DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson announced on Thursday that he has formed the Mayor’s Task Force on COVID-19 Economic Recovery and named Richard W. Fisher as its chairman.
Fisher is Senior Advisor to Barclays and sits on the board of directors of AT&T, PepsiCo, and Tenet Healthcare. He served as the President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas from 2005-2015. From 1997 to 2001, he served as Deputy U.S. Trade Representative with the rank of U.S. Ambassador. He is a first-generation American and is fluent in Spanish and English.
I am honored that Mayor Johnson asked me to take on this crucial role,” Fisher said. “Dallas is a city of doers. We never shy from a complex task. Until COVID-19 raised its ugly head, we led the nation in economic expansion and job creation. Like all cities in the U.S., we have suffered a setback as we work to contain and defeat the virus. It is important that we rapidly get our economic and job-creating muscle back again. We are well positioned to do so and well suited to lead the country in economic recovery.
Mayor Johnson created two ad hoc City Council committees to focus on local government policies in response to COVID-19’s spread, but the Task Force will explore solutions beyond the scope of the City government.
The Task Force is expected to assess strategies to boost vital economic sectors in Dallas. These include small businesses, financial institutions, major corporations, the service industry, nonprofits, the medical community, logistics companies, transportation and infrastructure entities, and educational institutions.
Mayor Johnson will serve as a member of the Task Force. As the City’s Emergency Management Director, a position designated to him by state law, he declared a local state of disaster on March 12. Under the authority granted by the declaration, he has enacted emergency regulations in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Today, we are sharing in sacrifice and economic pain as we work to slow COVID-19s spread. And we must remain focused and steadfast in our commitment to flattening the curve, Mayor Johnson said. But this will end, and when it does, we must be prepared to revitalize the Dallas economy as quickly as possible.
Mayor Johnson said Fisher is an ideal fit to lead the Task Force.
In addition to Mayor Johnson, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Adam McGough and Councilmember Casey Thomas will serve as the Citys inaugural representatives on the Task Force. McGough chairs the Ad Hoc Committee on COVID-19 Human and Social Recovery and Assistance and Thomas chairs the Ad Hoc Committee on COVID-19 Economic Recovery and Assistance.
Fisher plans to begin work immediately to assemble the Task Force.
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