Pennsylvania-based Affion Public partnered with the city to conduct the search, which closed at the end of March, according to a city of Frisco news release. The search sifted through 55 applicants from 17 states with more than half from Texas.
Among them, Majed Al-Ghafry, Tommy Gonzalez, Ron Patterson and Wesley Pierson were named as the four finalists for the city manager position, the release stated.
Al-Ghafry is the assistant city manager for economic development and tourism, conventions and events for the city of Dallas. Gonzales is the city manager for the city of El Paso. Patterson is Frisco’s deputy city manager. Pierson is the city manager for the town of Addison.
The next steps for the finalists are to take a tour of the city and conduct initial interviews with members of the Frisco City Council. The finalists will also attend a meet-and-greet event with city department directors and will meet a group of community stakeholders who represent education, business and development, civic organizations and the city’s public-private partnerships, the release said.
“Our City Council is committed to due diligence as we interview the finalists for the first time,” Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney said in the news release. “We’ll be looking for a candidate who best aligns with our city’s culture, vision and priorities. We want someone who can build upon our successes and enhance our strategy moving forward.”
Frisco’s first and only City Manager George Purefoy is set to retire June 30. He was appointed in November 1987, according to the Frisco website. His retirement was first announced in a June 17 news release shared by the city and was officially announced in January.
“Under his leadership, Frisco opened Stonebriar Center, the city’s ‘first economic engine,’” the release stated. “Purefoy is considered the lead architect of the city’s public-private partnerships resulting in development of Rider’s Ballpark, Comerica Center, Toyota Stadium, the Ford Center at The Star and championship courses at the PGA of America campus.”
The city of Frisco is expected to name a new city manager at the end of May, the release stated.
