AUSTIN, Texas — The new Austin city manager is recruiting for his top executive positions from a familiar place, his old office in the City of Dallas.

What You Need To Know

  • In a memo to Mayor Kirk Watson and the Austin City Council, City Manager T.C. Broadnax, who previously served as city manager for the City of Dallas, announced two appointments to his executive leadership team this week. The two positions he filled were deputy city manager and special assistant to the city manager

  • Broadnax is bringing in Jon Fortune to be his right-hand man and serve as the deputy city manager, a role he is very familiar with

  • The position of special assistant to the city manager will be filled by Genesis D. Gavino, who previously served as chief of staff and resilience officer for the City of Dallas

  • Broadnax said in the memo that Fortune’s start date will be June 10, while Gavino will start on June 3

In a memo to Mayor Kirk Watson and the Austin City Council, City Manager T.C. Broadnax, who previously served as city manager for the City of Dallas, announced two appointments to his executive leadership team this week. The two positions he filled were deputy city manager and special assistant to the city manager. 

Broadnax is bringing in Jon Fortune to be his right-hand man and serve as the deputy city manager, a role he is very familiar with. Fortune most recently served under Broadnax in the City of Dallas as deputy city manager and assistant city manager for public safety, starting in 2017. 

Before that, Fortune served in multiple roles at the City of Denton from 1991 to 2017, including assistant city manager for 17 years during that tenure. 

“As Deputy City Manager, Jon Fortune will serve and function as the Chief Operating Officer, assuming critical responsibilities in the absence of the City Manager and will oversee the management and direction of city departments and organization-wide initiatives to help ensure the necessary alignment,” Broadnax wrote in his memo.

The position of special assistant to the city manager will be filled by Genesis D. Gavino, who previously served as chief of staff and resilience officer for the City of Dallas. 

“As Special Assistant to the City Manager, Genesis D. Gavino will play a pivotal role in driving organizational change and advancing the prosperity of Austin through strategic initiatives and partnerships,” the memo said. “This position provides an opportunity to drive forward-thinking strategies that enhance the city’s ability to withstand and adapt to various challenges while leveraging the strengths of anchor institutions to catalyze positive change.”

Broadnax said in the memo that Fortune’s start date will be June 10, while Gavino will start on June 3. 

Broadnax stepped down from his position as Dallas city manager earlier this year after strife between him, the mayor and some Dallas City Council members. He originally was planning on staying in that role until June 3, but he left early after accepting his new job in Austin with a start date of May 6.

Broadnax’s contract, which was unanimously approved by the City Council, set his base salary at around $470,000.