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City Manager Bill Stuart to Retire July 1
Monday, April 03, 2006 3:11:56 PM
CONTACT: Mayor Allen Joines: 727-2058
Bill Stuart: 727-2123
City Manager Bill Stuart told the City Council at its Feb. 6 meeting that he is retiring effective July 1, 2006. Stuart, 66, has held the position of city manager since January 1980. Prior to coming to Winston-Salem, he served with the cities of Charlotte, N.C. and Phoenix, Ariz.
The city manager serves as the administrative head of the city government, and is responsible for directing the activities of the approximately 2,400 city employees carrying out a variety of municipal functions. The city manager is hired by the city council and serves at their pleasure.
Stuart stated, “I have deeply appreciated the opportunity to have served as city manager. My wife Anita and I have greatly valued the opportunity to be a part of the Winston-Salem community.”
Stuart is Winston-Salem’s fourth city manager since 1948, when the city began using the council-manager form of government.
Stuart said that he and his wife plan to continue to reside in Winston-Salem.
Mayor Allen Joines said, “The City of Winston-Salem is deeply indebted to the contributions made by Bill Stuart over the past 26 years. He has provided exceptional leadership and high ethical standards for this community. Under his guidance, three successful bond referendums were approved that resulted in such projects as the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, an expanded Benton Convention Center, new recreation centers, parking decks, affordable housing, along with many road additions and improvements.
“Bill has provided consistent, strong financial leadership during difficult economic times. He has found ways for the city to continue providing a very high level of service, while keeping the city’s tax rate among the lowest of major North Carolina cities. Winston-Salem is one of only a few cities in the United States that has the highest credit rating from all three major credit rating agencies. Bill’s professionalism and leadership abilities were recognized by his colleagues in the city management profession when he was elected president of the International City Management Association. These and other factors demonstrate how fortunate the citizens of Winston-Salem are to have had the services of Bill over this long period. He will truly be hard to replace.”
Joines also announced that the search for Stuart’s replacement would begin immediately with the selection of an executive search firm by the City Council on Feb. 20. This firm will assist the mayor and council in identifying potential candidates for this very important position. The mayor and council intend to have a new city manager selected by the middle of June, to assure an orderly transition of leadership.
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