Mary Poss is a native of East Dallas where she graduated from Bryan Adams High School. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin where she majored in Management and Finance.

After she and her husband, Mike, returned to Dallas, Mary worked for several years at InterFirst Bank where she was a vice president in charge of International Operations and Money Transfer. After leaving the private sector, she devoted her time to community service for many years, including heading up the Greater Dallas Crime Commission.

Mary was first elected to the city council in 1995 with 65% of the vote from District 9, which is comprised of East Dallas, Lakewood, Casa Linda, Casa View, and Lochwood. She was unopposed for re-election in 1997 and 1999. Her council colleagues unanimously elected her Mayor Pro Tem in both 1997 and 1999.

Mary chairs the important Finance and Audit Committee of the city council, and she serves on the Transportation and Telecommunications committee, the Public Safety committee, and the Arts, Education and Libraries committee. She was recently elected president of the North Central Texas Council of Governments, an association of mayors and other city officials from 16 countries surrounding Dallas.

Nationally, Mary serves on the National League of Cities Advisory Board of Directors. She served four years on the Federal Communications Commission Local and State Government Advisory Committee. In Texas, Mary chaired the Texas Municipal League Select Committee on Telecommunications and Cable Franchises, and she served as vice-chair of the Texas Municipal League Policy Committee on Utilities and Environment.

In addition, she serves on the Regional Transportation Council, and on the Dallas Coalition for Character and Values Board, which she helped fund. She is also a member of the Executive Board of Brite Divinity College at Texas Christian University.

Mrs. Poss will be speaking on the following points:

• The region is expected to grow to about 8 million by the year 2020.
• The Southern sector of Dallas has a particularly good potential for development,
• The city's budget has three major focuses: infrastructure, wages and technology.