It looks like Fort Worth will be joining Dallas in a hunt for a new city manager following an announcement on Monday by David Cooke, who said he was going to retire.
Cooke has held the job of city manager of Fort Worth longer than anyone else in the city’s history. While his 10-year tenure was scuffed a bit by media attention he received for taking a private flight on wealthy real estate holders Ed and Sasha Bass’ airplane (a move that earned him some rebuke by the Fort Worth City Council and forced him to recuse himself from working on contracts involving Sundance Square), he may find himself remembered well. by taxpayers and officials — at least by comparison to former Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Broadnax’s seven-year tenure at the head of City operations was marred by significant crime increases, constant debacles at the Development Services Department, and high-profile data leaks.
Anyway, here’s some of what the Fort Worth Report published on Cooke’s announced retirement:
Fort Worth City Manager David Cooke plans to retire after serving in the role for a decade, Mayor Mattie Parker confirmed to the Report on Monday.
Cooke is the longest-tenured city manager in Fort Worth’s history. He assumed the role in June 2014 and observed his 10-year anniversary last month.
“Retirement is something I’ve thought long and hard about, and I feel the timing is right,” Cooke wrote in a letter to city employees.
In order to ensure “a seamless transition,” he will continue in his role until February 2025. In the coming weeks, he plans to work with council members on a plan to transition out of the role.
Parker said in a statement that Cooke’s leadership has left an “indelible mark” on the city and that she’s “incredibly proud” of that leadership.
“He has continually led with integrity, intelligence and, most importantly, always remembering to have fun along the way,” Parker said. “His accomplishments are too many to list, but above all he ensured our city is in the best possible fiscal health of any large city in the country.”