Austin Parks and Recreation Director Sara Hensley is in Arizona this week as one of four candidates vying to become city manager of Flagstaff. Hensley said that Flagstaff has a population of about 80,000, and like Austin, is a city that practices inclusivity. Before coming to Austin in 2008, Hensley was the director of parks in Phoenix. She has 25 years of public service and was an interim assistant city manager of Austin from March 2017 until the end of 2018. Other finalists for the Flagstaff job include Shane Dille, one of Flagstaff’s deputy city managers; Jill Keimach, who has 32 years of public service, most recently in several mid-sized California cities; and John Craig, who is currently the deputy city manager of Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Flagstaff’s current city manager is retiring. Flagstaff has a small council, just six members and a mayor. In its most recent election, there were only six candidates for three council seats and one candidate for mayor.
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor. More by Jo Clifton