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 Albert Black’s responses:
Occupation:
President – Chief Executive Officer of On-Target Supplies and Logistics, Ltd.
Education:
• University of Texas at Dallas: Bachelor’s Degree of General Studies with a focus on business and political science.
Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business: M.B.A.
How long have you lived in the city of Dallas?
All my life: I was born and raised and raised in the Frazier Courts housing projects in South Dallas, attended Dallas public schools, went to college and graduate school in Dallas and built my business in Dallas.
Why are you running for mayor?
I am running for mayor to build a better Dallas for all of us, rich or poor, male or female, black, brown or white – or any of the beautiful shades in between. Together, we can create more jobs, increase access to health care and create more opportunities for Dallas’ children.
And none of this is possible if we don’t create more housing that is affordable to families and seniors. Together, we can revitalize our communities by giving people the tools to stay in their neighborhoods and not be pushed out by gentrification or neglect. Together, we can say to firefighters, teachers, nurses, police officers and all those who have been pushed out to the suburbs: “Come Home to Dallas.”
Prior political experience or civic leadership involvement?
When my wife started our company, we baked in community service as a core value. We created Ready To Work, our job-readiness program that has given more than 2,200 of our Dallas neighbors the skills they need to get and keep family-sustaining jobs.
I served as a Trustee and then Chairman of the Baylor Health Care System of Dallas – and helped bring the Baylor Diabetes Health & Wellness Institute to my childhood neighborhood in South Dallas, where three times as many residents were dying as a result of diabetes than anywhere else in America.
I currently serve as Chairman of the Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center at Baylor Scott and White Health. I have also served on the Advisory Board of Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business and as a Regent for Baylor University-Waco.
I’ve served as Chairman of the Dallas Housing Authority and as the first African-American Chairman of the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors.
As a businessman and community servant, I have supported many elected leaders. I’ve served as treasurer for Texas State Senator Royce West, Judge John Creuzot and Mayor Tom Leppert. This is my first run for elective office.
There are a lot of candidates in this race, why should voters choose you over someone else?
I respect my fellow candidates but none can match my record of creating opportunity and building bridges in Dallas.
As a child from the Frazier Court housing projects, I rose up to lead the Dallas Housing Authority and became a champion for safe, affordable housing for working families.
As the son of a Dallas hotel doorman, I built a business that last year provided more than 200 living-wage jobs and has opened doors for 2,200 more through an innovative job-readiness program.
As part of a community at heightened risk of diabetes, I helped lead the effort to bring the Baylor Diabetes and Wellness Center to the neighborhood where I grew up.
I started my first business mowing lawns at age 10 – and went on to serve as chair of the Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Baylor Health System Board of Directors and countless other business and civic institutions.
As some in South Dallas say, I “made it North of the Trinity River.” Ever since, I’ve been building bridges to create opportunity for people on both sides of the Trinity and from all compass points in our city.
In your view, what are the three biggest challenges facing Dallas? Specifically, how do you plan to address them?
(1) We need a strong and dynamic economy that includes people at all compass points in Dallas and supports strong job creation and business growth at all levels – from the mom and pop shops that are the heart and soul of Dallas the large corporations that provide jobs for thousands. Investments in education and training are key to making sure that students who won’t get a college degree and adults displaced by automation and other forces beyond their control can obtain the skills they need to get the good-paying jobs of the future. The smart use of opportunity zones can provide incentives for investment.
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