Mayor Don Warren: Leading with Heart and Vision in Tyler

“When I look back on where we started, I don’t just see projects or numbers,” Warren said. “I see people. I see neighborhoods. I see families.”  

Don Warren has always been drawn to what’s possible. Whether it was his childhood dream of becoming a movie producer, his early efforts to restore Bergfeld Park, or the day he stepped into public office, he has approached each chapter with a clear goal: make things better for the people around him. 

During the 2026 State of the City, Warren reflected on nearly six years as Mayor and more than a decade of public service, looking back not just at the projects completed, but at the community that helped shape Tyler’s progress. 

“Today isn’t about me checking off a to-do list,” Warren said. “It’s about our story and what happens when a community decides to pull in the same direction.” 

During Warren’s administration, Tyler experienced one of the most active periods of public investment in recent City history.  

The Rose Complex was reshaped with the construction of the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center and restoration of the historic Mayfair Building. Parks across the City saw major reinvestment, Legacy Trails expanded, and the Miracle League Field opened at Faulkner Park to make sure children of all abilities had a place to play. 

At the same time, the City advanced major investments in streets, utilities, drainage, water infrastructure, sewer improvements, traffic signal retiming, public safety, and long-range planning designed to support Tyler’s future growth and reliability. 

“These aren’t the kinds of projects that always make headlines,” Warren said. “But they are the kind of investments that protect public health, improve reliability, and prepare our City for the future.” 

Public safety also remained a major focus during his time as Mayor. The City opened a new Fire Headquarters, established a Regional Police Training Facility, launched in-house fire and police academies, and invested in emergency response equipment and community-focused policing initiatives. 

“People don’t stay in a city because of tax rates,” he says. “They stay because of how the City feels.” 

That feeling is at the core of everything Warren does. It’s why he walks neighborhoods, answers his own phone, and gives out his email freely. It’s why he launched a downtown revitalization effort that focuses just as much on community gathering as it does on economic development. 

As his final term winds down, Don Warren isn’t slowing down. There are still plans to finish, conversations to have, and dreams to chase on behalf of the city and people he loves. 

“I don’t think leadership is about being the loudest person in the room,” he says. “It’s about listening. It’s about caring. And it’s about doing what you said you would.”