New chapter in Dallas City Hall discord over city manager replacement

Dallas City Hall faced a fresh wave of discord regarding City Manager T.C. Broadnax on Thursday following a new directive from Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson.

Broadnax announced his resignation on Wednesday after losing support from a majority of the city council.

During his seven-year tenure as Dallas City Manager, Broadnax oversaw notable achievements but also encountered persistent challenges that contributed to his decision to step down.

While he navigated the city through the COVID-19 pandemic and championed a Dallas equity policy, Broadnax grappled with longstanding issues such as chronic building permit delays and information technology problems, including a ransomware attack.

“There have been longstanding issues in certain city departments that the city claims to be addressing, but they haven’t necessarily seen significant improvement,” remarked Southern Methodist University Political Science Professor Cal Jillson.

Discussions about planning a May bond referendum to address issues like deteriorating Dallas streets emerged as a majority of the Dallas City Council evidently reached a consensus that a change in leadership was necessary.

“There were discussions among individuals about what would be best for our city,” noted Council Member Paula Blackmon.

Mayor Johnson’s public attempt in 2022 to oust Broadnax failed to garner enough support from the city council.

In his resignation statement on Wednesday, Broadnax expressed hope that his departure would pave the way for a fresh start for the city.

“We need someone who will collaborate with everyone and work towards unity,” emphasized City Council Member Adam Bazaldua.

Several council members called for a special meeting on Tuesday to consider appointing Kim Tolbert, a top assistant to Broadnax, as interim manager.

However, two council members revealed that they were not part of recent discussions about Broadnax’s resignation, expressing surprise at the announcement.

Mayor Pro-tem Tennell Atkins, the longest-serving council member and experienced in city manager transitions, criticized the behind-the-scenes activities, stressing the need to adhere to established procedures.

Mayor Johnson’s memo on Thursday outlined the replacement process, indicating that Atkins’ Ad Hoc Committee on Administrative Affairs would lead the transition. Johnson appointed two additional council members, Paul Ridley and Kathy Stewart, to the committee.