WILMER – Wilmer Mayor Sheila Petta won her seat again last month and is now in her third mayoral term.
Prior to her role as Mayor, Petta was an active councilmember and a Wilmer resident for several years.
Since she took her seat as Mayor in the last five years 6.2-million sq-ft of buildings have developed in Wilmer by companies moving in. Those companies include:
Trina Solar
Cavenders
Kawasaki
John Paul Mitchel
Crate & Barrel
Post Brands
Owens Corning
Kimberly Clark
QTS Data Centers
Stream Data Centers
Residential growth has also been robust with more coming. Lanier Homes currently has homes for sale in their 150-lot development and JPI is building a 300-unit apartment and townhome development.
Mike Rader, Prime 45 Development LLC whose company has been instrumental in Wilmer’s growth said, “Mayor Petta has been very beneficial to the growth of the City of Wilmer.
“During her six years being Mayor, she guided the city to over four times the tax value from 2020 to 2025 having a tax value in 2025 of $3,154,905,839.
“Wilmer is the fastest growing in Dallas County.”
Rader and those who worked with Petta over the years said she is the leader in bringing manufacturing and international logistics companies to Wilmer, directing marketing of the city’s benefits.
Wilmer has participated annually in state and national conventions since she took her mayoral role including national and state conventions pursuing retail/commercial companies.
“Wilmer is now seeing results of three separate retail/commercial projects underway in Wilmer that will have medical, hotels, restaurants, grocery, and residential components,” Rader explained.
“Parkland Hospital has acquired land in Wilmer and is building a clinic that will provide medical support to multiple cities in the area.”
Rumor is Marriott has two hotels coming to Wilmer too.
Overall, Wilmer’s growth will continue as the support base is now in place.
Wilmer has also utilized these five years of development to build a Fire Station, Police Station, and Public Works building while also improving sewer and water systems.
However, there is one thing Petta has said she will not be bringing more of to Wilmer.
That is data centers.
Recently a new data center contacted her, and she told them the city was happy with the three located there now in the various stages of development and she is adamant there is no room for more.
“I love my city and what I have brought here with the help of staff over the years has made a positive impact,” Petta said.
“My intention is for there to be strong residential, and businesses with the balance that brings positive change to everyone as we work together to make Wilmer great.
“And as for any additional data centers, I turned one away last week and will continue to do so, the balance as I mentioned, is how Wilmer will grow positively in the future.”