Tom Leppert

Thomas Chris Leppert
Born	(1954-06-15) June 15, 1954 Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, public official
Known for	CEO of Kaplan, Inc.; 58th mayor of Dallas, Texas (2007–2011)

Thomas Chris Leppert (born June 15, 1954) is an American entrepreneur and former public official, recognized for his role as the ex-CEO of Kaplan, Inc., a prominent global education company. He managed Kaplan’s various business units, such as Kaplan Test Prep, Kaplan Higher Education in the United States, and Kaplan International, until stepping down in July 2015. A member of the Republican Party, Leppert held office as the 58th mayor of Dallas, Texas from 2007 through 2011. He also sought the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in Texas during the 2012 primary but was not successful.

Prior to his mayoral service, Leppert was chief executive officer at Turner Corporation. As of 2023, he remains the most recent Republican elected to lead Dallas as mayor, although current mayor Eric Johnson switched his affiliation from Democrat to Republican in 2023. Choosing not to run for a second term as mayor, Leppert instead campaigned for the U.S. Senate nomination in 2012, where he placed third behind Ted Cruz and David Dewhurst.

Early life, education, and early career

Leppert earned his Bachelor’s degree in economics cum laude from Claremont McKenna College in 1977, where he also served as Student Body President. He later obtained an M.B.A. with Distinction from Harvard Business School in 1979.

Between 1984 and 1985, Leppert was appointed one of thirteen White House Fellows by President Ronald Reagan, contributing to the Treasury Department and White House operations. In recognition of his achievements, Claremont McKenna College awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2008; he additionally serves on its board of trustees.

Raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Leppert demonstrated leadership early on as State Master Councilor for DeMolay International. Following Harvard, he worked across Los Angeles, Washington, DC, and New York City before moving to Dallas between 1986 and 1989. From 1989 until 1999, he resided in Honolulu before assuming the CEO position at Turner Corporation. He relocated Turner’s headquarters to Dallas and established residence in the Park Cities area. Leppert returned to live permanently in Dallas in 2003.

He is affiliated with First Baptist Church Dallas and resigned his membership at the Dallas Country Club in 2006 due to concerns regarding its membership policies during his mayoral campaign. Leppert and his wife Laura are parents to two sons and one daughter.

Business career

Before his tenure as Dallas mayor, Leppert was chairman and CEO of Turner Corporation, a subsidiary of German construction giant Hochtief AG. Turner Construction Company operates under Turner Corp. and is recognized as the largest commercial construction firm in the United States. During his seven years leading Turner Corporation, Leppert claims to have generated more profit than the company had achieved over its prior ninety-seven years combined and orchestrated relocating a related holding company’s headquarters from New York City to Dallas; however, Turner Construction itself remains based in New York.

His professional background also includes positions at McKinsey & Company, Trammell Crow Company, Bank of Hawaii, and Castle & Cooke Properties, Inc.

In 2005, Leppert joined the Board of Directors for Washington Mutual, then America’s largest savings and loan institution, serving on both Governance and Audit committees. His tenure coincided with Washington Mutual’s collapse—the largest bank failure recorded in U.S. history.

In January 2013, Leppert was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of Kaplan, Inc., overseeing divisions including Kaplan Test Prep, Kaplan Higher Education within the U.S., and Kaplan International’s operations across Europe, Asia, and Australia. He advanced to CEO in April 2014.

Honors

In 2006, Leppert was honored with the Torch of Conscience award by the Southwest division of the American Jewish Congress based in Dallas. He earned the Russell H. Perry Free Enterprise Award from Dallas Baptist University in 2009, recognizing his accomplishments in free enterprise and community involvement. The following year, the Dallas chapter of the Texas Association of Business presented him with their Distinguished Business Leader award. Additionally, Leppert was a finalist for "Business Person of the Year" by the Dallas Business Journal in 2007 and received the title "CEO Of The Year" from D Magazine in 2008. His contributions were further acknowledged through his induction into the DeMolay International Hall of Fame in 2010.

Tenure as Mayor of Dallas

On June 16, 2007, Leppert won a runoff election against city council member Ed Oakley, securing 58 percent of the vote. His victory was bolstered by backing from prominent figures within the African American community as well as support from Republican voters.

