Laura Miller

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For other uses, see Laura Miller (disambiguation).

Laura Miller

In office February 20, 2002 - June 25, 2007
Preceded by	Ron Kirk
Succeeded by	Tom Leppert

Born	November 18, 1958 (1958-11-18) (age 49) Baltimore, Maryland
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Steven D. Wolens
Residence	Dallas, Texas
Alma mater	University of Wisconsin-Madison
Occupation	Mayor

Laura Miller (born 18 November 1958) served as mayor of Dallas, Texas (U.S.) from 2002 through 2007. She did not run for re-election in the 2007 mayoral race.

1 Education and Career
2 Political Life
3 Personal
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Education and Career

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Miller attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and spent the early part of her career as a journalist. As a journalist, Miller worked as a staff writer for The Miami Herald and The Dallas Morning News and then as a columnist for the New York Daily News and the now-defunct Dallas Times Herald. In 1991, Miller became an investigative reporter for the Dallas Observer and then a columnist for D Magazine.^[1]

[edit] Political Life

In 1998, Miller was elected to the Dallas City Council representing Oak Cliff and southwest Dallas. In 2002, Miller was elected as Mayor of Dallas, replacing Ron Kirk who left the post to run for the United States Senate position vacated by retiring Texas Senator Phil Gramm.

She fought for and won approval of a strengthened smoking ban, an ordinance prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, a revamped public housing system, a $23 million homeless assistance center, major changes to the city's Trinity River Corridor improvement plan and a taxpayer-funded downtown redevelopment effort.

She forged a compromise between American Airlines and Southwest Airlines to relax and ultimately repeal federal flight restrictions at Love Field Airport.

David Levey, executive vice president for Forest City Enterprises, credits Ms. Miller for reviving a $250 million deal to renovate downtown's long vacant Mercantile Bank Tower.

The major failure of her term was failing to strike a deal to build the new Dallas Cowboys' stadium in Dallas. She also announced parade plans for the Mavericks championship in 2006, prior to the Mavericks losing four straight games and ultimately the NBA championship to the Miami Heat in 6 games.

Miller was succeeded in office by conservative Republican Tom Leppert.

[edit] Personal

Miller is married to Dallas attorney and former Texas State Representative Steven D. Wolens. They have two daughters, Alex and Lily, and a son, Max.

Miller has been seen attending many popular rock concerts at the now closed Gypsy Tea Room during her tenure as mayor, notably accompanying her son Max to a sold-out Something Corporate concert.^{[citation needed]}