City Manager David Cooke, who has served as City Manager since June 30, 2014, will begin transitioning from his role as City Manager by stepping down after a decade of transformative leadership. His retirement is effective at the end of February 2025.
Cooke’s tenure has been marked by exceptional achievements and significant contributions to Fort Worth’s growth and development. As the longest-serving City Manager in Fort Worth’s history, Cooke has been instrumental in managing the $2.3 billion City government enterprise and its approximately 8,100 employees. Under his leadership, the city has maintained a focus on exceptional customer service, long-term planning, and strategic partnerships to address complex public policy challenges.
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said, “David Cooke’s leadership over the past ten years has left an indelible mark on the City of Fort Worth. He has continually led with integrity, intelligence, and most importantly always remembering to have fun along the way. His accomplishments are too many to list, but above all, he ensured our city is in the best possible fiscal health of any large city in the country. Without question, I will miss serving alongside my friend when he leaves at the beginning of 2025, but I am incredibly proud of his leadership, and he has earned a celebration as he enters his next chapter.”
Key accomplishments during Cooke’s tenure include:
- Infrastructure and Growth: Cooke has planned and implemented the infrastructure needs of a rapidly growing city, accommodating approximately 20,000 new residents per year.
- Public/Private Partnerships: Dickies Arena, Fort Worth Stockyards, Alliance, Texas A&M University expansion, Fort Worth Botanic Gardens.
- COVID-19 Response: He led the organization through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring continuous service delivery and support for residents and businesses.
- Pension System Stability: Cooke successfully shored up the City’s pension system, securing the financial future for City employees and retirees.
- Safe and Clean City: Cooke has excelled at budgeting, ensuring the financial health and sustainability of the City.
- Innovation and FWLab Creation: He established the FWLab, the City’s budgeting and planning division, which has become a model for other municipalities.
Reflecting on his decision to retire, Cooke shared his gratitude and pride in the accomplishments of the City of Fort Worth team:
“Serving as City Manager has been an incredible and fulfilling journey. Together, we have built and sustained an organization that is now the 12th largest city in the country, renowned for our exceptional customer service, neighborhood improvements, public-private partnerships, transparency, and commitment to inclusive prosperity.”
Cooke emphasized the City’s resilience and unity during challenging times, including the COVID-19 pandemic, severe weather events, and other emergencies. He looks forward to celebrating successes and working on the transition plan in the coming months.
The City of Fort Worth will announce details of the transition plan soon and will ensure a smooth and orderly leadership change.
SOURCE: City of Fort Worth