Although the mayoral role is formally non-partisan, Leppert is affiliated with the Republican Party and actively participates in its fundraising activities.

After one year in office, Oakley commended Leppert’s leadership and his success in delivering on campaign commitments: "There's no question: Tom's done an excellent job. He's delivered on his priorities." Yet, shortly before Leppert stepped down, Oakley publicly raised concerns about whether Leppert placed personal career goals above the city’s welfare.

Policy stances and initiatives

During his inaugural speech, Leppert underscored inclusivity and advocated for a City Council approach focused on fostering business growth rather than imposing penalties. He identified education as a critical factor for Dallas’ advancement, highlighting that underperforming schools impede progress. Regarding public safety, he set two main objectives: lowering Dallas’ elevated crime rates relative to other large U.S. cities and enhancing trust between law enforcement, fire departments, and local communities. Leppert reaffirmed his dedication to the Trinity River Corridor project, labeling it a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" to raise Dallas’ profile on a global scale.

By his second year in office, Leppert had built a reliable alliance within City Council, with members Dwaine Caraway, Dave Neumann, and Ron Natinsky voting alongside him more than 92% of the time—demonstrating his strong influence on council decisions. Caraway notably showed firm support during discussions concerning the Trinity River Project.

Leppert chose to donate his mayoral earnings to a scholarship fund aimed at assisting students from low-income backgrounds. During his 2012 bid for the Texas Senate, he aired advertisements that depicted his rivals as lacking substance.

Crime prevention efforts

Leppert committed to decreasing crime rates and boosting police presence throughout Dallas by successfully increasing the police force by 200 officers. This expansion corresponded with consistent annual reductions in crime during his administration, including a significant 10% drop recorded in 2010.

Economic growth and employment

In January 2008, Mayor Leppert spearheaded a significant trade delegation to Monterrey, Mexico, aimed at showcasing Dallas's strengths in healthcare, education, and business sectors while advocating for the development of an inland seaport. The group comprised municipal leaders, representatives from the Dallas Independent School District, as well as prominent figures from the medical and commercial fields. A notable achievement from this mission was the establishment of an MD/PhD program in Mexico supported by UT Southwestern Medical School. Additionally, Leppert anticipated an upcoming visit from Mexican President Felipe Calderón.

After concluding activities in Mexico, Leppert proceeded to lead a trade mission in China, where he secured "friendship city" partnerships with key industrial centers including Dalian and Qingdao. He played a pivotal role in facilitating business discussions that encouraged investments into the Dallas Inland Port and successfully attracted the U.S. headquarters of a Chinese telecom company to Dallas.

Leppert is also recognized for his efforts in convincing AT&T to relocate its headquarters to Dallas and for promoting the creation of a $15 million call center expected to generate approximately 300 new jobs.

Convention center hotel

In December 2008, Leppert actively sought $386 million in Community Development Block Grant funding from the Obama administration to finance a long-envisioned convention center hotel in downtown Dallas, highlighting its importance for bolstering the regional economy. When federal funding was denied, he explored alternative financial avenues, emphasizing that without this hotel, Dallas risked losing its competitive edge in attracting major conventions and tourism—factors critical to sustaining tax revenues and job creation. By May 2009, the City Council authorized $42 million for land acquisition related to the hotel project.

The financing package consisted of $388.2 million in federally subsidized revenue bonds through the Build America Bonds program alongside $91.7 million in traditional hotel revenue bonds, amounting to a total of $479.9 million. Repayment depended on $249.1 million in federal subsidies, $212.9 million derived from pledged occupancy and sales taxes at state and city levels, plus net income generated by the hotel itself. The bonds were further backed by a "Moral Obligation Pledge" from the City of Dallas. Construction commenced in 2009 with an expected completion date set for 2012.

To enhance accessibility and support the hotel's success, Leppert championed efforts to have Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) reroute a proposed downtown light rail line to directly serve the hotel site, including plans for an underground segment beneath the convention center extending to City Hall. Despite DART staff reporting that this $824 million realignment would be substantially costlier and projected to attract fewer passengers compared to other alternatives, Leppert remained a firm proponent, underscoring its advantages for downtown transit connectivity and stimulating investment.

Education

On February 21, 2008, Leppert unveiled The Every Child Ready to Read @ Dallas initiative as part of his larger 2007 effort aimed at enhancing educational outcomes within Dallas.

