The search for a new city manager for Dallas has been marked by delays and growing frustration among some city council members. Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Adam Bazaldua has been particularly vocal about the drawn-out process, expressing concerns about the time it has taken to find a suitable candidate. In a December 16 memo obtained by the Dallas Nomad, Bazaldua expressed disappointment in his fellow council members, stating “The special called meeting scheduled for this morning to interview candidates and officially hire a city manager failed to make a quorum.”
The special meeting, to be held on December 16th was called by Council members Gay Donnell Willis (District 13), Jaynie Schultz (11), and Paula Blackmon (9), all seemingly seeking to expedite the search, interview, selection and hiring process. However, the meeting failed to reach quorum with just five members, including Adam Bazaldua (7) and Omar Narvaez (6), showing face. This lack of attendance prevented the council from interviewing the finalist candidates and officially hiring a new city manager.
The search for a new city manager follows the departure of T.C. Broadnax, who resigned from the executive city position in June 2023. Broadnax’s tenure was marked by a complex relationship with the city council and Mayor Eric Johnson. While he oversaw some notable accomplishments, including the development of the Trinity River Project and the expansion of the city’s public transportation system, he also faced criticism from some council members over his management style. Quickly landing a new gig, Broadnax was be appointed as Austin’s new city manager with a base salary of $470,017.60, a significant increase from his previous salary in Dallas – part of a compensation package that also includes an annual executive allowance, a cell phone allowance, relocation expenses and a housing stipend for a temporary residence.
Following T.C. Broadnax’s resignation, Kimberly Bizor Tolbert was appointed Dallas’s interim city manager in May 2024. Tolbert, a seasoned public servant who, since May 2024, has been tasked with overseeing the city’s operations while the search for a permanent replacement continues, has since garnered growing support amongst Dallas residents. Some of these residents, including Dallas Mavericks outgoing CEO, Cynt Marshall, showed up to the flatlined special meeting to call for Tolbert to be hired for the permanent role.
“We had a winning team on the court last night,” Marshall said. “I believe you have a winning team on the court with our interim city manager, Kim Tolbert, and her team. We would like to see her made permanent along with that entire team.” On Friday, the Dallas NAACP held a press conference to publicly endorse Kimberly Tolbert as the next permanent City Manager of Dallas. The NAACP emphasized Tolbert’s experience, leadership, and dedication to serving the Dallas community. This endorsement adds further momentum to the growing support for Tolbert within the community and among key stakeholders.
The search process has been entrusted to a search firm, Baker Tilly, which has narrowed down the pool of 50 applicants to four semifinalists according to Edward William, a director at the firm. Though the shortlisted four, all of whom just happen to be African American, William Johnson, Kimberly Tolbert, Mark Washington and Zachary Williams, have drawn expressions of disappointment from some council members who argue that they expected a larger pool of qualified individuals.
William Johnson is currently an assistant city manager in Fort Worth, Mark Washington is the city manager in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Zachary Williams is the current county manager in Dekalb County, Georgia and Kimberly Tolbert, is, of course the current interim Dallas City manager and the former chief of staff to the former city manager.
The search for a new city manager comes at a critical time for Dallas, as the city faces numerous challenges, including public safety concerns, infrastructure issues, and budget constraints. The delay in finding a permanent leader could hinder the city’s ability to address the day-to-day operations of the city, the implementation of council policies and the management of city departments. “As city council members, our first responsibility is to show up when called,” Bazaldua said in the memo. “This neglect disregards the responsibilities entrusted to us by the city charter and undermines the process of our government.”
Following the failed special meeting on December 16th, a new date for candidate interviews has been set for December 23rd when the committee will interview three candidates instead of the initial four. This decision comes after a series of adjustments the initial shortlist. The committee removed one of the initial four and added two new semifinalists just before two voluntarily dropped out. The three finalists to be interviewed on the 23rd include interim city manager Kim Tolbert, William Johnson and Mario Lara.
