Fort Worth has officially sworn in a new city manager for the first time in over a decade.

Jay Chapa, who took office on Tuesday, took over the role from David Cooke after his retirement. Chapa, who has spent 25 years working for the city, steps into the city manager position at a crucial time of growth and change in Fort Worth.

As previously reported by The Dallas Express, The Fort Worth City Council confirmed Chapa as the new City Manager in a 9-1 vote in December of last year, despite opposition from two sitting council members.

The meeting to confirm Chapa was marked by debates over the speed of the hiring process, with some council and community members voicing concerns that the decision was rushed and lacked a good enough review of the incoming City Manager.

Regardless, the city moved forward with Chapa in place of Cooke.

Mayor Mattie Parker spoke on her appreciation for Cooke’s leadership, praising his tenure as the longest-serving city manager in the city’s history. Cooke took office in June 2014.

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“We’re very proud of David Cooke’s tenure in this city. He has seen us through tremendous growth and opportunity,” Parker told KRLD News.

During his swearing-in ceremony this week, Chapa, a South Texas native, spoke on his dedication to Fort Worth, calling it his true home. He now faces the tough task of progressing the work started by Cooke, while tackling key issues and managing the city’s rapid growth.

“I grew up in South Texas, and I’ve been to places all over the world. There are places I’d like to visit a little bit longer, but as far as moving, I don’t see myself going anywhere,” he said.

One of Chapa’s first actions will be selecting of a new police chief. Current Chief Neil Noakes has announced plans to retire in May, as previously reported by DX, leaving Fort Worth with a similar void in leadership that is currently ongoing in Dallas as well.

Another key issue is the transition of emergency medical services, as the city moves forward with a plan to integrate MedStar employees into the Fort Worth Fire Department. This shift follows a decision by the city council last year to end its contract with MedStar and bring EMS services under the fire department’s umbrella.

Chapa emphasized the importance of planning this transition carefully to avoid major disruptions or significant impacts on the city’s budget and tax rates.

As Fort Worth continues to grow, recently surpassing Austin to become the fourth-largest city in Texas, Chapa must be mindful of the pressures placed on the city’s expanding infrastructure. The city’s population is approaching 1 million, having grown 6.5% from 2020 to 2023. He acknowledged that while growth brings many benefits, it also presents challenges in terms of maintaining various city services.

“We are going to have to, as much as possible, plan for [growth] but also ensure we don’t overburden our citizens with taxes. It’s a balance,” Chapa said.

Chapa would go on to further commend Cooke’s approach of preserving existing infrastructure rather than allowing it to waste away.

“It does no good to build a community center if two community centers need to be closed down the next year in other parts of the city because they weren’t maintained,” The new Fort Worth City Manager added.