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Biography: Ed Oakley

As a member of the Dallas City Council for six years, Ed has been proud to work with residents throughout the city and his colleagues to build a better future. These accomplishments include:

• Successfully coordinated the 2003 City of Dallas Bond Program with over 500 million dollars to improve basic infrastructure including roads, parks, libraries, and police and fire facilities to promote economic development.  As a result, this new economic development attracted new businesses, retail, and quality housing. New development and growth in sales tax revenue is close to 6 billion.
  
• Facilitated the 2006 City of Dallas Bond Program with colleagues.  With over $1.35 billion dollars, this program has been the largest reinvestment in the city’s infrastructure which includes funding for road improvements, parks, libraries, flood protection and cultural projects.
  
• Led the efforts for the 2006-2007 budget year resulting in the first property tax base reduction in 8 years.  Ed worked with colleagues and staff to add $35 million additional funding for public safety, new hiring incentives to fill the police academy and add 100 new officers and cars to the streets.
• Ed has been a leader in the council’s strategic planning along five priority areas including public safety, economic development, quality of life, staff accountability and the Trinity River Project.  Ed worked with his colleagues to reorganize the council committees and staff structure to meet these priorities.  The council began to fund these priorities in the budget and bond programs.  This has led to better strategic planning and efficient use of tax payer money.
• Undertook the city’s economic development strategy which has set the city on the path of new businesses, jobs and sales tax base growth.  By increasing the Economic Development Office staffing from 5 to 50, we are enjoying huge rewards in new development and redevelopment of the Inter City and Southern Sector. 
• Ed has worked closely with his colleagues on the Inland Port Initiative and the River of Trade Coalition.  This development in Southeast Dallas County will have the same economic impact and increase in number of jobs as the DFW Airport.
• Coordinated an effort with Southwest Dallas County Cities including Duncanville, DeSoto, Cedar Hill and Lancaster to preserve the Army Air Force Exchange Facility.  This effort saved 2800 jobs.  As a result, AAFES consolidated assets in the Southwest Sector promoting additional job growth.
• Serves as the first Chair of the Trinity River Committee.  Ed has guided the committee’s effort to chart the course in the largest public works project in Dallas.  Ed has traveled to Washington with the city’s delegation 6 times to meet with congressional leaders and staff to secure funding.
• Lobbied congress as a board member of the National League of Cities for increased transportation and CBDG funding.
• Worked with neighborhood leaders in District 3 to protect and promote the district’s best assets and chart a course for the future.  Increased funding for parks, new libraries, additional conservation districts, and a significant increase in new retail and neighborhood services.
• One of three councilmembers and the mayor to work with parties involved in the future of the Wright Amendment and Love Field.  Preserved the integrity of the Love Field Master Plan, adjoining neighborhoods, and at the same time protected jobs and tax base.
• Chosen by the mayor to work on a solution to preserve air quality and secure sufficient electric generation for the region.
• Ed is the leading authority on securing and protecting our future water resources for the citizens of Dallas and the region.
• Committed to regional mobility and air quality, Ed serves as a member on the Regional Transportation Council.
• Facilitated and worked closely with council colleagues on the implementation of the city’s first Comprehensive Plan.  The plan serves as guide to our growth and development.
• Ed has been committed to the success of his colleagues and their districts. None of this progress could be achieved without the collaborative effort of his colleagues on the council. 

Ed Oakley was elected as a Dallas City Councilmember for District 6 in June of 2001 and as of June, 2005, he was re-elected twice as the Councilmember for District 3.  Currently, he serves as the chair of the Trinity River Committee, and also serves on the Finance, Audit and Accountability Committee, and the Transportation and Environment Committee. In addition, the mayor has appointed him to the Downtown Improvement District and the Trinity River Executive Committees. In 2005 Councilman Oakley was appointed to the Board of Directors for the National League of Cities and is also the President of the organization’s GLBLO Board of Directors.

Before his election to the Dallas City Council, Ed Oakley worked for more than a decade to improve the lives of the citizens of Dallas.  Whether fighting to protect neighborhood homes as a member of the City Plan Commission or working to improve local schools as a member of the DISD Facilities Taskforce, Ed Oakley has effectively represented Dallas residents.

Ed Oakley has earned the respect and support of a broad coalition of the city’s neighborhoods, businesses and volunteer communities.  His ability to represent diverse interests, issues, and groups has helped Ed Oakley to reach consensus through leadership in the most effective manner.  Ed Oakley represents the best qualities in an office holder, those of experience and integrity.

In 1991, Ed Oakley was first introduced to the complexities of city zoning laws pertaining to businesses and residential property in the Oak Lawn Special Purpose District.  In the following year’s effort to amend the ordinances, Ed gained the extensive knowledge and experience necessary to understand the Dallas zoning process and the inner-workings of city hall. Following the success of his first prolonged interaction with city hall, Ed Oakley decided to put his newfound knowledge and experience to work by running for City Council in 1993. Despite running a well-organized and professional campaign, Ed was not successful in his first bid for City Council.

Over the next eight years Ed Oakley became more involved in many civic and neighborhood issues, while maintaining a successful construction contracting business.  Throughout those many years, the list of Ed Oakley’s involvement and accomplishments grew tremendously, including his appointment to serve District 6 on the City Plan Commission in 1995.
The position on the City Plan Commission was tailor-made for Ed Oakley.  During his tenure on the commission, Ed excelled.  Whether helping his Oak Cliff and North Dallas constituents through the zoning process at city hall or helping neighborhoods understand zoning, Ed Oakley worked diligently for the citizens of Dallas.  Ed Oakley assisted residents with numerous zoning cases ranging from the construction of daycare centers to senior living facilities to helping congregations through the planned development process for church campuses.

As a member of the City Plan Commission, Ed Oakley feels his most fulfilling accomplishment was helping Arlington Park, the Bottoms Neighborhood, The Tenth Street Historic District, and other predominantly African-American neighborhoods protect their homes.  Over the city’s history, these neighborhoods had been zoned for commercial use making their homes nonconforming.  This flaw in the zoning structure meant these tax-paying residents could not acquire home-equity loans or remodel their homes.  It also meant new homes could not be built in these neighborhoods.  Ed Oakley’s ability to help these citizens rezone these neighborhoods into Planned Development Districts allowed them to control their own destiny and provided the same protections enjoyed in residential neighborhoods throughout the city.

During his tenure on the City Plan Commission, Ed Oakley also served on the Design District Land Use Committee, which is now a Planned Development District (PDD).  The PDD is a mixed used development, which will allow redevelopment of the old industrial area.  He also facilitated successful projects that included the Dallas Housing Authority, Green Leaf Village, Goodwill, and many others in West Dallas.