PAULA'S BIO

Paula is running for a third term for Dallas City Council’s District 9. She grew up in the small west Texas town of Snyder and has spent her career in Texas public service.

Paula’s experience positions her well to represent East Dallas at city hall. She served as Deputy Chief of Staff to former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, Chief of Staff to Mayor Mike Rawlings, and as senior advisor for Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles. In her DISD role, Paula also oversaw Parent and Family Engagement, Volunteer and Partnerships, and Community and Intergovernmental Relations.

Paula is passionate and particularly knowledgeable in issues related to economic development, housing, education, and transportation. Her contributions to Dallas are numerous. For example, under Paula’s leadership as the Director of Public Affairs with The Real Estate Council, she secured the initial funding for the deck park over Woodall Rodgers Freeway, which eventually became Klyde Warren Park.

Some of Paula’s prior experience includes serving in legislative and policy roles with former State Representative Dale Tillery and State Representative Harryette Ehrhardt, as well as a community representative and state/local affairs manager for Dallas Area Rapid Transit. 

A life-long Texan, Paula has been a resident of East Dallas for over 28 years. Paula and her husband Barry, a Dallas architect, have three boys: Aaron is a Texas Tech graduate, coaches Saint Thomas Aquinas JV football and works for Lockheed Martin; Evan is a graduate of Woodrow Wilson and currently attends school and plays basketball in Ireland; and Reid recently graduated from Woodrow Wilson and attends the University of Arkansas.

A loyal Red Raider, Paula is a graduate of Texas Tech University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in International Economics.