ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING TENURE

• The County’s buildings increased to over 6,500,000 square feet
• The Wade Juvenile Center was completed and then successfully expanded
• The Allen Courts Building was expanded along with more than doubling the size of its underground parking
• Old Red clock tower was restored
• Road and Bridge District #2 were reengineered to a city aid program
• Much of County Government was reengineered with the savings going to employee salary increases (New Look)
• Pay as go capital planning was established
• The Public Employee Benefit Cooperative was created by Dallas and Tarrant County which was later expanded to include other counties, cities and districts
• The first Code of County Orders was developed that codified all county policies
• Purchasing was transitioned from the authority of the judiciary to the commissioners court bringing it into a responsive environment
•  First strategic plan was created.
• IT Services was outsourced for 15 years and successfully brought back in-house increasing services with no additional cost
• The first coordinated state legislative program was created that became a statewide model for urban counties
• Maintained virtually a level tax rate
• Rated by City State Magazine as an above average County
• In a statewide competition secured the selection of Dallas as the site for the construction of two State Jails
• Developed the Dallas County’s first Department of Criminal Justice that reduced jail population by 1,200 inmates
• Established the first countywide Criminal Justice Advisory Board
• After extensive process improvements implemented a countywide ERP that allowed for positive time reporting and pay after the fact
• Replaced an outdated jail commissary program with a vendor that increased financial support to the inmates and county by a factor of 10
• Coordinated the first comprehensive evaluation of jail health
• Voting was transformed to computer touch screens for early voting
• Worked through the challenges of 911, Rita and Katrina
• Participated in the implementation of e-commerce and the use of credit cards
• Championed shared services such as dual deputized clerks, multiple offices consolidating operations and contracting with other governments
• The Old Red Courthouse transition from being closed for structural concerns to being fully restored to its original design
• A proponent for the establishment of an elections fraud unit in the District Attorney’s office, consisting of an elections fraud prosecutor and investigator
• Actively participated in the planning and implementation of the DIVERT Court. This court intervenes on the front end of the criminal justice system for non-violent drug offenders with less serious charges
• Has continued to maintain Dallas County’s low tax rate and “double AAA” bond rating
• Helped pass revised tax abatement policy to include “economically significant” projects
• Helped pass the Freeport Tax Exemption to promote industrial development and the generation of new jobs in Dallas County
• Helped pass the Rodeo City Tax Increment Finance District to encourage economic development in the area
• Participated in instituting a Judicial Support Personnel Salary Plan which sets compensation policy for the Criminal District Court staff members including Court Coordinators, Staff Attorneys, Law Clerks, Magistrates, and Referees
• Pushed for and passed through Commissioners Court the addition of two Civil Masters for the Civil District Courts
• Pushed for and passed through Commissioners Court the hiring of a collections agency for dormant accounts, which has significantly increased revenue