MANOR, Texas – Dr. Larry Wallace is taking a hands-on, face-front approach to his tenure as mayor of the City of Manor.

Elected in November

Focused on bringing business and growth to city

Also teaches at Huston-Tillotson University

He was elected last month, becoming the city's first black mayor in history. Now in office, he's focused on bringing more opportunity to the growing number of residents moving to the city because of affordable real estate. That's why one of the first things he’s planning on doing is meeting those residents.

"Being an elected or appointed leader in the community, they want to see you," he said. "They want to know that you’re an actual person, that you really care about them, that you’re not just sitting behind a desk."

When he's not at his day job at Huston-Tillotson University, he's spending his time at community events meeting residents. He's shaking hands with local student athletes as they commit to college, or attending middle school events talking to principles and parents.

Wallace wants to create a home for residents that has everything they need. His goal is to keep them from having to constantly make the 20- to 25-minute trip to Austin.

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"When you go home, you're home," he said. "You don't have to deal with the noise, you don't have to deal with the traffic, you should be able to hop in your car and get to where you need to get to in 10 to 15 minutes."

Dr. Wallace is doing what he can to make Manor an attractive destination for businesses that could improve the lives of his residents. Right now, Manor has a Walmart and a number of restaurants but the new mayor says they aren’t enough.

"There's some things that a Walmart isn't able to provide that our residents want," Wallace said.

Working with restaurants and businesses to bring opportunity is how Wallace wants the city to grow. Just a month into his term he's already mapped out where future retail hubs, including restaurants and grocery stores, could go. He wants big corporations to see Manor as a destination for future headquarters.

"I want places like Apple and Army Futures Command to be able to say Manor is a city that we want to be with because of what it represents as far as work-life balance," said Wallace.