A longtime assistant manager who has never led a municipal government is set to trade the Lone Star state for the City of Destiny.
T.C. Broadnax, an assistant city manager for San Antonio will be Tacoma’s next city manager after the City Council narrowly selected him Tuesday as the top choice among three finalists.
“I am actually very humbled, honored and excited at the same time,” Broadnax said in a telephone interview late Tuesday. “I’m looking forward to working with the mayor and City Council, as well as with the citizens in moving Tacoma forward and making it all that it can become.”
Five council members – Mayor Marilyn Strickland, Marty Campbell, Jake Fey, Lauren Walker and Victoria Woodards – supported Broadnax, citing his diverse background during an 18-year career in government management that is highlighted by strong budget experience.
Three other members – David Boe, Joe Lonergan and Spiro Manthou – supported Lakewood City Manager Andrew Neiditz, while Councilman Ryan Mello backed interim city manager Rey Arellano.
Several council members said any of the finalists could have led Tacoma. But Broadnax convinced a majority that he’s ready to lead.
“I think he’s willing to make an investment in Tacoma, and I’m willing to make an investment in him,” Counclwoman Victoria Woodards said. “He’s eager.”
Supporters described confidence and energy that Broadnax exuded during recent finalist interviews – leadership qualities they said Tacoma needs to move into a new era.
“I wanted to pick someone … who didn’t necessarily see this as the last stop in his career,” Fey said.
Broadnax, who earns about $164,000 per year, is one of four assistant managers in San Antonio – the third tier in a city hierarchy that includes two deputy managers and the top administrator, City Manager Sheryl Scully.
In a city with a population of 1.3 million – more than six times larger than Tacoma – he oversees five city departments, including historic preservation, code enforcement, public libraries, planning and development services and animal control.
He’s won high marks from a diverse group of stakeholders. One lobbyist for developers described him as a responsive and effective city liaison for building interests, while historic-preservation supporters credit him for strengthening and pioneering city preservation programs.
“He is a very solid professional and understands the workings of city government and would be an asset to any organization,” Scully said during a recent interview.
One of the qualities that set Broadnax apart for Strickland was varied experienced in government management in a big city.
“What appeals to me most is that he sees the world from the lens of a larger city,” Strickland added. “We need someone who can think long term and can visualize what Tacoma can be.”
Before joining Scully’s staff in 2006, Broadnax served for 10 years as a top assistant and special-projects coordinator in Pompano Beach, Fla., where he was in charge of more than $200 million in city budgets. From 1993-96, he also served as senior budget and management analyst for Broward County, Fla.
Broadnax said he will tap all of that experience to help him lead in Tacoma.
“Obviously, it’s been a career goal of mine to be a city manager,” he said. “In reality, I’ve been training all my professional life for this opportunity.”
The council’s decision ends a three-month executive recruiting process to replace former City Manager Eric Anderson, who was fired in July. About 70 candidates applied.
The council’s choice didn’t come easily. After a three-day intensive interview process with finalists this month, council members held several executive sessions before opting last week to take an additional week to make their selection. Members said they took the extra time to call references and make other checks about the finalists.
Earlier Tuesday, council members met for two hours behind closed doors.
“We could probably be well served by any of them,” Campbell said later Tuesday. “But at some point we have to make a decision and move forward.”
Neiditz’s supporters praised him for his deep local knowledge and broad connections that Tacoma could quickly tap.
In backing Neiditz, Manthou said he wasn’t sure Broadnax was ready for the top job.
“I’ve got to go with experience,” he said.
Council members praised Arellano for effectively assuming the manager’s role and dealing with an emerging city budget crisis.
Arellano, who noted he hopes to continue working in Tacoma as a deputy, said Tuesday he was “humbled and honored” to serve in the interim role.
“I have great trust and respect in the council for really making the right choice for the future of the city,” he said after Tuesday’s meeting.
Broadnax said he learned of his selection Tuesday after his father and several colleagues watched the Tacoma meeting online and called to congratulate him.
The city will now move ahead to negotiate an employment contract with Broadnax; the pay range for the job is about $185,000-$235,000. City officials said no timeline is set to work out a deal; Strickland noted it took about a month to negotiate a contract with Anderson.
Lewis Kamb: 253-597-8542
lewis.kamb@thenewstribune.com
Twitter: @lkamb
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