AUSTIN, Texas — Austin is getting closer to finding its next city manager.
Channy Soeur served on the City Manager Search Advisory Task Force, which helped Austin hire former city managers Spencer Cronk and Marc Ott. After Cronk was fired for his response to the 2023 winter storm, Soeur learned his lesson.
"Take a look at experience," Souer said. "That's where the weakness was."
"I know there were some frustrations about the speed with which he [Cronk] moved and kind of waited for some direction," Councilmember Ryan Alter said. "I think what we are kind of shifting more towards is someone who is going to just be more proactive in that role."
The two finalists in the search are Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax and Denton City Manager Sara Hensley. While Broadnax declined to speak to KVUE, Hensley, Austin's former parks and recreation director, agreed.
"It is not lost on me that Austin is going through a lot of changes and a lot of challenges, and I love a good challenge," Hensley said.
Housing affordability is one issue Hensley said she wants to work on, with a promise to be visible, accessible and communicative.
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"You can't get good employees in Austin if they can't afford a house or they can't afford to rent," Hensley said. "It's working with the nonprofit community and the business community to look at how we can solve those problems ... If you're not visible, you're not communicative ... you will not succeed at all. Not in Austin."
It's that drive for success that is not only wanted but expected by Austin leaders.
"We have to succeed," Soeur said. "We don't have a choice."
Austinites can hear from the two finalists at the Permitting and Development Center on March 25 at 6 p.m.