Following an executive session during a special meeting of the Beaumont City Council on Feb. 20, the city formally began the recruitment process for its next city manager. The job posting was open for a brief seven-day period and closed at 5 p.m. Feb. 27.
When the application period closed, Beaumont had received 13 applications for the position. Of those, six applicants are current or recently former city employees.
The abbreviated listing window stands in sharp contrast to the 2022 recruitment process that ultimately resulted in the hiring of current City Manager Kenneth Williams. At that time, the city conducted a nationwide search in partnership with executive recruitment firm Baker Tilly US, LLP. That effort cost taxpayers $24,025 and attracted more than 50 applicants. Several council members have stated the shortened 2026 timeline reflects the majority of council’s preference to promote from within the organization.
Williams, who was appointed Beaumont city manager on Sept. 6, 2022, recently announced his retirement, effective April 30. City officials have indicated they do not intend to hire a search firm for this round of recruitment and instead hope to select the next city manager from among qualified current city employees. As for an interim appointment, council members have expressed hope that one will not be necessary, as Williams has stated his intention to remain in his role long enough to allow his successor to be chosen.
Inside job
Among the internal candidates is Christopher Boone, who has served as assistant city manager for Community Services since November 2022. City records show Boone has worked for Beaumont since 2006, serving as Director of Planning and Community Development. In April 2022, prior to Williams’ selection, Boone stepped in as interim city manager and was a finalist for the permanent position. Boone holds a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning and a Bachelor’s Degree in History.
Damon Jones, according to his LinkedIn profile, worked for the city of Beaumont for more than 12 years. An engineer, Jones served as a roadway designer from April 2007 to August 2014 before becoming Streets and Drainage Operations coordinator. He left the city in April 2019 to serve as director of Public Works in Liberty, Texas. Jones is a graduate of Lamar University and previously worked for the Texas Department of Transportation for more than 14 years prior to his employment with Beaumont.
Miles Haynes currently serves as interim economic development manager. A Lamar University graduate with a Master of Public Administration degree, Haynes began his career in marketing and later worked in administration at Cathedral in the Pines before becoming Business Development manager at Americom Marketing LP. He has been employed with the city of Beaumont since November 2021 and was assistant to the city manager and special projects.
June Ellis has served as assistant city manager for Operations since December 2022. Before coming to Beaumont, Ellis was city administrator for the city of Haskell for 19 months and previously served as finance director for the city of Buda from August 2016 to June 2021 — during the same period Williams served as Buda’s city manager. Ellis earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Texas Southern University and later obtained a Master of Arts in Political Science from Wayne State University. He is also a Texas Certified Public Manager.
Kenneth Coleman has led Beaumont’s Public Health Department as Public Health director since April 2021 and spent the previous 22 years working within the department. Coleman holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Jarvis Christian University.
Sharae Reed joined the City of Beaumont’s legal department in 2011 as an assistant city attorney. She was promoted to senior assistant city attorney in 2014, first assistant city attorney in 2017, and, in 2021, became the first female city attorney in the city’s history. Prior to joining the city, Reed served as an adjunct professor at Brightwood College (formerly Kaplan College). She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Lamar University and a law degree from Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law.
The remaining applicants — Antwyne Johnson, Clarisa Landry, Allina Hayne, Sheckeita Lafleur, Michelle Ball, Lorenzo Burrell and Michael Brillhart — are not current or former city of Beaumont employees.
Beyond the shorter application window and the decision not to utilize a search firm, there are notable differences between the 2026 job posting and the 2022 listing that led to Williams’ hiring.
The 2022 posting, published by Baker Tilly, advertised a yearly base salary in the $225,000 to $250,000 range, along with a monthly vehicle allowance, administrative allowance and a comprehensive benefits package. By contrast, the 2026 listing states that salary will “depend on qualifications.”
When Williams was hired in 2022, he began with an initial base salary of $250,000. His contract guaranteed the same benefits provided to other city administrative employees, along with a supplemental retirement plan contribution of $26,000 annually, $10,000 in vehicle allowance for local travel, $10,000 in relocation expenses and reimbursement for reasonable job-related expenses.
Educational requirements in both postings include a bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, political science or a closely related field. However, the 2022 listing required a minimum of 10 years of closely related experience, while the current posting reduces that requirement to three to seven years of closely related professional experience. Leadership qualifications have also shifted, with the 2022 posting requiring at least five years of leadership experience, compared to the current listing’s three to five years of executive-level leadership experience.
The new job posting specifies that a “verifiable record of ethical behavior and personal accountability is essential.” Additionally, the listing specifies that the desired candidate must demonstrate proficiency in municipal government administration and operations and possess a record of empowering individuals at all levels of the organization to deliver effective and efficient services. The successful candidate will demonstrate leadership, critical thinking, honesty, integrity, and a commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.
Personality wise, the city council describes the successful candidate as approachable, transparent, inclusive, receptive to innovative technologies, and committed to building strong partnerships with an engaged citizenry.
With applications now in hand, the Beaumont City Council is expected to begin reviewing candidates and determining the next steps in the selection process in the coming weeks. Whether the city ultimately promotes from within or selects an external applicant, the decision will shape the direction of municipal leadership at a pivotal time for Beaumont.
As Williams prepares to conclude his tenure April 30, council members face the task of balancing continuity with the evolving needs of the city. The next city manager will inherit responsibility for overseeing day-to-day operations, implementing council policy and guiding the organization through future growth and challenges.