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City officials announced last week that Wayne Reed has declined an offer to become Elgin’s next city manager.
Reed, current Cibolo city manager, was one of four finalists named last month in the city’s search for a new top administrator. He reportedly told Elgin leaders the move was not the right fit for him and his family.
“While we are disappointed, we understand that he must do what is best for him and his family and respect his decision,” Mayor Theresa McShan said in a prepared statement. “We appreciate his time and consideration of the position and wish him the best.”
Reed’s nomination was approved by City Council after an executive session Aug. 19. The vote passed 6-3 with council members Arthur Gibson, YaLecia Love and Tiffany St. Pierre opposed.
When asked whether the city is still considering its other finalists or moving in a new direction, officials said only that the council is “discussing their options.” The city is expected to announce its next steps within two weeks.
The update comes after months of searching, closed-door deliberations and a public meet-and-greet with the finalists. Strategic Government Resources, a municipal recruitment firm, was hired to assist in the process after Isaac Turner was appointed interim city manager in January.
Along with Reed, Elgin named three other finalists in July: Aretha Ferrell-Benavides, former city manager of Martinsville, Virginia; Theo Melancon, former city manager of Dickinson in Galveston County; and Jared Miller, chief operating officer of the Texas Division of Emergency Management.
Some residents have raised concerns about the remaining finalists, most recently Ferrell-Benavides, who was terminated from her Virginia post earlier this month. Her removal prompted questions from locals about public trust and transparency in the hiring process, though city officials have not said how it might affect evaluations.
