Robert Perez, assistant city manager for Dallas, chosen to be Topeka's next city manager

Robert Perez, assistant city manager for Dallas, has been picked to be Topeka's next city manager.

Topeka's mayor and city council are expected during their 6 p.m. meeting Tuesday to approve a contract paying Perez $255,000 a year to hold that job, said Taylor Bugg, co-interim communications director for the city, in a news release Friday.

“The governing body invested considerable time and effort into their selection process, and we’re excitedthat Dr. Perez has been selected,” Mayor Michael Padilla said in the release. “I have full confidence in his ability to lead the city of Topeka and guide us toward our strategic goals.”

Perez and Alan Howze, assistant administrator for Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, were chosen last month as the two finalists for the city manager's job currently being filled on an interim basis by Richard U. Nienstedt.

“I’m extremely honored and excited to begin leading the city of Topeka as its next city manager,” Perez said in Friday's news release. “Public service is important to me, and I look forward to getting to know and serving the community in the near future.”

Forty-two people had applied for the city manager's job.

Nienstedt has held it on an interim basis since then-city manager Stephen Wade was fired last year after what a city spokeswoman said was an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate.

Perez's starting date hasn't been set but is anticipated to come in late June or early July, Bugg said.

He and his wife, Harim, will move here from Dallas with their miniature schnauzer, Sebastian.

What's Perez's background?

Perez had served recently as an assistant to Dallas city manager T.C. Broadnax, a 1987 Topeka High School graduate of Topeka High School who then played basketball at Washburn University.

After resigning under pressure from Dallas City Council members, Broadnax on Monday became the new city manager of Austin, Texas.

Bugg said Perez has more than 20 years of municipal government experience and holds a doctorate of philosophy in education with a concentration in organizational leadership, a master's degree in public administration and a bachelor's degree in English with a minor in political science.

Perez's background in in public works, and he has published numerous academic articles covering diverse topicssuch as the nexus between data and infrastructure, as well as innovation in local government, Bugg said.

She said Perez provided executive leadership to the city of Dallas’ department ofpublic works, transportation, bond and construction management, equipment and fleet services andbuilding services.

Through a reorganization, Bugg said Perez had recently been assigned to oversee the city's department ofsanitation, code compliance, animal care services, homeless solutions and 311 customer service.

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Robert Perez chosen to become next Topeka city manager