Larry Jeffus, District 4 Council Member believes in keeping his door open to his constituents and his mind open to their ideas and concerns.  Larry Jeffus puts his beliefs into action daily. For example, the phone number listed above rings in his home.  He has frequently had meetings with individuals, groups of citizens, and community and business leaders in his home; and for the past five years has hosted a Christmas party in his home for anyone who voted in the City Council election in District 4.

“One of my goals is to improve the quality of life in Garland, and I believe you have to create a sense of community in order to do that,” says Mr. Jeffus.  “As an elected representative, it’s my job to be accessible to citizens and to listen to them.”

Mr. Jeffus is quite familiar with many of the issues he hears.  He has lived in Garland for more than 20 years, having spent most of his life in the Metroplex.  He and his wife, Carol, have three sons, two daughters, and seven grandchildren.  He has authored more than 100 textbooks.  In 2010-11 he published three major welding textbooks and six supplemental books.  He is also an educational consultant and is often called upon as an energy efficiency expert. 

Public and community service are core values for Mr. Jeffus.  He was appointed by Governor Rick Perry to the Texas Workforce Investment Council, and he also serves on the Apprenticeship Leadership Team.  He has served on the Board of Directors for the Learning Center in Fort Worth and was appointed to the Technology Transfer for the Disabled Project at the University of Texas.  He is a member of the Lakeview Centennial High School Welding Program Advisory Board and their Campus Improvement Team.  Mr. Jeffus serves on the Eastfield College Hot Rod Program Advisory Board and many industry-related organizations devoted to raising quality standards.  He regularly calls on state and federal lawmakers to promote education-related issues.  He is also a nationally certified wheelchair athletic official, a lifetime Boy Scout, and a former Girl Scout Leader.

Mr. Jeffus is now turning much of his attention to attracting and promoting positive economic development projects in Garland, particularly the southern portion that includes District 4.  “We’ve lost several important business interests in south Garland in the past.  To attract new businesses I have helped set up and attended economic development meetings with seven foreign consulates in Houston and traveled to Taiwan as a member of a trade delegation.  I never miss an opportunity to promote Garland to the many local, state, and international businesses I have regular contact with through my work as an author and consultant," says Mr. Jeffus.