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Former DISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa is directed by campaign staff to reporters for individual interviews after a press conference where he announced his campaign for Dallas mayor in front of City Hall, Tuesday, July 14, 2026.<\/p>\n
Angela Piazza\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n
Michael Hinojosa is banking on his experience as the former Dallas superintendent to lead the city out of a financial hole\u00a0if he\u2019s elected as mayor<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Hinojosa, the first candidate to enter the race, said Tuesday he\u2019s running now because the city needs \u201cstrong, proven, transparent leadership.\u201d<\/p>\n Dallas is facing a $30 million shortfall<\/a> in its current budget year and expects to face a $51 million deficit in its next budget. Hinojosa\u00a0said\u00a0he has the experience to balance the budget.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n In 2008, Dallas ISD faced a $64 million shortfall that led to teacher layoffs. By 2022, when Hinojosa left the district, Dallas ISD had $1 billion in reserves.\u00a0<\/p>\n Hinojosa said the city\u2019s spending needs to match its revenues.<\/p>\n \u201cNobody likes a tax increase,\u201d Hinojosa said ahead of a news conference in front of City Hall, adding that he wouldn’t push for a tax increase just yet.\u00a0<\/p>\n Hinojosa announced his candidacy more than a year before the next election in November 2027. Mayor Eric Johnson is ineligible to run again because of term limits. The race for his successor is expected to attract a crowded field.\u00a0<\/p>\n The former superintendent said he plans to visit every City Council district during the next 15 months to ask the community what they want from the city’s next leader.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Born in Mexico and raised in Oak Cliff, he spent more than a decade as the school system\u2019s top administrator and is widely credited with helping modernize DISD. \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Here are key issues the next mayor will face:\u00a0<\/p>\n Push for a strong mayor<\/p>\n The mayor represents one vote in a 15-member City Council. The mayor has the power to choose committee members, run meetings and establish the overall tenor of debates.\u00a0<\/p>\n But some political leaders are pushing to give the mayor more executive power over the city\u2019s decisions.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Hinojosa said he would support the change.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI’m going to vote for it,\u201d he said. \u201cI’m not going to campaign for it because that would be self-serving. And if it’s proposed and it fails, I’m not going to whine about it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n City Hall and infighting\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n