Dallas has a new city honcho in town. Dallas' interim City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert pulled the trigger, knocking on Sanger's door and roping in Alina Ciocan to shepherd an array of public service departments. Ciocan is sliding into the office soon to be vacated by Dr. Robert Perez, Dallas announced.
It’s a game of municipal musical chairs—Perez is packing up for Topeka, Kansas after a formal nod from city bigwigs to become their City Manager. The move leaves big boots to fill and that job has fallen to Ciocan, Tolbert, as quoted by the City of Dallas press release, praised her predecessor, and hailed the imminent newcomer. "We look forward to welcoming Alina to our team. Our 100-day Transition is underway, and with her experience and enthusiasm, she will jump right in, support the great work of our departments, and help us deliver on our commitment to Service First with the urgency of Now!
While Ciocan might not yet be a household name in Dallas, she's packing a résumé 18 years thick with civic muscle, including stints as top dog in Sanger, overseeing everything from park benches to paving roads. As Sanger’s City Manager and Assistant City Manager, she's juggled projects from wastewater treatment overhauls to strategic planning for future infrastructural facelifts, according to the City of Dallas.
The City of Dallas captured Ciocan's first words on the new gig. “I am honored to join the City of Dallas and excited to become part of such a dynamic team,” said Ciocan, and she’s not wasting any time. With Perez waving goodbye on June 11, Ciocan will clock in on May 30, aiming for a seamless handoff.
