Interim city manager eager to make a difference
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Marie Gelles feels at home in Cuero, though she’d never been here before her interview earlier this month.
“My first time to Cuero was when I met with the city council. I was pleasantly surprised by its charm, unique character and potential,” she said.
Gelles, the former city administrator in Helotes, works for Texas First Group Replacement Service, an organization of former city administrators who make themselves available to cities on an interim basis. She was hired as interim city manager during a special session about two weeks ago after council members interviewed three potential candidates.
She replaces Cuero Police Chief Glenn Mutchler, who had served in the interim capacity since the retirement of Corlis Riedesel. The city will continue to seek a full-time replacement for Riedesel, who served as city manager for 10 years.
Gelles served as the chief administrative officer in Helotes from 2001-03. She also worked as the executive director of the Helotes Economic Development Corporation from 2005-07.
She has also served as economic development manager for the San Antonio Water System, assistant court administrator for the Bexar County Commissioners Court, and as a budget and research analyst for the City of San Antonio.
Gelles holds a master’s degree in Public Administration and Policy from the University of Nevada-Reno.
Ranging reporter Sonny Long sat down recently with Gelles in her office in the Cuero city administration building for a question and answer session.
Q: What was it about the Cuero position that you found appealing?
A: When I came down to interview, I was really surprised how pleasant it was here. It’s a lovely community. I didn’t know what to expect. I’d never been here before. And when I interviewed with the council, I had a good feeling that I could really make a difference here and that they really needed my talents.
Q: With more than 20 years of experience at various levels of administration, what skills do you bring to Cuero in this interim position that can be the biggest asset to the city?
A: As an interim city manager, basically, when I come into a city, I am plopped into the middle of everything. One thing is, you have to have good knowledge of what the state and local laws are. You have to have a good understanding of what you can and cannot do, and be able to quickly learn how the organization runs and what things need to be accomplished. Right now, starting the budget is one of the main things. Learning how we do things here and how we can make improvements.
Customer service is very big for me. I really care about serving the citizens and doing the best job we can serving the citizens efficiently and politely. That’s a big concern of mine.
We have new city council members and we need to bring them up to speed, and get an understanding of what the council’s vision and goals are for the city. When you are the interim, you try not to change too much. A new city manager will have their own way of doing things.
I have a lot of experience in economic development. They’ve done a good job here, but they need to go to the next level. I have a lot of knowledge about a lot of different things, and I think that’s very beneficial for the city.
Q: In reviewing the current situation in Cuero, is there anything you can accomplish that can smooth the transition between the former, long time administrator and whoever comes in as a full-time replacement?
A: I think a lot of the organizational things will be looked at. I will be able to give them a good understanding of the situation and what problems there are here. Basically, it’s to maintain the organization and to keep it running and to make as smooth a transition as possible.
Everyone comes into a city with their own way of managing things. I think I have a very open-door, proactive approach to city government. I try to work very well with the council.
Q: What else about your time in Cuero are you excited about?
A: I’ve never been to this area. I’ve ventured out to Victoria. This is a lovely area. I am looking forward to learning more about the community. Everyone has been very friendly and very nice. People come up and start talking to me. It’s a different atmosphere.
Q: Anything else you want to talk about?
A: Well, I think it’s really important that we have a new council and they have a new direction they seem to want to go in. I am looking forward to working with them in going in that direction. Hopefully, bringing in new economic development and improving the way we run the city. There is a lot of potential here.
Q: You’ve mentioned economic development several times, what should the relationship be between the city government and the economic development corporation? It’s obviously a partnership.
A: It is a partnership. In the city of Helotes, I took a very proactive approach. Instead of waiting for people to come to us, we need to go to them. We have to go out there and toot our own horn. We have to go out and talk to businesses we want to bring here. That’s very important, the mayor going out there with the EDC chairman and developing these relationships.
Sometimes it’s a long-term process, but I think we need to be more proactive in going after some of these businesses or types of organizations we want to bring here.
Sonny Long is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact him at 361-580-6585 or slong@vicad.com, or comment on this story at www.VictoriaAdvocate.com.
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