As the hunt for Austin's new city manager kicks into gear, the city gears up for what's shaping up to be a meticulous selection process. Applications are officially opening today with the hope of snagging a top-tier candidate by April. Interim city manager Jesús Garza has been manning the helm since the ouster of former manager Spencer Cronk. The city council seems adamant, they want a stalwart figure at the wheel—a long-term player.
The window for aspirants to toss their hats into the ring narrows to a close on February 12. District 5 council member Ryan Alter, "We have a search firm that will help us look through some of those applicants and figure out who they might recommend and we, as a body, will go through those applications and figure out who we would like to interview and, ultimately, who will be a finalist and become our next city manager," reported by CBS Austin.
With Mosaic Public Partners at the helm of the candidate’s search, Mayor Kirk Watson has indicated a pool brimming with potential, according to KVUE.
But Watson's patience is clear, "I want to emphasize that because this is such a big decision, we shouldn't feel rushed in any way. Additionally, we may pick someone that, for personal or professional reasons, can't start until later." Alter has stated that the city council's decision is critical, given the impending mandate of the new manager, as per CBS Austin.
