EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – El Paso Mayor Oscar Leesser Will hold a press conference this afternoon to discuss the City manager selection process, timeline, and next steps.
Four named finalists are currently in the running for the city manager position, a role that will replace Tommy Gonzalez. This comes after a highly competitive selection process, with over 80 applicants vying for the job.
The finalists selected by the El Paso City Council were announced on July 12, 2024, and they are Chief Financial Officer Robert Cortinas, Deputy City Manager Mario D’Agostino, Climate and Sustainability Officer Nicole Alderete-Ferrini and Deputy City Manager Dionne Mack.
Last week, on August 7 and 8, interviews were conducted and included nine-member council-appointed community interview panels:
-Citizen Advisory Committee Panel
*Panel Focus: Public perception, transparency, and the candidate’s vision for community improvement.
-Community Leaders/Stakeholders Panel
*Panel Focus: Community engagement, responsiveness to public needs, and building strong community relationships.
From Left to Right: Robert Cortinas, Mario D’Agostino, Dionne Mack, Nicole Ferrini. Photos: City of El Paso.
The selection has been criticized by City Rep. Josh Acevedo, who said it fell short of being transparent.
“The City Council never received a report from staff or Baker Tilly, the search firm, on candidate rankings nor were given a draft of candidate finalists,” according to a news release by Acevedo’s office.
Mayor Leeser responded to this claim: “The decision-making process was a comprehensive data-driven effort, resulting in the identification of the top four candidates and an alternate, with a tie occurring for the alternate position. Each step was guided by rigorous evaluations and analyses, ensuring transparency and accountability in our selection criteria.”
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