Jay Chapa becomes Fort Worth’s next city manager despite complaints about hiring process
The Fort Worth City Council voted 9-1 Dec. 10 to hire former assistant city manager Jay Chapa to be the next city manager.
District 6 council member Jared Williams abstained from the vote over ethical objections to the hiring process.
The 58-year-old Chapa is the the first person of Hispanic heritage to hold the city’s top job. He was named Dec. 5 as the sole finalist to to succeed David Cooke
Cooke announced in July he would step down in February after serving as city manager for over 10 years.
Chapa will also be the second highest paid city manager in Texas, second only to Austin’s T.C. Broadnax, according to an offer letter provided by the city of Fort Worth’s human resources department. He’ll make an annual salary of $435,000 in addition to a car allowance and payment for memberships in private clubs, according to his offer letter.
The city manager is responsible for the day-to-day operation of city government, oversees the budget and carries out the policies approved by the City Council.
Council member Chris Nettles voted against hiring Chapa, citing a lack of transparency on the hiring policy.
He held a Dec. 9 press conference with fellow council member Williams calling for their colleagues to delay Chapa’s hiring to allow for more public input. Both men echoed those sentiments at the Dec. 10 council meeting.
Nettles referenced a packet handed out by the city’s human resources department that outlined the timeline for the city’s hiring process.
According to the packet, there was supposed to be a meet and greet with the candidates in December.
“We have violated our own process,” Nettles said.
Williams said the decision weighed on his heart. He said he has respect and love for his colleagues, but needed to speak out because of flaws with the process.
Council members’ powers are ordained by the community, and a majority of District 6 neighborhood presidents asked for a delay, Williams said.
He presented an alternative motion to delay the hiring to allow for more public input. He outlined a process with public meetings with the finalists, as well as having them submit conflict of interest statements.
“I don’t know where this will land, but I need to do this so I can sleep at night,” he said.
Williams’ motion failed 8-3 with District 9 Council Member Elizabeth Beck joining Nettles and Williams.
Williams presented a second motion to delay the vote until January. That motion also failed with Beck joining the majority to oppose the delay.
Speaking ahead of Williams’ motions, Beck said she wasn’t a fan of the process, but did support the result.
She said the community needs to trust in the process, and that Chapa was a victim of its flaws.
Beck said she looked forward to working with Chapa to build trust in the community.
Chapa has been interviewing for this job since he started with the city 25 years ago, Mayor Mattie Parker said.
She called him a personal friend and a valuable voice on important matters impacting the city.
“Jay Chapa is not a yes man. He’s a people man,” Parker said.
She thanked him for his willingness to return to public service after retiring in 2022.
“You probably need your head examined,” she quipped.
Despite the disagreement on the dais, Parker said every council member will see Chapa is the right man for the job when he starts in January.
During Chapa’s time with the city he led the development of the 2022 bond program and helped shepherd several economic development projects, such as the city’s partnership with Texas A&M and the development of the Crescent Hotel in the city’s cultural district.
Some of the challenges Chapa will face include addressing the city’s rapid growth, continuing the integration of the MedStar ambulance service under the umbrella of the city, and continued work on economic development.
The city is also preparing its 2026 Bond program, and Chapa’s experience could prove valuable in determining which projects make the cut.
His first day on the job will be Jan. 27, 2025.
This story was originally published December 10, 2024 at 7:05 PM.
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