Meet Leland
I was born in Dallas and raised right here in District 13, and this is where I decided to raise my family. Our community is not just where I live – it’s a part of me. I grew up on Southbrook Drive near Inwood Road, and today I live just a mile from my childhood home.
I’ve built a lifetime of memories in our community. I rode my bike to my first job stocking shelves at the Skillern’s drugstore on Lovers Lane. As a kid I watched movies at the Inwood Theater, attended Sunday School at Temple Emanu-El, and played baseball and soccer at the Town North Y. My three children Tori, Cameron, and Andrew played sports at the same Y!
I have spent 35 years as a businessman and community volunteer. Over the course of my career, I’ve worked with neighborhoods, city employees, and business leaders to bring about positive change and growth. As our city navigates the challenges of COVID recovery and beyond, experience is important. With my love of the city and my background as an entrepreneur and businessman, I will make the right decisions to protect our neighborhoods, our local economy, and the Dallas way of life we know and love.
My Story
Good city government starts with the basics: safe neighborhoods, smooth streets, high quality parks and public spaces, and a City Hall that is responsive to the needs of our citizens. We can’t reach our fullest potential until we get the basics right.
For the past eight years, our community has been well-served at City Hall but due to term limits we will elect a new leader in May 2021. As a lifelong resident of this community, a proven businessman who has led my own business through tough economic times, and as a committed civic leader – I’m prepared to continue a legacy of strong leadership from our community.
Please take a few minutes to review my experience and my position on the critical issues facing our city. If you agree that we need an experienced leader with a deep understanding our community, I’d be honored to have your support.
Experience
Businessman
With 35 years as a successful businessman, Leland is the founder of his own real estate investment firm and has grown a real estate portfolio with assets throughout DFW and other Texas markets.
Budget Experience
Because of his background in finance, real estate and complex budgets and regulations, Leland will hit the ground running to keep taxes low while protecting basic services, oversee a $3 billion-plus city budget and meet the many challenges facing our city. He’ll put his conservative business perspective, vision and acumen to work to recruit new business to Dallas, promote economic development and fight against nonessential spending and giveaways.
Civic Leadership
Appointed by Councilwoman Jennifer Staubach Gates to serve on the Northwest Highway and Preston Road Area Plan Advisory Task Force, Leland worked to establish a community vision that promotes smart development of this core neighborhood while protecting quality of life for nearby homeowners. Leland has also served as an executive officer on the Oak Lawn Committee, helping to develop a smart, balanced approach to growth that preserves quality of life in one of our city’s most vibrant neighborhoods.
Finance Expert
An expert in finance, Leland co-founded First Independent National Bank. He successfully managed his real estate and banking businesses through financial downturns in the 1990s and 2000s, and he’s gained critical knowledge and experience successfully managing multi-million-dollar budgets that he can use at City Hall to make important decisions in a COVID economy and beyond. With a $3 billion annual budget and critical funding challenges ahead, the City of Dallas needs financial expertise on the council now more than ever.
Crime Watch Leader
As President of the Preston Hollow Patrol Association, Leland has worked alongside Dallas Police on strategies to reduce crime in our neighborhoods. As our councilmember, he’ll be a strong partner with law enforcement, and he’ll support funding police along with new community-based strategies to fight crime. As an active Steering Committee Member for years and a recent appointee to the Board of Trustees of Safer Dallas Better Dallas, Leland has been a champion of law enforcement and safe neighborhoods, schools, and businesses.
Neighborhood Leader
As President of the Inwood-Northwest Homeowners Association, Leland leads the association’s goals to help homeowners preserve the quality and character of the neighborhoods by opposing intrusive zoning cases and protecting the character of our community.
Coalition Builder
Skilled in complex business transactions, Leland has a successful track record collaborating with city government, neighborhood stakeholders, and the business community to work together and get projects done.
City Appointee
Appointed by Councilwoman Jennifer Staubach Gates to serve as a Commissioner on the Arts & Culture Advisory Commission in the City of Dallas, Leland has advocated for thoughtful and pragmatic stewardship of City Bond funds and our tax dollars, while helping to protect and nurture art and culture throughout our city.
Volunteer Leader
Valued for his business acumen, Leland serves on prestigious boards, including the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Foundation Board of Trustees, the Dallas Opera Board of Directors, the Dallas Museum of Art Board of Trustees, and the Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation Board of Directors.
