Commissioner Mike Cantrell

Dallas County Commissioner – District 2

 

Mike Cantrell is a graduate of Abilene Christian University at Dallas, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice.  He went on to earn his Juris Doctor degree at Southern Methodist University’ School of Law.

 

Commissioner Cantrell opened a private law practice in Garland and in 1983 was appointed by the Garland City Council to the position of Municipal Judge for the City of Garland.  He served in that capacity for two and one-half years and in 1986 was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4, where he served a total of eight years.  In 1994, Mike was elected as the Dallas County Commissioner for District 2, and has served in that capacity for 15 years.

 

While in office, Commissioner Cantrell has been active in a number of initiatives, including drug courts, law enforcement, domestic violence, child abuse, and juvenile issues, including truancy. He has led several collaborative initiatives including the Juvenile Information System (JIS), the Truancy Information System (TIS), the Child Welfare Information System (CWIS) and the Adult Information System (AIS). All these initiatives seek creative and collaborative solutions and encourage intergovernmental cooperation, innovation, and more efficient use of resources.

 

Commissioner Cantrell has been active in issues relating to truancy dating back to his two terms as a Justice of the Peace. During that time, he established specialized Truancy Courts in Dallas County, four of which are now accepting cases from Dallas, Mesquite, Garland and Richardson ISD’s. 

 

Commissioner Mike Cantrell and his wife Lorrie have one daughter and two grandchildren.

 

CHAIRMAN:

· CUC - JIS Oversight

· Criminal Justice Advisory Board (CJAB)

· Dallas County Adult Information Systems (AIS) Executive Committee

· Dallas County Adult Integrated Criminal Justice System User Committee

· Dallas County Information Technology Steering Committee

· Dallas County Juvenile Crime Enforcement Coalition

· East Branch State Hwy 190 Design

· East Corridor I-30 to US80 Design

· Public Employees Benefit Cooperative Board

CHAIR ELECT:

· Texas Conference of Urban Counties Board of Directors

VICE CHAIR:

· Dallas County Benefits Committee

MEMBER:

· CUC - JCMS Oversight Committee

· CUC- Policy Committee

· CUC - Urban Counties Foundation

· CEIA - Center for Ethical Identity Assurance

· Dallas County Housing Board of Directors

· Dallas County Housing Finance Corporation

· Dallas County Tax Collection Selection Committee

· Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition (Former Chairman)

· North Central Texas Council of Governments Executive Board (Member of the Board/Past President 2001-2002)

· Regional Transportation Council

· Transportation Project Mediation SubComm

· Toll Road Authority Partnership SubComm

· Bylaws Sub Committee

· State Judicial Committee on Information Technology Municipal & Justice Court Technology Subcommittee (Appointee of Chief Justice Thomas R. Phillips)

· Tex Protects Advisory Committee

· Texas Conference of Urban Counties Common Integrated Justice System Project

· Texas Technology Magazine’s Editorial Advisory Board

· Texas Urban Transportation Alliance

· Wednesday’s Child Advisory Committee