Kenneth Williams will be Beaumont's first Black city manager. Courtesy photo Kenneth Williams

Kenneth Williams has a long history working in Texas city government.

Thirty-four years ago, he started from the bottom in Lufkin. When he left more than 18 years later, Williams was assistant city manager.

He moved to Diboll, where he was city manager before two years later becoming the city manager of Buda.Williams worked in Buda for over 13 years, before he retired at the end of March.

Now, Williams will start as Beaumont's new city manager on Tuesday, becoming the city's first Black city manager.

The Enterprise talked with Williams to discuss his experience in city government and hopes during his time in Beaumont.

Q: Why did you leave retirement to come to Beaumont?

A: I thought it was an excellent opportunity. I was contacted by the recruiters from the firm that was doing a search for the city of Beaumont. Evidently, I guess they thought that I had some of the skills and experience that the city of Beaumont needed.

So, after a couple of conversations with them, I began to judge my interest and decided that I would be interested because I thought that it would be a good fit for my skill set and my experiences as city manager. So basically, it was it was an opportunity for me to do that. So I took that opportunity and agreed to do it.

Q: How do you plan to integrate yourself into the community?

A: Well, mostly by hearing what the community has to say. Some of the first things that I'm going to do is set up listening sessions with with the different stakeholders in the community, and that includes internal to the city of Beaumont but also external. So, whether it's people, individuals, groups, elected officials, business people, I'm going to reach out to everyone I can and have an open door policy as I'm able to.

I plan to have conversations and listen and take note and be able to hear what the concerns of people are. Oftentimes we come into positions and we want to help people, but it's better to listen and hear and have discussions with people and hear from the community what's going on.

Q: What are you most excited for in your new position?

A: One is just to work with the city and the citizens of Beaumont, you know. I spent a long career dealing with people and communities and being able to help them accomplish their goals. I'm a person of a servant's heart so to speak.

So, I'm really proud and excited about being able to do that. But then just being able to work with the city and some of the things that I've heard about it. I'm excited Beaumont's a great city, has great resources, great people. I just want to be able to contribute in making it the best city in the country.

Q: What do you hope to achieve as the City Manager of Beaumont?

A: Well, there's several things I'd like to achieve. But I guess some of my goals are, as I've mentioned before, wanting to make sure that organization, the foundation is strong. In the other cities I've been in, I've made sure that the foundation was strong. One thing we need to do for sure is emphasize excellent service in our organization, make sure it's efficient, effective and responsive to citizens and us being proactive and getting things done.

Another thing for me is economic development is tough. Most, but really all, viable, competitive cities thrive economically, and Beaumont is thriving economically. We just want to enhance that effort. We want to be able to create new business. Not only just create and recruit new business, but also be able to retain existing business and make sure we're giving them the attention that they need.

I think that the city needs an updated strategic plan that's put together by city council, people of Beaumont, city staff. That way we will have some common goals and be able to work towards achieving those goals. Lastly, I guess, just emphasize a safe community with each person having an excellent quality of life.

Q: What's something you want everyone in the Beaumont community to know about you?

A: I'm a person of integrity -- a person who earns trust with people, who has a listening ear to their concerns and the issues of people Beaumont. I will look forward to working with the people of Beaumont, just like all the places I've been I've had that relationship with the public, an excellent relationship with the public whether it was elected officials or just citizens I've been able to nurture that throughout my career. So, I want people to feel good about approaching me and talking with me. I'm a down-to-Earth person. I look forward to having those conversations and getting feedback from the people of Beaumont.

Q: What are you most proud about within your career?

A: Personally, I've been able to achieve some things I've been proud of such as becoming president of the Texas City Management Association, being elected by my peers across the state of Texas to the position, and likewise to the International City Management Association, by my peers across the country.

As far as things that I have achieved in cities, while working with the city of Lufkin in my efforts in working with Hurricane Rita and their response and sheltering efforts there. We sheltered many tens of thousands of people off the coast -- the Texas coast and Louisiana Coast -- and were able to do some really great things there.

Likewise, we also had an emergency response to the space shuttle disaster when it disintegrated over East Texas. We worked with all the agencies, NASA, FBI, FEMA, State of Texas, you name it, to get through that effort. About a year long effort, getting things back together from that disaster. But then, of course, economically we were able to do some things with some local industries. So it's a variety of things that I'm proud

Q: What did you want to be when you grew up?

A: When I was younger, I wanted to, probably, be a doctor or lawyer like most kids. So, that was my thought at the time. As you know, a lot of city managers were people who others thought should go into being a doctor, but we ended up going into local government, which is just as fulfilling, a really fulfilling career and one that I'm proud of.

And a bonus ...

Q: What is something about you that would surprise people?

A: I refereed college and high school basketball for a long time -- approximately 30 years. I spent a lot of time doing that, refereeing Division I college, regular college, high school. That surprises a lot of people, I think sometimes.

courtney.pedersen@beaumontenterprise.com

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