AUSTIN, Texas — Austin City Council has selected its next city manager, outgoing Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax. 

What You Need To Know

  • Broadnax announced in February that he will step down from his position in Dallas on June 3. During his almost seven-year tenure as city manager in Dallas, Broadnax faced some controversy with city officials

  • After Broadnax announced his resignation, council members did acknowledge that they had asked him to resign due to longstanding disagreements and said Broadnax and Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson had an ineffective relationship

  • Austin City Council will still need to vote on Broadnax’s contract and employment. Broadnax was previously being paid as much as $423,000 a year in Dallas

  • The city manager position has been vacant since February 2023, when the Austin City Council voted to fire former City Manager Spencer Cronk due to criticism of his handling of the ice storm that left more than 1 million residents without power

Broadnax announced in February that he will step down from his position in Dallas on June 3. During his almost seven-year tenure as city manager in Dallas, Broadnax faced some controversy with city officials.

In 2022, Mayor Eric Johnson and city council members discussed firing Broadnax after conflicts arose. 

After Broadnax announced his resignation, council members did acknowledge that they had asked him to resign due to longstanding disagreements and said Broadnax and Johnson had an ineffective relationship. 

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson posted on the City of Austin Council Message Board Tuesday night announcing the decision to move forward with Broadnax. 

In early March, the City Council announced its top three candidates for the position, which included Broadnax as well as Sara Hensley of Denton, Texas, and Brian Platt of Kansas City, Missouri. The field was then narrowed down to Broadnax and Hensley, who both spoke at a public forum on Monday and were interviewed by council on Tuesday.

Before she took her current position as city manager of Denton, Hensley oversaw the Austin Parks and Recreation Department and served as interim city manager.

Austin City Council will still need to vote on Broadnax’s contract and employment. Broadnax was previously being paid as much as $423,000 a year in Dallas. 

The city manager position has been vacant since February 2023, when the Austin City Council voted to fire former City Manager Spencer Cronk due to criticism of his handling of the ice storm that left more than 1 million residents without power. 

Former City Manager Jesus Garza was tapped to be the interim city manager and has been in the position since.  

Austin City Council will vote on April 4 whether to start contract negotiations or approve Broadnax’s contract.