Flower Mound names Irving's Assistant City Manager James Childers as new town manager

Flower Mound Town Council named James Childers as its new town manager after a unanimous vote at an Oct. 25 special meeting.

Childers has been assistant city manager in Irving since 2018, according to a press release. He previously did an internship with the town of Flower Mound and was later hired as a human resources generalist before moving on to serve the cities of Dallas and Abilene in various roles.

The town conducted a national search to fill the position and had 48 applicants.

“We are thrilled to welcome James back to the town of Flower Mound, where he had his first full-time job in local government, launching a successful 20-year career,” Mayor Derek France said in a statement. “He is a proven leader, and we were impressed by his breadth of knowledge and extensive background in a variety of municipal government fields, from public works to planning and zoning to quality-of-life services. He’s an excellent communicator and a true professional who I feel confident will lead our town in the right direction.”

Childers has a bachelor's degree from Midwestern State University and a master's degree in public administration from the University of North Texas, according to the release.

The news of Childers' hiring comes days before Interim Town Manager Debra Wallace retires on Oct. 29. Wallace, who also served as the town's chief financial officer, was appointed to the role of interim town manager on Sept. 8, 2020, after the previous town manager, Jimmy Stathatos, left to accept a job as city manager in Bedford.

“I am so excited to be returning to the town of Flower Mound in this role and can’t wait to get started,” Childers said in the release. “I look forward to meeting the residents of Flower Mound and working together to continue ensuring Flower Mound is one of the best places to live in the region, in the state, and in the country.”

Assistant Town Manager Tommy Dalton will serve as interim town manager until Childers starts the new job. His first day with Flower Mound will be Jan. 3.