22 vie to be SB city manager

(Editor's note: Click on the applicant's name to see résumé)

SAN BENITO - More than 20 people want to be the next city manager.

Of those, two are former assistant city managers here, another is Rio Hondo's current city administrator and another is the city's current public safety director.

Among the applicants for the position here is Scott Starnes, who was fired by the city of Eagle Pass after allegations surfaced of untruthfulness on his résumé.

Starnes said the Texas Workforce Commission has ruled that he was not untruthful on his application.

In August, the San Benito City Commission asked for the resignation of Victor Treviño, who had worked as city manager for seven years.

On Monday, the city released résumés and applications for the 22 individuals who applied. The deadline for applications was Tuesd ay.

The city has not stated how much it will pay the next city manager, but Treviño was paid about $80,000 in salary.

The city's Public Safety Director and Emergency Management Coordinator Jose Orlando Garcia has worked in this capacity since 2002.

Garcia did not list his salary and city officials could not be reached late Tuesday to say how much he is paid. Garcia has previously worked as a fire marshal and training officer for the Mission Fire Department and a Hidalgo County fire marshal.

Another applicant, Rene Coronado, has no experience as a city manager and left his previous position in human resources because he found it "too stressful." Coronado's application states he worked at the University of Texas at Brownsville. Coronado's salary was $70,181.

James R. Elium III is a former general manager for Olmito Water Supply where he was paid a salary of $62,000 until he left that job in September. Elium stated he left the water corporation due to "politics." He also lists among his experience the cities of Edna, which paid him $48,000 and Port Isabel for which no salary was listed.

Manuel Lara has been the city manager of Mathis, near Corpus Christi, for 10 years. At Mathis, Lara's salary is $78,000, and his education is in drafting and engineering.

Juan G. Ortiz is a former interim city manager for Elsa, where his salary was $60,000. The applicant overview states he resigned.

Arturo F. Prida is the city administrator for Rio Hondo. Prida did not list his salary, but Mayor Santiago Saldaña said Prida's salary is about
$45,000.

Albert Uresti lists previous municipal work as city manager in Alice, Pearsall, and Pleasanton, interim city manager in Hondo and Ingleside, and assistant city manager in Cibolo. He currently works at A & E Enterprises in San Antonio, where his salary is $115,000.

Richard "Dick" Herbel is a city administrator for Sainte Genevieve, Mo., which pays him an annual salary of $72,000. His application states he has been a city administrator and assistant city administrator for Raymore, Mo.

Rolando Vela, who previously worked here as interim city manager and assistant city manager, is currently unemployed. He did not include a salary history, but city officials said Vela's salary as interim city manager was $47,000 and included a $300 car allowance.

Applicant Oscar Eric Ramirez currently works as an emergency management senior planner and grant writer for South Texas Development Council of Governments. He did not include his salary.

Edward Gil de Rubio is a former county manager for Sullivan County, N.H. Gil de Rubio has experience as a municipal manager for Northfield, Vt., but did not list a salary.

Raciel Juarez is currently the operations executive manager for Val Construction Inc. of Alamo. He did not list a salary.

Victor C. Peña is a former interim city manager for Huntsville where he also served as administrative services director. Peña did not list his salary with the city.

K.M. Hubert is a former city manager for Balch Springs, west of Dallas, and is currently working as a management consultant for Pecan Hill, also outside Dallas. A salary was not included.

Hubert has a history with a number of municipalities, working as city manager, city administrator and interim financial director.

Hilario Rincones, a former city manager for Alamo, is also a former executive director for ADVANCE-RGV, a nonprofit organization. A salary wasn't listed.

Fabio E. Angell is a current Pharr downtown manager and a former urban planner for Edinburg. Angell didn't list a salary history.

Stephen Dewayne Barnes is currently an assistant to the city manager and as the economic development program manager for Fort Worth.
His current salary is $74,500.

Eliud Garcia worked as assistant city manager for San Benito from September 1999 to February 2001 and as interim city manager for three months afterward. He currently works with a commercial building and design company called NorthRidge Designs.

Jimmy Etti-Williams currently works as a utility coordinator for Dallas, but did not list a salary.

Ernie Vela is currently a junior high school teacher with the Brownsville school district and makes $48,000.

John A. McMillan states that he is currently a driver manager and load planner for MAALT Transport, but did not list a salary. While his resume did not list any municipal government experience, McMillan's resume states he has a master's degree in public administration from Western Michigan University.

City officials advertised for the position with the Texas Municipal League on Sept. 2.

The job description states the city is seeking a "proven leader" to work with the city's 30,000 residents.

The City Commission will meet Thursday at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the applicants.