Lifelong Resident
Leland is a family man and has lived his entire life in District 13. His knowledge of our community is unparalleled. As our councilmember he will be committed to making smart, neighborhood-focused decisions that protect our homeowners and small businesses and enhance our quality of life for years to come.
Issues
Great cities start with great basic services. As our councilmember, Leland will focus on improving basics that impact our everyday lives.
A taxpayer’s perspective.
Public safety.
Quality of life.
Smart economic growth.
Strong leadership.
Quality of life.
Please join the growing list of neighborhood and business leaders across District 13 who support Leland Burk For City Council.
Organization Endorsements
Carol & Steve Aaron
Dawn & Todd Aaron
Karen & Mike Ablon
Bobby Abtahi
Marc Andres
Roxan Anderes
Tony Andujar
Marguirette Lobello Archer
Tim Axilrod
Roy Bailey
Marla H. Bane
Gilian & Steve Baron
Ken Barth
Susan & Evan Bates
Evan L. Beattie
Amanda & Scott Beck
Janet & Jeff Beck
Joel Behrens
Diane Benjamin
Michael L. Benson
John Berger
Eric Berlin
Gail & Ron Berlin
Lindsay & George Billingsley
Lucy & Henry Billingsley
Cindy & Robert Birne
Albert C. Black, Jr.
Tre Black
Gary Blum
Elaine Bock
Katy & Lawrence Bock
Alma Box
Jeff Brand
Susie Strauss Breen
Chantel & Daniel Bright
Bob Brittingham
Michael Brophy, MD
Kevin Bryant
James Buddrus
Ann & Brad Bulkley
Dianne & Stuart Bumpas
Andrew Burk
Cameron Burk
Larry Burk
Tori Burk
David Cagle
Jan Calloway
Hon. John Carona
Taine & Bob Carrozza
Barbara & Kevin Carter
Cindy & Julian Carter
Lucinda & Lyne Carter
D. Kent Casey
Felipe Castillo
Sue & Tom Chambers
Raja Chaudhry
Jeanne Chvosta
Carole S. Cohen
Tom Collier
Stephen & Linda Collins
Emily & David Corrigan
Laurie & Charlie Corson
Pat Cotton
Steve Cotton
Juliette & Ross Coulter
Carrie Ryan Crosland
Luke Crosland
Harlan R. Crow
Rex Cumming
Ann & Dennis D’Amico
Al Daniels
Steve Dawson
John W. Dayton
Darwin Deason
Jacki & Doug Deason
Austin Denesuk
Colby Denesuk
Pamela & Mark Denesuk
Hon. Maurine Dickey
Camille & Michael DiLoreto
Neil Dorflinger
Robert Dozier
Rhita Dubin
Laurie Duncan
Phillip Duncan
Tom Dunning
Jennifer & John Eagle
Robert Edelman
Don Ellwood
Robert Emery
Catie & Aaron Enrico
Tom Fagadau
Wayne Falcone
Don Farris
Judith Feulmer
Thomas Feulmer
Kris Flabiano
Christopher Flaugh
Caryn Fonberg
Mitchell Fonberg
Peter Fonberg
Erin & Ross Frankfurt
Janelle & Larry Friedman
Duncan Fulton
Cathy & Steve Gates
Paige & Jeff Gatlin
Marena & Roger Gault
Rose Gault
Michael Geller
Marion & Bennett Glazer
Dan Goetz
Sherry & Kenny Goldberg
Lauran & Robert Goldberg
Maya & Robert Gross
Nancy & Jeremy Halbreich
Rugena & Jim Hall
Faisal Halum
Margaret & Barry Hancock
Rosa & John Hannah
Robert Hart
Subie & John Hazelton
Dr. Tillmann Hein
Rich Hisey
Marguerite Hoffman
Mike Hopkins
Dena & Mike Horowitz
Hon. Angela Hunt
Wade Hyde
Robert Ikel
Lori & Hon. Randall Isenberg
Meaghan Kroener Janson
Sandra Johnigan
Marietta Scurry Johnson
Stuart Jones
Hon. Janet & Terry Kafka
Mindi & Michael Kahn
