Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson was not always easy to reach during several behind-the-scenes economic development discussions over the past year, even as business leaders sought direct contact with him, according to internal emails.
Correspondence on the city’s economic strategy, part of an extensive batch of City Hall emails reviewed by The Dallas Morning News, shows high-profile corporate executives and developers repeatedly trying to reach the mayor, at times prompting city staff to step in and arrange calls or follow-ups.
Johnson did not respond to questions Tuesday and Wednesday from The News about the emails. Businesses often seek out the mayor to draw extra attention to public ceremonies, and Johnson has made it a priority to compete with other cities for corporate relocations.
In a Sept. 4 email, city-affiliated Economic Development Corp. CEO Linda McMahon expressed worry about the mayor’s lack of response to Scotiabank CEO Travis Machen.
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The email came days after the Canadian financial giant announced it would build a regional headquarters in Dallas, adding to the city’s lineup of major banks.
McMahon wrote to City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert that Machen had tried to reach Johnson to thank him after getting the mayor’s number from developer Ross Perot Jr. The City Council previously approved an incentive package, including a 10-year property tax abatement and up to $2.7 million in economic development grants.
Machen “has talked to everyone involved from the Governor on down and he was asking me why the Mayor has not returned his call,” McMahon wrote.
Tolbert responded the same day, asking that Machen’s contact information be sent to her outside the email chain and said she would ensure the mayor spoke with him ahead of a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
McMahon, reached Tuesday, declined to comment.
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The exchanges about the mayor represent a small portion of the thousands of pages of emails. Still, they show occasional uncertainty about Johnson’s participation in civic events tied to major business announcements.
In December, McMahon said the Scotiabank team setting up a ribbon-cutting wanted Johnson to be “present at the event” in February, along with other state and local leaders.
She told Tolbert she had mentioned to organizers that securing city leadership could be difficult because the event fell on a Wednesday, when City Council meetings typically occur.
A month later, the EDC invited top corporate leaders to discuss the city’s future in the technology industry at the Old Parkland campus.
The goal, McMahon wrote to Tolbert and her team, was “to engage CEOs as ambassadors” for the city.
McMahon emphasized the importance of the city’s visibility. “We did extend an invitation to the Mayor; however, he has declined,” she wrote in her email.
Turning to Tolbert, McMahon added: “I recognize how demanding your schedule is, but given the level of C-suite participation, your presence would be extremely valuable.”
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As for the Scotiabank event Feb. 25, city staff notified organizers beforehand that the mayor might not attend and asked whether Mayor Pro Tem Jesse Moreno could appear in his place.
“I’m sure you know but Scotia will be very disappointed,” McMahon wrote to Tolbert after learning the mayor might miss the event.
Johnson ultimately attended the ceremony. In his newsletter March 1, he celebrated the opening in Dallas, calling it part of the city’s “thriving and rapidly growing ecosystem of banking and finance.”
Email trail
The Dallas Morning News reviewed nearly 5,000 pages of emails exchanged over the past 12 months among city officials, consultants and others involved in discussions about the future of City Hall. The messages offer a behind-the-scenes look at a range of issues, including debate over whether Dallas should repair the aging building or relocate government operations