Out of 31 applicants, eight candidates have been selected to move forward in the first round of interviews for the open City Manager position in San Antonio.
"City Council reviewed and evaluated 31 applicants from across the country and within city government for consideration of the City Manager position," Mayor Ron Nirenberg said. "We have narrowed the list to our priority candidates and I am confident this process will result in a top-notch City Manager who will assist us in moving our city forward."
The eight applicants advancing in the process are:
- Majed Al-Ghafry, Assistant City Manager, City of Dallas
- Carlos Contreras, Assistant City Manager, City of San Antonio
- Lori Houston, Assistant City Manager, City of San Antonio
- Orlando Sanchez, Deputy City Manager, City of Las Vegas
- Rod Sanchez, Assistant City Manager, City of San Antonio
- Maria Villagomez, Assistant City Manager, City of San Antonio
- Erik Walsh, Deputy City Manager, City of San Antonio
- Peter Zanoni, Deputy City Manager, City of San Antonio
Last week, San Antonio officials released the list of 31 people vying to replace outgoing City Manager Sheryl Sculley.
The other applicants 23 were:
- Celeste Brown, Bexar County judge in Bexar County
- Sylvia Carrillo, assistant city manager in Corpus Christi, Texas
- Michael Ciaravino, city manager in Newburgh, New York
- James Dinneen, county manager in Volusia County, Florida
- Simon Farbrother, city manager in Edmonton, Albert, Canada
- Michael Idrogo, unknown
- Charles Jackson, city manager in Pearsall, Texas
- Andy Joslin, city manage in Alice, Texas
- Kelly Kuenstler, city manager in Leon Valley, Texas
- Matthew McDermott, director of administration and chief clerk in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
- Ricardo Mendez, chief operating officer in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- Willie Morales, town administrator in Northfield, Massachusetts
- Patrick O’Connor, finance director in College Park, Georgia
- Bobby Parker, adjunct professor at Saint Leo University in Saint Leo, Florida
- Gilbert Perales, deputy city manager in Arlington, Texas
- Nazarite Perez, unknown
- Hernan Ponce, managing director at Digi ROI & Consulting, a technology company
- Randy Robertson, city manager in Aberdeen, Maryland
- Diana Rodela, special projects at the department of homeless services in New York, New York
- Pietro Scalera, village administrator in Bloomingdale, Illinois
- Kevin Woods, city manager in Thornton, Colorado
- Marc Woolley, business administrator in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- Alan Yoshida, special warfare development manager with the Air Force
Sculley announced her intent to retire from the position on Nov. 29. She's held the office for 13 years.
Among the initial list of applicants were 17 individuals with city manager, assistant city manager or deputy city manager experience. Six of those already worked for the City of San Antonio, with other applicants coming from Las Vegas, the U.S. Air Force, Canada, New York City, Dallas and elsewhere.
While the list included the applicants' former or most recent positions, two instead said “Unknown” where that information would be.
City councilors began the process of identifying finalists on Monday. A public symposium is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 23, with a council vote to approve the new city manager set for Jan. 31.
Due to new voter-approved ordinances that passed on Election Day, the salary of Sculley's successor will be capped, as well as the number of years they hold the position.
Additionally, the resumes and cover letters of all 31 original applicants for the City Manager position are posted on the City’s website. CLICK HERE to view them.