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Meet the Candidate
Margaret L. Rivera
“The City Clerk’s office is the front door to your local government. I’m running to make sure that door is always open, for every resident of Dallas.”
- 📍 Dallas, Texas
- 🏛️ 20+ Years Public Service
- 📋 Certified Municipal Clerk
- Her Story
From Oak Cliff to City Hall
Margaret Rivera grew up on the south side of Dallas, in the Oak Cliff neighborhood where she attended public schools, where her mother worked as a school secretary, and where she first understood what it meant for government to either work for people or fail them. Her family often needed help navigating city services. Too often, the answer was a confusing form, a long wait, or no answer at all.
That early frustration never left her. After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from UT Dallas in 2003, Margaret joined the City of Dallas City Secretary’s Office as a Records Clerk, a junior position, but one she treated as a mission. She saw firsthand how disorganized records, slow processes, and lack of transparency created real barriers for the residents the city was supposed to serve.
I’ve spent twenty years watching people walk into City Hall confused, frustrated, and turned away. I’m running because every resident of Dallas deserves better than that, and I know exactly how to fix it.
— Margaret L. Rivera
Over two decades she rose through the ranks, Records Manager, Deputy City Clerk, earning her Certified Municipal Clerk designation from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks along the way. She’s managed Council meeting agendas, overseen election administration, digitized legacy records, and trained dozens of staff. She’s also seen what happens when the Clerk’s office is underfunded and undertrained, and she’s committed to changing that.
Today, Margaret lives in East Dallas with her husband Carlos, a high school history teacher, and their two daughters. She’s not a career politician. She’s a public servant who has spent her life in the engine room of Dallas city government, and who is ready to lead it.
Fast Facts
- Born and raised in Oak Cliff, Dallas, TX
- B.S. Public Administration — UT Dallas, 2003
- Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC), IIMC — 2012
- 20+ years in Dallas City Government
- Married to Carlos Rivera; two daughters
- East Dallas resident since 2008
- Dallas Public Library Literacy volunteer
- First-time candidate for elected office
Education
- B.S. Public Administration, UT Dallas — 2003
- Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) — IIMC, 2012
- Texas Municipal Clerks Certification Program — 2009
- Government Records Management, UT Austin Online — 2015
- Experience
A Career Built in Dallas
2003 – 2009
Records Manager
City of Dallas — City Secretary's Office
Led the city’s records management program, overseeing archiving of legacy documents, implementing a new records retention schedule, and training staff across departments. Reduced misplaced records by 40% over five years through procedural reforms and a new filing system.
2009 – 2022
Deputy City Clerk
City of Dallas — City Secretary's Office
Served as Deputy City Clerk for thirteen years, the longest tenure in the office’s recent history. Responsibilities included managing Council meeting agendas and minutes, overseeing three city elections, digitizing over 60,000 legacy paper records, and supervising a team of 14 staff. Spearheaded the office’s first online public records portal in 2018.
2022 – 2024
Government Records Consultant
Independent — Dallas, TX
After 18 years with the City, Margaret transitioned to independent consulting, advising North Texas municipalities on records modernization, TPIA compliance, and election administration best practices. Clients included three neighboring cities and two school districts.
2025 – Present
Candidate for Dallas City Clerk
Rivera for Dallas — Campaign 2026
Launched her campaign for City Clerk after seeing persistent failures in public records access and election administration under the current office. Margaret is running to bring her two decades of experience directly to the role Dallas needs filled, from the inside, not the outside.
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