Here's who Austin Police, Fire and EMS Associations want as the next city manager

Ella McCarthy, Austin American-Statesman
Updated ·2 min read

Representatives of several local labor unions including the Austin Police, Fire and EMS Associations have made clear who they want to see as Austin's next city manager.

In an email sent Tuesday afternoon to Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and members of the City Council, the groups voiced their support of hiring Sara Hensley as Austin's next city manager.

"It is our belief that Sara Hensley best represents the qualities we need in our next city manager," the email, which was obtained by the Statesman, states. "We have heard reports of poor communication and accessibility with TC Broadnax, and our concerns were only magnified during his interview as he relayed a hostile and combative nature with labor union representatives and members of his own City Council. If the Council chooses to support him, we hope that collaboration and communication with his labor unions is a clear expectation for him."

The email comes on the same day the City Council conducted interviews with Broadnax and Hensley in a closed-door session. Despite concluding the interviews, the City Council was still in closed session discussing matters related to the hiring of the next city manager as of Tuesday afternoon.

The Austin Police Association is currently in ongoing contract negotiations with the city. The City Council approved a long-term contract with the Austin EMS Association in September and the Austin Fire Association finalized a new two-year contract with the city in September after an arbitration decision.

Read More: Austin police union appears ready to comply with voter-approved oversight ordinance

Just before 2 p.m., the council went into recess so that the Housing and Planning committee could have its scheduled meeting, and resumed the closed session at 4 p.m.

The email signature included: Michael Bullock, President of the Austin Police Association, Jeremy Hendricks, Assistant Business Manager of the Laborers' International Union Local 1095, Bob Nicks, President of the Austin Fire Association and Selena Xie, President of the Austin EMS Association. It was noted that American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) will send their own letter.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Some Austin labor unions say they support Sara Hensley as city manager