Rep. Eric Johnson
Forest Hills resident and state Rep. Eric Johnson announced Tuesday he will join a crowded field of candidates running for Dallas mayor.
Johnson filed paperwork that publicly stated his candidacy with the City of Dallas on Tuesday and posted an announcement Wednesday on social media.
“I believe I offer the citizens of Dallas a unique combination of experience, energy and creativity when it comes to solving problems, along with a proven track record of working well with people from varying backgrounds in order to accomplish great things,” Johnson said in a statement. “I have represented one of the most diverse House districts in the state for nearly a decade, and I’ve shown that I can bring people together to get the job done for all of our families.”
Since 2010, the Dallas Democrat has served in the Texas legislature representing the city’s 100th district. The district includes parts of East Dallas, West Dallas, South Dallas and Mesquite. Johnson said he will continue to represent the district while running for mayor.
“I will not be resigning to run for mayor,” he said in an email. “I plan to work harder and be more effective down in Austin than I’ve ever been. I have an energy and passion for public service that is hard to put into words.”
While serving as representative, Johnson advocated for the Garland-Gaston-Grand intersection redesign and the removal of a historically inaccurate plaque about the Confederacy in the Texas Capitol.
Johnson enters a race that includes several other candidates, including former state Rep. Jason Villalba and real estate developer Michael Ablon, to replace term-limited Mike Rawlings on May 4.
A Dallas native, Johnson graduated from the Greenhill School in Addison and went on to earn degrees from Harvard, Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. National Football League Hall of Famer and former Dallas Cowboys cornerback Mel Renfro will serve as his campaign treasurer.
“Dallas is a great city, but we have some serious challenges ahead of us,” Johnson said. “We need to make sure that the Dallas of tomorrow is full of opportunity for everyone. If we do, Dallas will be a city of strong, safe neighborhoods where families thrive and where every child has the opportunities to succeed that I enjoyed growing up in this incredible city.”
