SAN BENITO, RGV – Manuel ‘Manny’ De La Rosa has been offered the opportunity to become city manager for San Benito.
City Commissioners selected De La Rosa at their meeting on Thursday evening.
The vote was split 2-2 before Mayor Celeste Sanchez cast the tie-breaking vote. Commissioners Esteban Rodriguez and Mayor Pro Tem Antonio Gonzales voted against the selection of De La Rosa. Commissioners Rene Villafranco and Joe D. Gonzalez voted for him.
Interim City Manager Art Rodriguez was on the short-list for the post, along with Celina Gonzales, Ronaldo Garcia, Michael Huston, Eliud Garcia, and Robert Eads. Commissioners Rodriguez and Gonzales wanted to promote the interim city manager. The total number of applicants for the post of city manager was 20.
Previous City Manager Manuel Lara died unexpectedly last July.
De La Rosa, who was born in San Antonio, has a wealth of experience in local government in Texas. His most recent post was director of planning for the City of Kyle. Before that he was city manager for Jonestown and before that city manager for Liberty Hill. In total, he has 28 years of experience in municipal government. He has served as a judge, fire chief, economic development director, and assistant city manager.
De La Rosa has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas, and is also a Certified Public Manager.
