Both of Murfreesboro's 'well qualified' assistant city managers apply for city manager job

The Murfreesboro City Council soon will interview staff seeking to replace City Manager Craig Tindall after he takes different position.

Sixth-year Assistant City Manager Darren Gore and second-year Assistant City Manager Sam Huddleston are good applicants to interview during a meeting that starts at 9 a.m. May 10 at Murfreesboro Airport Business Center, council member Shawn Wright said.

"If we can hire from within with the strong talent that we have, we’d like to save the tax payers the expense of using a national search firm," said Wright, adding that Gore and Huddleston are the only two to apply for the city manager job.

Unlike the elected Murfreesboro officials, the Smyrna Town Council expects to spend about $25,000 on using an executive search firm to pursue applicants to replace recently retired Town Manager Brian Hercules.

In addition to the pending interviews with the council, Gore and Huddleston will speak with the other members of the city's upper management team, and the assessments from the managers will be shared with the elected officials, Wright said.

Murfreesboro spokesman Mike Browning confirmed that Gore and Huddleston are the two applicants for the city manager job.

Both applicants also are experienced engineers.

UPDATE: Murfreesboro City Manager Tindall to leave current position, move into new spot

Gore leads city's water resources and solid waste services

Gore accepted his assistant city manager job August 2018. This position included oversight of Murfreesboro solid waste services and plans. Gore led the city's efforts to establish trash hauling fees to help fund costs.

He's also led solid waste plans to build a transfer station and waste-to-energy operation in a warehouse through a partnership with WastAway on the Butler Drive.

Gore also has served as a director of the city's water and sewer services since 2012 after being promoted from being the assistant director for the Water Resources Department starting in 2005. He led the city in crafting a sewer capacity policy in response to high-density development in fast-growing Murfreesboro.

Prior to joining the government, Gore had engineering experience with Dupont and Company, and as an engineering design consultant with Wiser Company and Nelson and Company.

City growth challenges: Murfreesboro's high-density housing may be limited as sewer system capacity becomes concern

Huddleston leads city plans for development

Huddleston accepted his assistant city manager job January 2023 to oversee engineering and economic development.

His experience includes serving as an environmental engineer and overseeing the city's plans to daylight the underground Town Creek into a downtown area park with walking trails near the southwest corner of Broad and Church Streets.

Huddleston in 2017 also led staff efforts to advise the Murfreesboro Planning Commission in adopting the city's 2040 Major Thoroughfare Plan that includes building three overpass bridges of Interstate 24.

He also served as the city's executive director of Development Services for over four years starting July 2018.

Huddleston also worked on the local government's project that involved selling city property surrounding City Hall and Linebaugh Library for the Keystone development plan. The $175 million project includes 239 apartments, up to 100 condos, up to 150 hotel rooms, up to 40,000 square feet of retail space, and 780 parking spaces, including 715 in two garages.

Road planning: Murfreesboro 2040 Major Transportation Plan includes 3 bridges over Interstate 24

Tindall will stay on job through June to help city craft budget

Councilman Wright described Gore and Huddleston as being "well qualified' good applicants with a lot of experience in the city manager's office to replace their boss.

Tindall recently requested vacating his city manager job and moving into a special counsel attorney role for the government starting July 2. His pending role will involve providing legal services for Murfreesboro Airport, the Community Investment Trust, the Solid Waste Authority and Sports Authority, Browning said in a press release.

Tindall previously served as the city attorney for over two years until accepting promotion in 2018 to be the city manager. He took the city manager job after the council rejected applicants recommended through a national executive search firm.

Tindall will continue to oversee the city's efforts to craft the next government budget for the council to consider for the fiscal year budget that starts July 1.

The city manager earns an annual salary of $239,044.

Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription.

Murfreesboro city manager interviews

• When: 9 a.m. May 10

• Where: Murfreesboro Airport Business Center

• Who are applicants: Sixth-year Assistant City Manager Darren Gore and second-year Assistant City Manager Sam Huddleston

• Who do they seek to replace: City Manager Craig Tindall, who plans to take a special counsel attorney role for government starting July 2

Sources: Murfreesboro City Council member Shawn Wright and government spokesman Mike Browning

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Murfreesboro's two assistant city managers apply for city manager job