Tomball City Council voted Friday to hire Assistant City Manager Rob Hauck as the new city manager upon City Manager George Shackelford’s retirement in April.

Shackelford announced in October that he would retire from city management after nearly eight years in Tomball and more than 30 years of city management experience in Texas. Shackelford said he plans to return to Texarkana with his wife, Kathy, to be closer to his children and grandchildren upon retirement, which is effective April 2.

Hauck, who was chosen Friday to replace Shackelford, has served as assistant city manager in Tomball since 2014. Before serving as assistant city manager, Hauck served as Tomball’s police chief from 2008-14.

"I feel humbled and honored," Hauck said. "I just feel so fortunate that I've been able to be here for 10 years and grow professionally here. I love the idea that we're going to be able to continue to work as a staff and a council and a community together, and it just thrills me. And I think that's a big part of our responsibility is to develop people within, and George has done that and council has done that. I'm going to continue to do that all the way through the organization. I'm excited."

Hauck will assume city management responsibilities in April.