DALLAS — Dallas is one step closer to hiring a new city manager.
The city has narrowed its search to four semifinalists, according to a memo and report obtained by WFAA on Monday.
William Johnson, Kimberly Tolbert, Mark Washington and Zachary Williams are the four candidates the city will choose from, as it looks to replace T.C. Broadnax, who left for the same role in Austin earlier this year.
Tolbert is currently serving as the interim city manager.
City officials received 50 applications for the job, according to a memo from Edward Williams, a director at Baker Tilly, the firm conducting the search for the city.
Williams noted the "depth and breadth of the applicant pool." Seven applicants were invited to take additional questionnaires as part of the hiring process. Of those seven, the four semi-finalists were chosen.
Here's more about each candidate:
- William Johnson is currently an assistant city manager in Fort Worth, with primary responsibilities of economic development, public safety and police and development efforts, such as the Texas A&M Fort Worth campus, and the Stockyards.
- Kimberly Tolbert is the interim Dallas city manager and has been a deputy city manager since January 2022. Before that, she was the city manager's chief of staff. Tolbert previously worked for the North Texas Tollway Authority as a chief strategic officer and assistant executive director of administration.
- Mark Washington is the city manager in Grand Rapids, Mich., the state's second-largest city. Washington has held the role since 2018. Before that, he was an assistant city manager in Austin and an assistant human resources director in Fort Worth.
- Zachary Williams is a county manager in Dekalb County, Ga., in the Atlanta area. He's been in that role since 2013. Before that, he was a county manager in Fulton County, Ga., and was an assistant county administrator in Broward County, Fla.
The new city manager will be replacing Broadnax, who left for the Austin job this summer. Among the most immediate tasks of the new city manager will be hiring a permanent police chief.
Chief Eddie Garcia retired from law enforcement earlier this year to take a city administration role in Austin, following Broadnax there.
Broadnax was hired to serve the City of Dallas as its city manager at the end of 2016 and officially started the role in 2017. He had the highest annual salary at City Hall at more than $423,247.
After he announced his plans to resign, both he and Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson acknowledged their sometimes strained relationship, but Johnson said "we still worked together to help move this city forward."
In a joint statement, Dallas city councilmembers said Broadnax's resignation was "a necessary step towards fostering an environment conducive to maximizing the potential of our beloved city."
"After careful consideration, it has become apparent that the relationship between the mayor and the city manager has not been conducive to effective governance and the advancement of Dallas’ interests," the statement said. "The dynamic between these key citywide figures has unfortunately hindered the realization of our city's full potential, and it is imperative that we address this issue head-on in order to move forward."