After a nearly six-month search, the City of Tomball and the city council has finally decided on a new city manager.

George Shackelford was unanimously approved by the city council after a brief executive session May 24 to take over the primary duties of running the City of Tomball. Shackelford has 28 years experience in city management, including 18 years as city manager of Texarkana.

Shackelford currently works in the private sector as a public policy consultant with Dean International in Dallas and won’t begin the job as Tomball city manager until July 12. The city and Shackelford agreed to a two-year contract that will pay him $140,000 per year, along with benefits, according to Shawn Cox, Assistant to the City Manager.

“We are very excited to welcome Mr. Shackelford to the City of Tomball,” Mayor Gretchen Fagan stated in a press release. “Council and I are looking forward to utilizing his extensive expertise and enthusiasm to move Tomball forward.”

Tomball has been without a permanent city manager since November after Jan Belcher resigned from the position shortly before the city council was to vote on a motion to terminate her employment.

Assistant City Manager Christal Kliewer has served as the interim City Manager since December.

Shackelford believes his extensive experience in city management was the primary factor in his hiring.

“I think the 28 years of working in municipal government before, and working transportation in public policy (was a factor),” he said. “Hopefully I can bring some good to Tomball.”

Shackelford graduated with a Master of Arts degree from West Texas State University. He also holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from West Texas. He is a former board member for the Texas City Management Association.

Among the issues that Shackelford said are a priority once he assumes the city manager role is to address budgetary concerns.

“It’s going to take some time to do an evaluation, get to know the every day operation of the city, especially the budget, operation-wise,” he said. “I’ll do an evaluation on everything.”

Shackelford began his career in city management in 1979 when he took an administrative internship at the City of Canyon.

In 1980, he was promoted to Administrative Assistant in Canyon and just two years later was named City Manager for the City of Littlefield.

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