The Dallas City Council officially appointed Kimberly Bizor Tolbert as the permanent city manager during a meeting on Wednesday.
The appointment of Tolbert as the new city manager brings an end to a long process that first began when former City Manager TC Broadnax left for the same role in Austin in February 2024, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
The Dallas City Council decided between a candidate pool of Tolbert, Fort Worth Assistant City Manager William Johnson, and Sacramento Assistant City Manager Mario Lara.
Council members spent roughly three-and-a-half hours deliberating on which candidate to select, but the final tally ended with Tolbert being approved by the Council 13-2, with Cara Mendelsohn (District 12) and Paul Ridley (District 14) opposing.
Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson thanked the Ad Hoc Committee on Administrative Affairs for their work in finding the candidates and said that this hire is the “single most important hire” that anyone on the council has made.
“This process, as criticized as it might have been, yielded the best candidate. And her name is Kimberly Bizor Tolbert,” said the Mayor.
Mayor Pro Tem Tennell Atkins, who led the Ad Hoc Committee on Administrative Affairs, also expressed his support for Tolbert and said the process was “very hard and very difficult.”
“Where we’re going next is the 21st century of Dallas because Dallas is one of the greatest cities in America, and we should show that we have the greatest city manager in America,” he said.
Council member Cara Mendelsohn voiced a different opinion on the appointment, saying the future of Dallas “demands a new direction and a fresh perspective in our leadership.”
“We need a City Hall that prioritizes the things that matter most: public safety, homelessness, street repair, and the significant economic challenges we face,” said Mendelsohn. “Our next city manager must not only address these pressing issues but also bring transparency and accountability to the table.”
Similarly, Council Member Paul Ridley presented concerns about Tolbert’s contract with the City Council, which stipulates that she will receive a yearly salary of $450,000.
Ridley specifically pointed to a clause in the contract that states that Tolbert would receive $900,000 if released from her role at any time, which is twice as large as the settlement Broadnax received when he left for Austin.
After the appointment, Tolbert thanked those involved in the process and said that working with the city council during this period helped her grow as a leader and person.
“Your faith and your trust in me allows me to continue my passion to be part of something that is much bigger than myself. I want to thank you for the support that you’ve not only shown to me but to our 13 thousand-plus team members during this transitional period,” she added.
“We proactively laid a new foundation to evolve into a more customer-centric organization that does business with thoughtfulness yet urgency.”
Tolbert will quickly be tasked with multiple responsibilities, including managing city programs, developing a recommended budget, and appointing city personnel.
One of the most important decisions that Tolbert will make is based upon the appointment of a new Dallas Police Chief, as the department needs a new chief following the retirement of former Chief Eddie Garcia.
The appointment of Tolbert as the new Dallas City Manager comes as no surprise following reports that the council had already decided who would get the role, as previously highlighted by The Dallas Express.
Insiders familiar with the process claimed that the search for a candidate was designed to help Tolbert receive the role, though there is no hard evidence to back these claims.