Meet The City Manager Finalists

Hello, friend,

I don’t usually like to bother you more than once a week, but I wanted to share two quick updates on the process to fill the most important appointed position at Dallas City Hall: the city manager.

Under the City Charter, the city manager acts as the CEO, implementing the City Council’s vision, proposing the annual budget, and overseeing the city’s programs, operations, and 13,000 or so employees.

Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Tennell Atkins tonight requested (via this memo) that Mayor Eric L. Johnson schedule the finalist candidate interviews behind closed doors during next Wednesday’s City Council briefing meeting. The request is to interview the candidates and “deliberate the appointment of the city manager,” meaning a vote on who to hire will come later. This interview date is two days later than the most recent draft timeline suggested.

As previously announced, the finalists are interim Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, Fort Worth Assistant City Manager William Johnson, and Sacramento Assistant City Manager Mario Lara.

I also want to encourage you to take advantage of one of three opportunities to meet those three finalists in person this weekend:

• Saturday, January 11, 2025, 10:00 AM – Dallas City Hall (Main Lobby, 1500 Marilla St., Dallas, TX)

• Saturday, January 11, 2025, 3:00 PM – Singing Hills Recreation Center (6805 Patrol Way, Dallas, TX)

• Sunday, January 12, 2025, 1:00 PM – Fretz Recreation Center (6950 Beltline, Dallas, TX)

The format of those meetings has not been officially announced, but rumor has it you just might get the chance to meet — and even greet — them if you attend.