Winston Salem Times

Mayor Allen Joines and the City Council have extended an offer to William Patrick “Pat” Pate, the city manager of Manassas, Va. to become Winston-Salem’s sixth city manager. The appointment is pending a background check and the execution of a mutually agreed on contract.

Pate has worked for the city of Manassas since 2013. Before that, he worked for the city of High Point as assistant city manager from 1999 to 2013. He was the budget and evaluation director for the city of Greensboro from 1990 to 1999, and budget and research manager there from 1987 to 1990. He held three positions with the city of Winston-Salem—lead budget and evaluation analyst in 1987; budget and evaluation analyst from 1986 to 1987 and budget and financial analyst intern from 1985 to 1986.

He has a bachelor’s degree in political science and religion, and a master’s of public administration, both from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

The city worked with Developmental Associates in Chapel Hill in its search for the next city manager. Each council member filled out a survey about what they were looking for in the next city manager. Citizens, as well as city staff, were also asked for their feedback, Joines said.

A job description was developed from that process and the mayor and City Council narrowed a list of 30 candidates from across the country to 15, Joines said. Consultants conducted phone interviews with each candidate. From those interviews, the pool was narrowed to five candidates.

The five candidates went through a day-and-a-half assessment where they discussed their approaches to hypothetical situations, Joines said. George Redd, chief executive officer of Habit for Humanity of Forsyth County; former Mayor Martha Wood and the Rev. Tembila Covington, the former president of the Minister’s Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity were among those who participated in those assessments.

Based on those assessments, three finalists were selected, each of whom had their own interviews with the mayor and council members, Joines said.

Mayor Pro Tempore Denise D. Adams said that she felt Pate’s experience set him apart from the other candidates.

“I feel like he’s the most experienced and the most qualified,” she said. “He’s already been a city manager in Manassas and he’s worked in High Point, Greensboro and Winston-Salem.”

John Larson, council member in the South Ward said he was impressed with Pate’s range of experience.

“He’s been a city manager in Manassas for 10 years, dealing with all aspects of municipalities. Manassas is a smaller town, but it encapsulates the basic issues of municipal government,” he said. “And he has some North Carolina connections and brings that experience too.”

The mayor said that he is appreciative of the council’s work throughout the process.

“This was a lengthy process, and I’m grateful to the City Council and all of those involved for their diligence and dedication,” he said. “We ended up with a highly qualified candidate who can help guide the city through a new chapter in its history.”

Original source can be found here.