Fort Worth mayor says they want ‘Superman or Superwoman” for next city manager

Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price posted the following column on the City of Fort Worth Website on Jan. 31, 2014. It states what they’re looking for in their next city manager. El Paso City Manager Joyce Wilson on Feb. 14 was named one of four finalists.

Here is Price’s column in its entirety:

We began our conversation about Fort Worth’s next city manager this week. It’s one of the most important decisions we will make as a city council—a decision that will shape the very future of our city. I have no doubt that this council will make the right decision.

Taking on the responsibility of managing the 16th largest (and best) city in the nation—a city that is in the fastest-growing metropolitan area—is no easy task. We are doing our homework. We are taking as much time as we need. We are not simply looking for a job to fit a person—we are looking for the person who is best for the job. In a nutshell, we arelooking for Superman or Superwoman.

A little about what we’re looking for in the next city manager:

Proven leader Dynamic change agent Ability to break down silos An innovator who is tech savvy Business eye for maximizing productivity and customer service Able to be transformational while also taking care of the daily transactional tasks Someone who is comfortable balancing a tight budget with the great demand for essential city services

Fort Worth’s new city manager must be able to build a lean and responsive organization while meeting the needs of our growing population. He or she must keep our focus on redeveloping our city’s urban core while responsibly managing growth in outlying areas. The next city manager must be ready to deal with the North Texas challenges of mobility and water. And our next city manager must be able to improve customer service, expand the city’s use of technology and strengthen transparency and public engagement.

We are looking at strong candidates by conducting a national search, which is absolutely mandatory for this level of leadership. We will leave no stone unturned.

Yes, the tasks ahead of the new city manager will be great, but he or she will have had a lot of help from our current manager,Tom Higgins.Higgins paved the way for Fort Worth’s upswing through sound and prudent leadership. We are honored to have had Mr. Higgins as our city manager, and I know his replacement will be grateful, too.

Our next city manager will take Fort Worth to new heights. We’ll see progress like we’ve never seen before. There is no place to go but up. If you haven’t bought stock in Fort Worth, now’s the time to go all-in.

It’s our city council’s responsibility to hire the city manager, and that’s what we plan to do based on sound priorities and the input we’ve received from fellow Fort Worthians.

So, I’m asking you: What do you want to see in your next city manager? Email me at Betsy.Price@fortworthtexas.gov with your thoughts. It’s your Fort Worth! Let’s continue building it together.