The city of Tomball appointed Sakura Moten as its new assistant city manager following a Nov. 3 City Council meeting, and she officially began the role Nov. 17, as previously reported by Community Impact.
Moten, who brings more than 20 years of experience in municipal administration, finance, technology and organizational development, recently shared what drew her to Tomball and the priorities she plans to focus on in her first year as the city continues to balance growth with long-term planning.
What drew you to the role of assistant city administrator in Tomball, and what excites you most about serving this community?
What drew me to Tomball is its strong sense of identity—it’s a community that values its history while being very intentional about its future. I was especially impressed by the city’s reputation and commitment to service, transparency and thoughtful growth. What excites me most is the opportunity to help support a high-performing organization that genuinely cares about residents, businesses and staff, and to be part of a leadership team that works collaboratively to deliver results and takes pride in doing things the right way.
Can you share a bit about your prior experience and how it prepared you for this position?
I grew up overseas and then mainly in Las Vegas, Nevada, until leaving for the USAF Academy. After attending Pepperdine University for my graduate degree and discharge from the military, I worked in aerospace then several cities in North Texas. My background has been rooted in local government across multiple areas of municipal operations, working closely with elected officials, boards, directors, and community stakeholders, all of which has given me a solid understanding of how policy, operations, and service delivery intersect. Those experiences have prepared me to step into this role, support the city manager, help remove obstacles for departments, and keep initiatives moving forward efficiently.
As you step into this position, what are your top priorities for the first year?
My priorities are to listen, learn and build strong working relationships centered on trust. I want to gain a deep understanding of Tomball’s operations, culture and strategic goals, while supporting staff as they serve the community. Another key focus will be ensuring clear communication, consistency in processes, and helping advance priority projects in alignment with council direction and the city’s long-term vision.
What are you looking forward to in the new role?
I am most looking forward to working alongside Tomball’s dedicated employees and leadership team. The city has a strong culture of professionalism, integrity and respect, and I value the opportunity to support it by helping teams succeed and ensure the organization continues to function smoothly as the city grows and evolves.
Looking ahead, where do you see the greatest opportunities for Tomball over the next five years, and how do you hope to contribute to that vision?
Tomball has tremendous prospects tied to managed growth, infrastructure investment and economic development, all of which are directly tied to quality of life. I see the greatest opportunity in ensuring this growth is balanced, fiscally responsible, and community focused. I hope to contribute by helping translate long-term vision into practical action, supporting sound decision-making, and reinforcing a service-oriented approach that reflects Tomball’s commitment to serving its citizenry and protecting its unique character and culture.