Susan D. Kaminsky
Jennifer & Tom Karol
Dorothy Jane Kassanoff
Michael Katz
Ann & Charlie Kight
Dr. Cheryl & Craig Kinney
Lori & Gary Kircher
Jon Kirkegaard
Caren & Pete Kline
Ryan Kline
Hon. J.J. Koch
Susan & Mike Kottwitz
Jayme Kravitz
Lisa & Ira Kravitz
Jim Krause
Dr. Mark Kutler
Jeffrey Kurz
David Laney
JD Lawrence
Lou Lebowitz
Hon. Tom Leppert
Allen Levy
Brett & Lester Levy
Carol & John Levy
Debbi K. Levy
Drs. Kathy & Jay Levy
Karen & Walter Levy
Katherine Levy
Sara Wood-Levy & Ira Levy
Lisa & Steve Lieberman
Randy Lieberman
Judith A Lifson
Craig Litman
Stephen (Steve) Love
Hon. Chris Luna
Holt Lunsford
Dr. Khalid Mahmood
Madeline Mandell
Hon. Ann Margolin
Bobbi & Richard Massman
Julia & Charles Matthews
Lynn & Allan McBee
Carolyn & Ronald McCutchin
Janie & Cappy McGarr
Casey McManemin
William Merritt
Mary & Bill Miller
Scott Miller
Toni Miller
Mary & Howard Moore
Francisco Moreno
Vicki & Hicks Morgan
Gene Morrissey
Nancy & Hon. Ron Natinsky
Dawood Nasir
Hon. Dave Neumann
Gale Nolan
Monica & Bob Noyes
Hon. Ed Oakley
Brian O’Boyle
Ann & Mike Ochstein
Rudy Oeftering
Lou Olerio
Jay Oppenheimer
Laurel Ornish
Linda Owen
Ashley & James Parks
Noresh Patel
Garrick Patterson
Randy Pauer
John Pearcy
Elaine & Trevor Pearlman
Rick Perdue
Stanley Peskind
Nancy Pink
Hon. Jim Pitts
Debra Polsky
Keith Pomykal
Hon. Mary & Mike Poss
John Pritchard
Cindy & Howard Rachofsky
Sue Randall
Jerry Rasansky
Melanie Rasansky
Rita & Hon. Mitchell Rasansky
Annette & Jeff Rasansky
Gunnar Rawlings
Micki Rawlings
Terry & Joel Ray
James “Boots” Reeder
Helen & Frank Risch
Philip Ritter
Deia & Brad Roberts
Enid R. Robinson
Gene Robinson
Larri & Don Robinson
Karen & Rich Rogers
Linda & Carroll Rogers
Emily & Phillip Rogers
Nancy C. Rogers
Catherine & Will Rose
Jeff Rosenthal
Lisa & Jim Rosenthal
Lizzie & Dan Routman
Lisa & John Runyon
Nicole & Peter Russell
Mervyn Sacher
Karen Samuelsohn
Arthur Santa-Maria
Cathi Scalise
Toni Scalise
Virginia & Edward Schaefer
Cristie & Rodney Schlosser
Justin Schoellkopf
Jakob & Dale Schroeter
Charles Schwartz
Samantha Sears
Bill Shaddock
Blake Shipp
Shannon & Ted C. Skokos
Bill Sladek
Pat & Ray Smerge
Edwin Smith
Larry Smith
Norman Smith
Cindy Sollie
Joanie & Bruce Sostek
Grace San Soucie
Shelly & Barbara Stein
Larry E. Steinberg
Lindsay & Jeffrey Steinberg
Phyllis & Ron Steinhart
Tom Stites
Bob Stoller
Barbara Stone
Gerald Stool
Diana & Rick Strauss
Gene Street
Marco Street
Lauren Sutherland
Catherine Taylor
Joanne & Charles Teichman
Marla & George Theofel
Tim Thobe
Tignor Thompson
Jeff Tillotson
Ellen & Charles Terrell, Jr.
Julie & George Tobolowsky
Thomy Sue & Victor Toledo
Iris & Dennis Topletz
Catherine Tuana Vo
Tommy Tucker
Ellen & Josh Ungerman
Hon. Jason Villalba
Kyle Wall
Ray Washburne
Day & George Watson
John Weber
Donna Arp Weitzman & Herb Weitzman
James N. White
J. McDonald Williams
Brady Wood
Laura Woodall
Bill Woster
Furi Zaidi
Shan Zaidi
Barbara & Donald Zale
Cindy & Barry Zale
Blake Zale
Daniel Zale
Lisa & Mark Zale
Bertha & Jerry Zapata
Sandra Zapata
Hollye Zidell
Lisa Zidell
Mike Zidell