Sixteen months out from the election, the former head of Dallas ISD says he’s well-positioned to become the city’s next mayor. Michael Hinojosa shares why he’s running in what observers expect to be a crowded field to lead Dallas. Nearly four years have passed since Michael Hinojosa reti red from leading Dallas ISD, and while he never left the city, he marked Tuesday as a return. “I’m back,” he said, standing outside Dallas City Hall. Hinojosa, 70, announced his first run at public office, seeking Dallas’ mayoral office, which will be open after Eric Johnson leaves via term limits in November 2027. “What Dallas needs now is strong, proven, transparent leadership,” Hinojosa said. “So what am I going to be about as a mayor?” More of what he says helped his two stints leading the state’s second-largest school system: broad coalition building with employees and Dallas’ business community, which saw Dallas ISD make academic gains while capturing community support to invest in new buildings and programs. Matthew Wilson with SMU political science says he expects a crowded field ahead of next year’s election as Dallas faces major challenges, including the revitalization of downtown with the departure of the Mavs and Stars, along with ATT and the closure of the downtown Neiman Marcus store. “He’s certainly someone that has broad-based name recognition in municipal politics,” Wilson said. “Coming in this early, I think, signals his desire to begin building a broad network of relationships.” The Dallas native, who would be the city’s first Hispanic mayor, says his campaign starts in earnest now with a meeting in one of Dallas’ 14 city council districts every week until election day. ...read more read less