City Manager Announces Retirement Plans; Mark McDaniel Appointed City Manager Designate
by Susan Guthrie -
February 27, 2008
During the Tyler City Council meeting held Feb. 27, 2008, City Manager Bob Turner announced his intention to retire effective July 2009. The City Council voted unanimously to accept Turner’s resignation and to appoint Deputy City Manager Mark McDaniel as City manager designate effective today.
“Bob has been the right man at the right time,” said Mayor Joey Seeber. “He has led the City very successfully as illustrated by our recently upgraded bond rating. One of the primary reasons we received the improved rating was his tremendous leadership.”
“There are some things you can buy and others that are just within people,” said Council Member Ralph Caraway. “Bob has brought something you can’t buy. The people who work for him reflect the care and concern he has had for the City of Tyler.”
Turner has been Tyler’s City manager since 2003 and has worked for the City of Tyler for more than 20 years. He has held numerous positions including director of Solid Waste and Vehicle Services, director of Neighborhood Services, interim Airport manager, interim Parks and Recreation director, Staff Services coordinator, Business Services manager and deputy City manager. He is retiring to travel, spend time with family and pursue his love of fishing.
“Bob’s focus on developing future leaders for the City will be felt for decades to come,” said City Council Member Nathaniel Moran. “I wholeheartedly support naming Mark McDaniel as City manger designate and recommend the Council enter into immediate negotiations to finalize a contract to appoint him as City manger by the end of 2008.”
McDaniel has been Tyler’s deputy City manager since 2004. He acted as the project manager for the Tyler 21 planning process and initiated the Neighborhood Empowerment Works (NEW) program. Additionally, he has led efforts to implement financial planning enhancements for the City and overhauled Development Services’ operations.
McDaniel has more than 20 years experience in local government management. He has served as assistant City manager for the City of Corpus Christi where he was responsible for administrative and financial services and served in a dual capacity as the City’s Economic Development director. Mark also has held the positions of City manager for the City of Woodway, assistant City manager for the City of Lake Jackson and budget director for the City of Denton.
“Mark has done a great job as deputy City manager,” said Mayor Pro Tem Chris Simons. “It is a great benefit to the City to have him transition into the role of City manager.”
McDaniel has a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Texas and has completed the Senior Executive in Local Government Program at Harvard University. He is the immediate past president of the Texas City Management Association and in 2007 was selected as the University of North Texas Master of Public Administration alumnus of the year.
“I’m delighted for Mark McDaniel on his appointment as City Manager Designate. I will look forward to working with him as we continue to improve the City. In particular, I will look forward to working with him to bring our professional salaries up in line with other cities in our region, much as we keep the manager’s salary in line with other comparable cities.”
Active in the community, he is treasurer, SPORTyler chair and retail task force chair for the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce; president-elect of the Downtown Tyler Rotary Club; First Tee of Tyler board member; immediate past president of the Texas City Management Association and board member of the Tyler Independent School District (TISD) Foundation.
“We are sorry to see Bob leave, but he has definitely put in his time serving the City,” said Council Member Donald Sanders. “I am pleased that there is someone who is familiar with our future plans to step up to lead the City.”
“We could look far and wide for a new City manager but we have the perfect person right here to lead the City into the future,” said Council Member Steve Smith.
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