Bio – Richard H. Stopfer, Mayor

2023 – 2026

Rick Stopfer was re-elected to a third term as Mayor in May 2023. Stopfer was originally elected as a councilmember to the Irving City Council in 1998 and served through 2012; he was appointed Deputy Mayor Pro-Tem in 2007-2008 and Mayor Pro Tem 2008-2009. While on City Council, Mayor Stopfer was chair to the Planning and Development Committee, a member of the Audit and Finance Committee, Legislative Committee, Public Works Committee, Communications Committee, Community Services Committee and the Transportation and Natural Resources Committee.

In 2013, Mayor Stopfer was appointed by the City Council to be the Irving representative to the DART Board. While on the Board, he has served as chair of DART Revenue and Public Relations Committee, Vice-Chair of DART Rail Program Committee, a member of the DART Administrative Committee and the DART Audit Committee. He is also a member of the Trinity Railway Express Advisory Committee, the Transit Oriented Development Committee and an alternate member on the Regional Transportation Council. Mayor Stopfer is the liaison to the Irving Chamber of Commerce and the DFW Airport Board.

Mayor Stopfer has an extensive history of serving on various municipal boards and government agencies. He has served as a board member and/or a liaison to the Trinity River Corridor Advisory Committee, DFW International Airport Board, Dallas Regional Mobility Commission/TEX-21, Irving Flood Control District-Section I, Irving Flood Control District- Section III, North Central Texas Council of Government, National League of Cities and the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Mayor Stopfer has lived in Irving since 1988; he was a member of the Valley Ranch Association Board of Directors, President of the Valley Ranch Association Master Board and President of the Irving Heritage Society. Mayor Stopfer and his wife, Melanie, have been married for over forty years and were born and raised in South Dakota. He is a retired automotive consultant.