We don’t know the quality yet, but at least Dallas has a basketful of applicants for the job of fire chief. That’s comforting, because a month ago nobody had applied. With the application process now closed, 37 have responded to the nationwide search – including six from within the Dallas Fire-Rescue department and others from area fire departments.

Some observers feared Dallas City Hall was being viewed unfavorably as a place to work. But the slow draw may have had more to do with hopefuls waiting out the November election to see what would happen on strong mayor lite. Had the new governance plan passed, the mayor would have gotten the right to fire the chief.

Of course, the last fire chief ran afoul of the city manager. Former Chief Steve Abraira resigned under pressure from the City Manager Mary Suhm in September. Sources at the time said there wasn’t a strong working relationship between Suhm and Abraira. With the failed strong mayor election, Suhm retained the right to hire and fire the chief.  But maybe employees of this and other cities are happier with that arrangement and deem it less political.

Last time Dallas hired a fire chief, he came from outside the area. Abraira was an assistant chief in Miami when hired in 2000. Interestingly, the current field includes a former chief and director of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue who’s now in emergency services consulting. Other applicants include other fire chiefs, deputies, firefighters and a city manager.

Suhm told the DMN that the list looks pretty good but if it doesn’t include the best fire chief for the city, she’ll keep looking. The city paid $21,000 for a headhunter to help find a new chief. Unlike Dallas school superintendent, searching for a fire chief in Dallas is an unusual quest. Before Araira, Chief Dodd Miller ran the department for 26 years.

Comments (0)

Comment	smaller | bigger
Name
Write the displayed characters
Subscribe via email (Registered users only) I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.
	Add Comment