National Hispanic Assembly
• Vice Chairman of the Dallas County Republican Party
Elected
Former Member of the Texas House of Representatives (2012-2018)
• Business and Industry Committee
• Environmental Regulations Committee
• Small Business and Economic Development Committee
• Special Committee on Redistricting
• Special Committee on Economic Incentives
• Freshman of the Year – Dallas Police Association
• Received “Best Of” and “Recognition” Awards from – Realtors, Doctors, Hospitals, MADD, ASPCA, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, and Texas Association of Business.
There are a lot of candidates in this race, why should voters choose you over someone else?
The other candidates in this race are good and genuine people who care deeply for our community. But none of them were born in Dallas’ southern sector, work in the downtown area and now live in Dallas’ northern sector. None of the other candidates are both products of public school, whose parents went to DISD public school and who currently send their three children to DISD public school. None of the other candidates are financial analysts, trained economist, a top business attorney and highly awarded former member of the Texas Legislature. I have a proven record of bringing disparate factions together to achieve great things. That’s why I passed more legislation during the time I was in the legislature than any other member of my class – because I was able to bridge the divide between parties to get stuff done. That’s what we need at City Hall and that’s the very skill set that I possess.
In your view, what are the three biggest challenges facing Dallas? Specifically, how do you plan to address them?
• Understaffed police force (please see discussion below).
• Antiquated and crumbling infrastructure. I have a plan to Revitalize Dallas that you can read about on www.VillalbaForDallas.com.
• Need to bolster the economic opportunities of all Dallas residents (please see discussion below).
With growing property taxes, it gets more expensive to live in Dallas every year. If elected, what specifically would you do to address that?
I have a bill drafted to address that very issue and have one of former colleagues in the Texas Legislature who is ready to file it. I plan on filing that bill during my first 100 days in office. You can read more about it at www.VillalbaForDallas.com.
Dallas now has hundreds of fewer police officers than five years ago. Emergency response times have increased, as well. How do you solve this problem?
I have a four tiered approach. I would (i) increase rookie compensation to $65,000 per year (with commensurate adjustments for senior officers), (ii) provide healthcare insurance that is comparable to the private sector, (iii) provide a retention bonus for all senior officers that are seeking to leave the department and (iv) bolster and fund the pension for a generation.
There is a growing homeless population in Dallas. Prior administrations have struggled to address it. What would you do differently?
I think it is imperative that the city focus on addressing the mental health crisis that is driving the increasing homeless population. As well, we must ask the private sector to assist the city in addressing this issue – not by raising taxes but by asking them to recognize that a rising homeless population will have an adverse impact on our ability to strengthen and grow our economy.
Major strides have been made in Dallas’ southern sector but challenges remain. What are the two biggest opportunities you have identified?
There is a lack of vision in the current city council for Fair Park. I would like to see a major project-centered development in that area such as a major league soccer or baseball relocation or a new entertainment district for Dallas. I would also like to expand the Mayor Rawlings’ Grow South initiative to add an additional $1 billion of private investment into the southern sector. It must be done with major projects. It cannot be done one Starbucks at a time.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or faced criminal proceedings in a court? If yes, please explain:
I have never been arrested. I have had only traffic tickets for minor traffic violations.
Have you ever been involved in any lawsuits or declared bankruptcy? If yes, please explain:
No.
Favorite Dallas restaurant – or night out?
Lucia in the Bishop Arts District is always an amazing evening for me and my wife. The kids prefer milkshakes at Hunky’s!
Have you ever ridden DART?
Yes.
Tell us something about yourself – unrelated to politics or this race – that voters probably don’t know.
I have jumped out of an airplane, rafted Class 5 waters of the Royal Gorge, eaten rattlesnake, been the lead singer of a rock band, and sipped Japanese whiskey from the top floor of the tallest building in Tokyo.
