After careful consideration, the Austin City Council has revealed the top candidates in the running to become Austin's next city manager. Following a closed-door work session, the council has identified the most qualified contenders from a pool of 39 applicants.

One of the frontrunners is T.C. Broadnax, the current city manager of Dallas. Having served in this role for the past seven years, Broadnax announced his resignation last month, with his last day scheduled for June 3. With a high rating from the firm conducting the search, he has emerged as a strong contender despite facing scrutiny from Dallas City Council members in recent months.

Brian Platt, the city manager of Kansas City, Missouri, is also in the running. Platt took up the position in December 2020 amid the challenges posed by the pandemic. Prior to his tenure in Kansas City, he served as the city manager for Jersey City, New Jersey. Although he faced allegations of racism in his former role, the subsequent dismissal of the lawsuit and support from the majority of Jersey City council members have bolstered his candidacy.

Another prominent candidate is Sara Hensley, currently the city manager of Denton, Texas. Hensley, who became Denton's first female city manager in March 2022, brings extensive experience within the city of Austin. She previously held leadership roles in Austin's Parks and Recreation Department and served as interim assistant city manager for approximately two years. Hensley made headlines when she refused to direct the Denton chief of police to enforce the city's marijuana ordinance, aligning with residents' vote to decriminalize certain marijuana offenses.

Mayor Kirk Watson expressed confidence that a new city manager will be selected by April, following interviews with the city council and a community town hall. The search for a new city manager was prompted by the departure of former City Manager Spencer Cronk, who faced criticism for his handling of power outages and failed negotiations with the Austin Police Association.

As the selection process progresses, Austin is eager to find a capable individual who can tackle the city's ongoing challenges, including housing issues and a major airport expansion. The chosen candidate will be responsible for leading various departments and forging strong relationships with elected officials, community stakeholders, and residents.

Ultimately, the decision to appoint Austin's next city manager will have lasting implications for the city's growth and development. As interviews and evaluations proceed, the Austin City Council remains committed to finding a qualified candidate who can lead the city into a prosperous future.