Monday, November 26, 2007

Richardson Mayor Steve Mitchell wants to make a difference

By Minnie Payne

Richardson Mayor Steve Mitchell

RICHARDSON — Richardson Mayor Steve Mitchell, 45, was born in Mountain View, Calif., but moved to Richardson at age three when his father, an electrical engineer, accepted a position with LTV, and later Texas Instruments.

“We moved to Richardson because of the great schools and because it was such a wonderful city,” he said. “We were pursuing the American dream.”

Mitchell, his father, Travis, mother, Patty - a homemaker - and sister, Kathleen, lived in Richardson from 1965 to 1973, when the addition of a third child, Sarah, prompted them to move to a larger home in McKinney.

“We lived in the heart of the McKinney historical district in a turn-of-the-century Victorian home from 1973 to 1980,” Mitchell said. “I graduated from McKinney High School in 1980.”

Mitchell earned simultaneous bachelor of science and master of science degrees in accounting with an emphasis on tax from North Texas State University, now known as UNT, in 1985.

“I was active on campus while attending UNT in that I served as a resident assistant and assistant hall director, was a student leader with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and served as a peer counselor for freshman orientation,” he said. “Because of my tough major, I couldn’t spend a great deal of time on extracurricular activities. I studied a lot.”

Mitchell served on the City’s Sign Control Board for more than 10 years, starting in 1991 and was chairman in his last year on the Board. In 2001, he was appointed to the City Plan Commission, serving as a member until January 2005. In May 2005, he was elected to the city council and elected to the position of mayor by the council in June 2007.

“Serving as mayor and as a council member is a great experience and it is truly an exciting time to serve.” Mitchell said. “Not only do I want to reinforce Richardson’s reputation as a pro-business, world-class city, but also emphasize the city’s quality of life and showcase established neighborhoods.”

He said that together with the city council team, they hope to act as a catalyst for the revitalization of retail, as well as redevelopment of aging parts of the community, particularly multi-family units along Spring Valley and Bowser.

“Growth of our new DART rail line and mixed use development is also paramount,” Mitchell said. “We [mayor and council] want Richardson to be a community where residents can live, work and play.”

He said that he is quick to commend city officials for their skills, effectiveness, and experience.

“We have an outstanding city management team,” he said.

As to the mayor and council agreeing on issues, he explains that each council member brings a unique perspective to the table.

“We all have a consistent vision for the city which allows us to effectively move forward.”

Shortly after Mitchell graduated from UNT in 1985, he accepted a position with Thomson Tax & Accounting which brought him back to the North Dallas area. He has served 20 years with the accounting firm in various leadership roles and currently works in tax software project development. He said that if there is a mayoral duty during working hours, he’s in a position to leave work and attend.

“My company is a good corporate citizen, so I have a lot of flexibility with my work schedule,” he said. “I spend approximately 15 – 25 hours per week on city council/mayoral duties.”

All total, he said he has lived in Richardson 26 years, from 1965 to 1973, then from 1989 to the present.

“I returned to Richardson in 1989 as a bachelor and bought a house,” he said. “I was so busy with my career, church and serving my community that marriage, for me, was delayed, but I found the love of my life at age 42.”

Jim Massey, a Highland Terrace resident, said that he has seen firsthand Mitchell’s concern for Richardson neighborhoods.

“I know that he values the importance of maintaining a high quality of life in all areas of our city,” he said. “Already, the vitality of our neighborhoods has been enhanced under his leadership.”

Mitchell has been married to his wife, Karen, for four years, and they are expecting twins in April.

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