AUSTIN, Texas — Outgoing Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax was announced as a finalist for the city manager job in Austin on Tuesday -- a move rumored around Dallas City Hall since the abrupt announcement of his upcoming June 3 departure last month.
Broadnax kept the maneuvering around his resignation secret from Mayor Eric Johnson, with whom he had a history of disagreements. But the timing of his announcement, many observers in City Hall noted, lined up with the city manager search in the state’s capitol city.
Denton City Manager Sara Hensley was also named a finalist for the Austin job on Tuesday.
Austin’s deadline for applications was in mid-February, although it was later extended to February 26.
Austin officials said they expected the most qualified candidates to apply closer to the deadline.
Broadnax first approached a Dallas City Council member to discuss his departure by the beginning of February, WFAA reported at the time of the announcement. He rallied city council support for his resignation, then announced his departure February 21.
On Friday, the Austin Mayor Kirk Watson notified council members that the city received 39 applications for its open city manager position.
On Tuesday, the council met in executive session and whittled the finalist list to three. Broadnax is joined by Hensley and Brian Platt of Kansas City on the list of finalists.
Broadnax was Dallas’ highest paid employee, most recently earning $423, 247 per year – including a monthly $700 car allowance.
No official word has yet been released on the salary that Austin is offering, however, its previous city manager, who was officially fired in mid-February 2023, was earning $388,190 annually as of December 2022.
But the salary being offered for its next hire was rumored to have increased to $475,000 annually, according to a leaked video of the now-suspended city manager of Bozeman, Montana, who said he was approached for the job.
Broadnax’s last day in office in Dallas will be June 3.
Austin has said it would like the new city manager to start by September 1.
Hensley was previously Parks and Recreation director in Austin before coming to Denton in May 2019, according to her official biography on the city’s website.
She was appointed City Manager in Denton in March 2022, following stints as assistant, deputy and interim city manager. Hensley also served in Austin as Parks and Rec Director before serving as its Interim Assistant City Manager for two years, her biography said.
The Austin mayor’s office said the three candidates will participate in meetings with city staff and the community on March 25, followed by interviews with the mayor and council the next day.
The city anticipates voting to begin contract negotiations with its leading candidate on April 2, the mayor said.