MARFA — Andrea Walter, the City Council’s pick for the next Marfa city manager, will start in her new role next month on Monday, March 3.
Walter was chosen as the final candidate in December after she and City Secretary Kelly Perez, who has been filling in as Interim city manager since Mandy Roane’s resignation in September 2024, were both being considered for the top administrative position.
Mayor Manny Baeza said Perez will stay on as interim city manager until February 28, and he and the City Council appreciate everything she’s done for the city since her employment there began in August 2021. Perez will return to her post as city secretary.
The City Council voted unanimously to officially appoint Walter as the new city manager last week. Her one-year contract with the city will be finalized soon. Walter will be moving from Corpus Christi, where she was most recently working as a business manager for an architectural firm. She owns land in Terlingua Ranch and has lived out there part time.
Baeza said he believes Walter will be a good fit for the city. He said that she was chosen by city council members for her qualifications, which include project management experience and a Master’s degree in public administration, as well as her demeanor.
He said Walter’s first weeks on the job will involve meeting with city department heads and getting up to speed on the city’s various projects including streets and smart meters. “We’re just trying to finish everything that we have pending right now before taking on any other projects,” Baeza said.
Walter said she has located a house and is hoping to move to Marfa in mid-February. She said she’s coming armed with a 30-, 60- and 90-day plan and is excited to meet everyone and get to work on city projects.
“I’m ready to listen and hear what everyone has to say, so I can make a game plan and get on board with the City Council and get going, roll my sleeves up,” Walter said. “I hope that everyone in Marfa will enjoy my transparency, my openness and my willingness to work very hard to get everyone on the same page and in the right direction.”