District 14 Council liaison Connie Sanchez is retiring after 35 years of service. Sanchez started working at the City of Dallas in January 1986 and retired in January 2021. At a virtual retirement party Tuesday, she was presented with a 35-years-of-service pin and a plaque that reads: “Thank you for 35 incredible years of service, hard work to the City of Dallas and always putting your constituents and neighbors first.” She also received a memory book and a retirement kit with gift cards, kitchen gadgets, lottery tickets, candy and a retirement cruise.
“Thank you. This is more than what I ever deserved,” Sanchez said. “I still feel like I need to get on the phone and get on the emails. I’m going to miss everybody, especially my constituents.”
Current and former Council members shared their memories of Sanchez:
I always joke that there is no handbook for this job, and I’m sitting behind the desk, and there was Connie. As I started to figure it out, she used to remind me that she worked for the district. She was clear that her employers were the constituents and the people who made up D14. As I go out to different neighborhood groups, it became very apparent that the real Council member is Connie Sanchez. People are very upset that they’re losing you. I was going to try to use that guilt. “You can’t leave because the people who make up this district won’t let you leave.” Connie, you promised you’d stick around for the full two years, and it’s a little early, but you did bring me up to speed. I’m eternally grateful for your help. You allowed me to focus on policy because you did such a great job at managing the people of District 14. I’m happy for you, but I’m not happy for me. I wish I had more time with you.
It was such an honor to work with you. I got on the Council in 2005. I was 33. Like David, I was trying to find where the restrooms were, and there was Connie, a fount of information about the district, about the city, about community partners, about neighborhood leaders. Connie’s ability to pull the district together reflects well on our city. Connie came into work and worked so hard for the constituents of District 14, and they benefited from her understanding of how to get things done, how to cut through red tape and who to contact. Thank you Connie. You make the Council member look great, but it is your work and your training. Without you, we couldn’t have served the neighborhood like we did. The kindness that you showed the residents of District 14 is meaningful far beyond the issues you take care of.