Ethics and open government

In December 2007, Leppert introduced a comprehensive ethics reform package that prohibited city council members from accepting complimentary event tickets and modernized campaign finance transparency by implementing a searchable online database with mandatory electronic reporting. This electronic filing system received city council approval in March 2008.

Later, in November 2009, the council adopted four additional ethics reforms advocated by Leppert which included:

• Mandatory registration for lobbyists operating within city limits
• Caps on campaign contributions from real estate developers
• Disclosure requirements for gifts exceeding $50 received by council members
• A rule requiring at least two council members to formally second major zoning proposals and certify thorough review before casting votes

Extensions of no-bid concession contracts at Love Field

During a Dallas city council meeting in March 2010, Leppert voiced opposition to extending no-bid contracts for Love Field vendors Star Concessions Ltd. and Hudson Retail Dallas, advocating instead for opening these agreements to competitive public bidding. He pressed city staff to provide explanations for bypassing the usual bidding process despite their recommendation to extend the contracts.

Earlier, in February 2010, a committee had approved extending these contracts through 2026, including a three-year renewal option and granting exclusive rights to 54% of vending space in the new terminal scheduled to open in 2014, all without going through public bids.

An editorial published by The Dallas Morning News in April 2010 criticized the process for its lack of transparency and highlighted that the vendors were partly owned by elected officials, State Representative Helen Giddings and U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson.

In May 2010, Assistant City Manager A.C. Gonzalez disclosed that staff had recommended competitive bidding back in 2007 but encountered resistance from some council members. Airport consultants later described the no-bid contract approach as atypical and potentially detrimental to the city’s interests. Vendor owner Gilbert Aranza accused Leppert of double standards, citing his previous support for similar no-bid agreements while serving on the D/FW Airport Board.

On August 18, 2010, the city council resolved to subject all concessions in the upcoming terminal to public bidding. Meanwhile, negotiations with current vendors would continue for existing concession operations until 2014 or those spaces could also be opened for competitive bids.

Increases in property tax rates

Tom Leppert’s 2007 mayoral campaign featured a commercial with Dallas Cowboys icon Roger Staubach urging voters to oppose any new taxes. Nevertheless, by September of that year, Leppert joined the majority of the Dallas City Council in approving a modest rise in property taxes, justifying it as necessary for maintaining a balanced budget and enhancing city services.

In the years that followed, Leppert resisted further property tax increases and pushed for budget reductions to achieve fiscal balance. He played a key role in blocking additional tax hikes in both 2008 and 2009. Confronted with a $130 million deficit within the $2 billion city budget in 2010, Leppert proposed an alternative budget plan that avoided raising taxes. Despite his efforts, the council narrowly passed a 6.5% property tax increase—the largest such hike in twenty years—by an 8-7 vote margin.

Record of elections

In the crowded field of the 2007 Dallas mayoral election, Leppert emerged with a plurality, advancing to a runoff against Dallas City Council member Ed Oakley. He ultimately won the runoff contest.

Career after serving as mayor

Toward the end of 2008, speculation arose regarding Leppert’s potential candidacy in a special election for Kay Bailey Hutchison’s U.S. Senate seat, which was anticipated to become vacant if she pursued Texas governor. While Leppert denied actively campaigning at that time, he did not dismiss the possibility altogether. Hutchison retained her Senate seat and subsequently lost the 2010 Republican gubernatorial primary to Rick Perry.

Rumors persisted about Leppert possibly challenging Hutchison in the 2012 Senate race; however, he neither confirmed nor denied this during a 2010 interview.

In January 2011, Leppert declared he would not seek another term as Dallas mayor, further fueling speculation about a Senate run. On February 22, 2011, he announced his resignation effective February 25—a legal prerequisite under Dallas law before pursuing another elected office—and immediately launched his Senate campaign with Mike Slanker, former political director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, serving as his lead consultant.

Leppert placed third in the May 29, 2012 Republican primary with 13.3% of votes cast and was eliminated from contention. Ted Cruz secured the nomination after defeating Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst in a July runoff election.

At a rally held in Fort Worth during the 2016 Republican Presidential Primary season, Leppert publicly endorsed Donald Trump.