City Manager Mary K. Suhm

Mary K. Suhm is serving her fourth year as city manager for the City of Dallas. As city manager, Suhm is responsible for the daily operations of the municipal organization. She manages a staff of over 13,000 employees and a budget of $2.65 billion. She was appointed city manager in June 2005 by the Dallas City Council. Prior to her appointment as city manager, Suhm served as interim city manager, first assistant city manager, assistant city manager, executive assistant director of Dallas Police, director of courts, assistant to the
Mayor, and branch library manager for the City of Dallas.

During her three decades in municipal government, Mary Suhm has earned a national reputation among public administrators for creativity and innovation. Suhm, who earned a master of business administration degree from the University of North Texas, was one of the first large city managers to overhaul traditional municipal budgeting systems to increase transparency and service accountability. She also introduced performance measurement, customer service, benchmarking, strategic planning and other common business practices into municipal management operations to assure that Dallas city government runs efficiently, economically, and effectively. As a result, she has won numerous awards from her peers including Public Administrator of the Year (2007, American Society for Public Administration—North Texas Chapter).

Suhm aligns city operations and resources to support key focus areas designated by the Dallas City Council. Among these key areas, Suhm has realized the following accomplishments, among others:

Public Safety—  Under her leadership, crime is down in all major reporting categories, and the city is enjoying its 6th consecutive year of overall crime reduction, despite having added 300,000 new residents during the same time period. 

Economic Development—  With an increased focus on accountability, Suhm has assured that public investment in the city’s infrastructure is completed on schedule and within budget.  Currently, three of the city’s last four bond programs are between 93% and 99% complete, and 66% of the approved projects in Dallas’ 2006 bond program are already awarded and underway. 

Clean, Healthy Environment—  Suhm, a former high school biology teacher, has also led Dallas to become a national leader in the environmental movement.  With over 40% of its energy coming from renewable sources, a 48% increase in residential recycling, one of the largest green fleets in the nation, and the ISO 9001 international certification of its environmental management system, Dallas is setting the example for municipal social responsibility.

Efficient, Effective & Economical Government—  When hurricanes struck the Gulf Coast, people from Houston, Galveston, East Texas and as far away as New Orleans found every temporary accommodation they needed at shelters operated by the City of Dallas.  Under Suhm’s direction, these facilities have been fully staffed—in one case, on a day’s notice-- with volunteers and paid professionals to assist evacuees with food, clothing, shelter, medical and other basic life needs. The costs for which, were all carefully documented and reimbursed by the federal government.

Education—  While operationally the Dallas public school system is separate from the municipal organization, Suhm recognizes that a well-educated workforce and a strong school district have positive impacts on the city of Dallas.  As a result, she has assured that city facilities and resources which support educational goals  are given the same priority as traditional city services.  Suhm, a former librarian who earned her master of library science degree from the University of North Texas, opened Bookmarks, Dallas’ first branch library in a shopping mall at NorthPark Center in 2008.  Suhm also encourages city employees to mentor and gives them time to do so as part of a Dallas ISD program with Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

In 2006, the Women’s Council of Dallas County named Mary Suhm “Woman of the Year” and she is also the recipient of the Linda Keithley Award for Women in Public Management given by the North Central Texas Council of Government (1995).

NOTE: This 643-word biographical sketch is to be used only for background information. Under no circumstances should it be read in its entirety to introduce the city manager.

Updated: January 2009 for use during 2009.