Kilgore city manager, councilmember announce departures
Special to the News Herald
Kilgore City Manager Josh Selleck speaks during a meeting focused on improving access to the Sabine River in Gregg County and the potential for a Gregg County Paddling Trail, on Tuesday June 27, 2023, a the Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center. Kilgore News Herald File Photo
Kilgore Mayor Pro Tem Harvey McClendon speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new pedestrian bridge over U.S. 259 at Kilgore College. Kilgore News Herald File Photo
After eight and a half years in Kilgore’s top post, City Manager Josh Selleck aims to depart local government soon to pursue new business ventures, and a longtime council member will step down at the same time in order to enable his successor to join the search for a new chief executive.
Council members have already hired a municipal headhunting firm to find candidates for the Selleck’s head position at City Hall, and the timeline aims to have it filled by the end of the year. In the meantime, Selleck intends to stay in his post as long as necessary to ensure an effective transition and has no plans to move away from Kilgore.
“Not at all. The rumor is that I’m leaving for some other job,” Selleck said.
“While I’m leaving the job, my wife and I have fallen in love with Kilgore and everyone here. We want to continue to raise our family here. It’s the home base of my trail building business, my small fabrication shop and my wife’s CPA firm. Our kids have put down roots here, and there’s no way we could leave all the incredible people, places, organizations and events that have made Kilgore home for us.”
Strategic Government Resources is handling the nationwide search for chief executive candidates, just a handful of whom will be interviewed by the City Council. The city anticipates by mid-October candidates should have been selected, with interviews taking place in late October and November
While they’re getting underway, Mayor Pro Tem and council member Harvey McClendon has made the decision to vacate his seat after 16 years on the council dais, knowing that whoever the council picks to replace him will get to help select the new manager from the three to five candidates SGR will put forward this fall. Proud to serve in Place 2 on council since 2007, McClendon ran for re-election every two years to keep contributing and making a difference.
“With Josh pursuing his new ventures, now is the perfect time to get fresh blood on the council to help move the city forward into its next phase” McClendon said.
“I’m honored to have been allowed to serve, I’m proud of all the things we’ve accomplished together and I’m hopeful for all that’s ahead for the city.”
For Selleck, “Harvey’s been a stalwart advocate of fiscal responsibility,” he said, “focusing on the conservative and appropriate use of public funds while at the same time serving as a visionary in regards to quality of life projects, repair and rehabilitation of failing infrastructure and overall direction of the city.”
“When we think back to what Kilgore was 16 years ago and the changes that Harvey has helped to usher through in his tenure, the city is a night and day difference, from infrastructure to quality of life — everything is better as a result of his time on council,” Selleck said of McClendon’s tenure.
Key projects for McClendon were Whataburger Sports Complex and helping to transform the golf course from a private to a public facility that serves the entire community, both reflecting his passion for getting people outdoors and youth sports programs. Beyond that, he kept laser focus on road and utility improvements while maintaining a lean budget and tax rate.
“Obviously, I have deep roots here, and I’m staying plugged into this community where I live and work,” McClendon said.
“I think we’ve all accomplished a lot together, and I’m grateful for the time I could contribute on the council. There’s still a lot to accomplish in the years ahead, and I’ll contribute everywhere I can.”
A reception for McClendon will be held at the beginning of Tuesday night’s council meeting on July 25 in City Hall Council Chambers at 815 N. Kilgore St.
Meanwhile, for the outgoing city manager, it’s the outdoors that are calling: Selleck’s hands-on approach to managing Kilgore put him in the thick of the city’s trails projects during his years here. In his downtime, he discovered a knack for crafting hike and bike trails and a passion for getting himself, his family, friends and strangers outside.
“In April, I started talking to the city council about leaving my current role and pursuing the growth of my two small businesses” Selleck said.
“The council and I came up with a plan to hire a recruiting firm and to do it in a way to have a solid and positive transition to the new manager. We’ll play that by ear once we know who the person is and what type of orientation they will need. I would anticipate at least a week or two of overlap potentially, but that person may request longer or shorter.”
With his departure looming, Selleck said the projects he’s proudest of during his time here include the parks improvements like the ballparks, road improvements and utility upgrades. He’s enjoyed being plugged into events and getting hands-on with the ongoing renovations at the Texan Theater.
“I think anybody who is close to me knows that my favorite project has been the trail system” he added. It has played a big role in reshaping Kilgore as well as my own future.”
“But most dear to me are the relationships that I’ve made working within the community with other community leaders to advance goals and projects that have helped to define the new and even more prosperous Kilgore.”
His successor has a lot of opportunities ahead in ongoing projects.
“My successor will get to complete the Fire Station No. 1 relocation project, the Public Works Service Center construction, and a whole series of road and utility projects that are still to come. They’ll be here for the grand opening of the Roy H. Laird Regional Medical Center,” Selleck said.
“We’re not done, and the council has a great vision for the path forward and there are a lot more exciting times to come for Kilgore. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time here as city manager. I’m proud of all our projects, the improvements we made to quality of life here, and all the plans we’ve made for the future that will make this an even more incredible place to live.”