Mayor Eric Johnson names highly regarded lawyer Tim Powers as Ethics Reform Czar

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 8, 2019

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Tristan Hallman
Chief of Policy and Communications
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Mayor Eric Johnson names highly regarded lawyer Tim Powers as Ethics Reform Czar

DALLAS — Mayor Eric Johnson on Friday named highly regarded Dallas lawyer Tim Powers as his Ethics Reform Czar.

Mayor Johnson will task Powers — the managing partner of international law firm Haynes & Boone and the mayor’s appointee as chair of the city’s Ethics Advisory Commission — with forming a working group to focus on overhauling the city’s ethics code.

As the Ethics Reform Czar, Powers will present a set of recommendations to the mayor. Chairman Powers may also make any other related proposals for safeguards that can ensure ethical behavior in city government.

“Tim Powers has an exceptionally brilliant legal mind,” Mayor Johnson said. “He is well-qualified and uniquely suited to lead our much-needed efforts to rewrite our ethics rules, and he brings with him a record of success both here in Dallas and around the world.”

The City Attorney’s office will provide assistance and advice to Powers' group. The mayor intends to have the City Council vote on the item by the end of June.

“Dallas must strive to create a culture of ethical behavior and compliance,” Mayor Johnson said. “We must be able to show our residents, the people of this great city, that they can rely on those of us who they’ve entrusted with great responsibilities.”

Powers said he is “honored that Mayor Johnson has asked me to help our city improve its ethics code.”

“The City of Dallas deserves an ethics system that works — one that is based on best practices, is built upon a strong legal foundation, and is designed to work for Dallas now and into the future,” Powers said. “This effort is important and critical to our city, and I am excited to start.”

In addition to his widely recognized and diverse work in the legal profession, Powers has served in senior leadership roles and on the board of directors of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, Dallas Regional Chamber, Dallas Committee on Foreign Relations, YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas, American Heart Association — Dallas Division, Japan America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth, Southern Methodist University Tate Lecture Series, Dallas Breakfast Group and Crossroads Community Services. He also serves as a trustee of The First United Methodist Church — Dallas.

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