Margie C. Rose became the new Corpus Christi city manager July 12, the first woman and the first black to hold the position. Courtesy photo
When Margie C. Rose stepped in as acting city manager and then interim city manager, she let it be known she was interested in the top job of running the city of Corpus Christi. Former city manager Ron Olson left the position vacant in mid-May when he resigned unexpectedly in the middle of the city’s third boil water notice in 10 months.
She got her wish Tuesday, July 12, when the city council voted to give her the job, making her the first woman and the first black person to hold the position.
“I am ready to meet the challenges of moving the organization forward as we strive to make Corpus Christi a better place to live, work and play,” she told the council at the July 12 meeting. She also thanked them for the vote of confidence.
Mayor Nelda Martinez will negotiate Rose’s contract with the city.
SHORT SEARCH
The council decided in May to put a nationwide city manager search on hold, giving Rose a chance to prove herself. No time frame was set for making a decision, although some suggested going through the entire budget process first. That would have meant waiting until September or October.
In a presentation on the search process made to the council in May, former city manager of Austin, Toby Futrell, said it would take three to six months — or longer — to conduct a nationwide search. That process would include hiring a search firm, writing a candidate profile and inviting public comment.
“In a council-manager form of government, this is the most important decision you will make,” Futrell said
The number of major issues the council is currently dealing with was included in the ultimate decision to hold off on a nationwide search.
“We are an organization that’s lost a city manager and three assistant city managers in a short time,” said council member Colleen McIntyre at the May meeting. “We are dealing with a water boil, major wastewater and street issues. We have an interim who has been with us a long time. I don’t feel this is the right time to further tax our staff with this process [of a nationwide search].”
Rose comes to the job with 14 years experience working in Corpus Christi city government and 29 years experience in local government management. She has served as city manager of Inkster, Michigan, and deputy director of parks for the County of Wayne, Michigan.
She has a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and a Master of Public Administration from Eastern Michigan University. She holds a Credentialed City Manager designation from the International City/County Management Association and is also a certified Labor Relations Professional.
