Meet Barbara Mallory Caraway

“EXPERIENCED” …. “DEDICATED”…. “TRIED AND TRUSTED”….READY TO SERVE”!

BARBARA MALLORY CARAWAY’s JOURNEY… POLITICAL

Barbara’s political journey started out as a Democratic Precinct Chair. She served six years in the Texas Legislature and eight consecutive years on the Dallas City Council. She has been a candidate for U.S. Congress.

Barbara served in the Texas Legislature from 2007 to 2013. While in Austin, she was a member of the Urban Affairs and Public Safety Committees. She advocated efforts to lower the cost of electricity, introduced legislation to end Red Light Camera’s ticketing for “right turn on red”, supported legislation to support our Veterans. She always voted against any proposed law that would not benefit her constituents.

Barbara has always been committed to our youth and their causes. Recognizing that high school students aged 16-18 usually have a hard time finding professional jobs, she created the “Career Futures Initiative”. This initiative focused on two things: (1) A collaboration with Dallas County Community College District (now Dallas College) and The University of Texas at Dallas to provide free college entrance exams for high school students and (2) Collaborating with public and private employers to hire high students with paid summer internships.

Barbara was a member of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, the National Conference of State Legislators, and the National Foundation of Women Legislators.

Barbara Mallory Caraway has never been a quitter. In 1991 after Federal Courts mandated that the City of Dallas adopt a single member form of government, she ran for Dallas City Council and lost in a run-off election. The next term, 1993, she ran again and won without a run-off, with multiple candidates in the race. She served until 2007 when term-limited forced her to leave.

While on the Dallas City Council, Barbara served as Chair of the Transportation Committee, Vice-Chair of Business and Commerce and Co-Chair of the Trinity River Corridor Committee. She created the City of Dallas Youth Commission and the Teen Court System. As the representative of parts of West Dallas, she oversaw the continued implementation of the Federal Mandated Walker Consent Decree. She was successful in bringing capital improvements to her District that included better neighborhoods, infrastructure, public works, and new and renovated recreation centers.

BARBARA’S BEGINNING …

Barbara credits her success in elected to her job as a radio announcer and on-air personality at KHVN Heaven 97 Radio Station. For eight years she was a member of the “Early Morning Team” with Joe Bagby, the “Dean” of Gospel Music and Robert Ashley, News Director. She said “Working at Heaven 97 allowed me to develop relationships with the Faith Based Community that translated into the opportunity to work with the station and church members. We got to know each other. When it came time to campaign in their neighborhoods, they knew and trusted me.”

Barbara volunteered many years in the community with her brother, Reverend Dr. Lynn Mims, and Dr. Leroy Haynes both ministers in Dallas. In fact, Reverend Mims was a Democratic Precinct Chair. When the United Methodist Church reassigned Reverend Mims to a congregation in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, she succeeded him. She has also been supported by former United Methodist Bishop Earl Bledsoe.

BARBARA’S ROOTS … ROOTS

Barbara was born in Clarksville, Texas. She was raised in Amarillo Texas in a family of four brothers and three sisters. She is the fifth of the eight. She attended segregated public schools. She attended Hilltop Elementary from 1st-6th grades. Integration was lawful when she entered Carver Jr. High. Barbara graduated from Palo Duro High School. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas.

BARBARA … PERSONAL

Barbara is married to Former Dallas City Councilmember Dwaine Caraway. They live in the Cedar Crest Edition of House District 100 with their three dogs, Howard, Snow, and Coco. She has a stepdaughter, three grandchildren, and one great-grandson.