Bartlett served as a U.S. Representative from 1983 until his resignation in 1991.[2] He won the open seat over former state Representative Kay Bailey Hutchison, later the state treasurer, U.S. Senator, and an unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate in 2010. The position became vacant when the long-term Republican incumbent, James M. Collins ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate against the DemocratLloyd M. Bentsen, Jr., of Houston.
While in Congress, Bartlett served as a member of the House Banking Committee, where he "led the successful push to let the market set interest rates on government-insured mortgages."[3] He served as Deputy Whip and was a sponsor or principal cosponsor of nearly 20 major pieces of legislation,[citation needed] including the Enhanced Secondary Mortgage Market Act, Fair Labor Standards Act Reforms, FHA Deregulation and the Americans with Disabilities Act.[4]
Bartlett left the House to run for mayor of Dallas. On November 5, 1991, he was elected to the nonpartisan position with 54 percent of the vote.[5] He was sworn in on December 2, 1991.[6] As mayor, Bartlett led an effort to reduce violent crime and adopted a $5 billion capital improvements plan. He worked to improve an economic revitalization, a downtown renaissance, and 30,000 new residential units in or adjacent to downtown Dallas.[citation needed] Bartlett served as the city's executive until 1995.
Private sector and lobbying
Bartlett was hired to head the Financial Services Roundtable in 1999.[3] In 2012, he was replaced as president and CEO by former Republican presidential candidate and the former GovernorTim Pawlenty of Minnesota.[7]
Following his government service, Bartlett served on a number of boards of directors, including IMCO Recycling, Kaufman and Broad Home Corporation, Sun Coast Industrial and the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington. He is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of RespectAbility.[8] In addition, he also served on the board of governors of the National YMCA, the Fannie Mae National Advisory Council and the board of the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. In 2001 he served on the President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education.[9]
On August 24, 2020, Bartlett was one of 24 former Republican lawmakers to endorse Democratic nominee Joe Biden on the opening day of the Republican National Convention.[11]