Dr. John Harper was elected Mayor of Rowlett in May 2007. He has instituted multi-media communications resulting in a greater transparency in local government and accountability to Rowlett citizens. He leads strategic financial management of the City operating and capital budgets as well as economic development of Rowlett into a Regional Center and destination. His speeches focus on North Texas mass transit issues and Statewide criminal justice issues.

In addition to his leadership role in the City of Rowlett, he is a regional leader. He chairs the Finance Committee of the Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition (DRMC) and serves on the DRMC Governing Committee. He co-chairs the Federal and States Issues Committee of TEX-21, a national organization dedicated to transportation excellence. He is an Alternate Member of the Metroplex Regional Transportation Council, a member of the Rockwall County Planning Consortium and also serves on the Dallas County Criminal Justice Advisory Board. He is in the Inaugural Class of Leadership North Texas, made up of 26 regional leaders who have a commitment to civic engagement and dedicated to solving critical issues affecting North Texas' growth and economic development.