Erik Walsh
City Manager of San Antonio, Texas
Assumed office
March 1, 2019
Preceded bySheryl Sculley
Personal details
Born (1969-02-07) February 7, 1969 (age 55)
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Spouse
Sandra Kiolbassa
​
(m. 2003)​
Children2
EducationTrinity University (BA, MS)

Erik Walsh (born February 7, 1969) is the City Manager of San Antonio, Texas. He has served in the position since March 2019.

Early life and education

Erik James Walsh was born on February 7, 1969, in San Antonio, Texas, the son of John Brendan Walsh and Irene Ramirez. His mother was a native of the city and of Mexican-American heritage, while his father was an immigrant from Ireland.[1] Walsh graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1987. He attended Trinity University, where he played for the football team and competed on the track & field teams.[2] He graduated in 1991 with a BA in political science with a minor in history.[2][3] Walsh received an MS degree in urban administration from the university in 1994.[4][5][6]

Career

Walsh worked for the city office of management & budget starting in 1994.[7][8] He served as deputy city manager immediately preceding his assumption of the office of city manager on March 1, 2019.[9][10] Walsh was selected as city manager from a field of more than 30 candidates, including his superior Sheryl Sculley who had held the job for 13 years.[7][9] Sculley lost due to disagreements she had with the firemen's union, the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association. The union had supported the passage of two city charter amendments in 2018: one amendment limits the city manager tenure to eight years,[8] while the other caps the city manager compensation to no more than 10 times that of the lowest-paid full-time employees of the city, which as of 2019 placed his annual salary cap at $312,000.[9]

Personal life

Walsh married Sandra Kiolbassa in 2003. Together they have two children.[9]

References

  1. ^ Dimmick, Iris. "Colleagues Call Erik Walsh a Collaborative Leader With an 'Unruffled' Demeanor". San Antonio Report. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b "City Manager Erik Walsh Reflects on Time as Trinity Athlete". Trinity Tigers. Trinity University. 19 April 2019. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  3. ^ Cantu, Tony. "A $2 Billion Corporation with 40 Lines of Business – Deputy City Manager Erik Walsh Speaks of Success". San Antonio Man - San Antonio Magazine for Men. Archived from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  4. ^ Chavey, S.M. (17 January 2019). "What to know about San Antonio's new city manager finalist Erik Walsh". My San Antonio (MySA). San Antonio Express News. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  5. ^ McGuiness, Dylan (16 January 2019). "Why Erik Walsh was selected as San Antonio's next city manager, and what it means for the runner-up". San Antonio Express News. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  6. ^ "City Manager Erik Walsh - Biography". City of San Antonio. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  7. ^ a b Guajardo, Adi. "From football player to family man and city employee: Get to know Erik Walsh, new city manager". Kens 5 News. Archived from the original on 19 October 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  8. ^ a b Bailey, W. Scott (27 June 2019). "Next Manager Up". San Antonio Business Journal. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d Baugh, Josh (31 January 2019). "Family joins Walsh as he achieves dream of being named San Antonio's city manager". San Antonio Express News. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  10. ^ Ortiz, Edmond (31 January 2019). "Erik Walsh to Take Over as San Antonio City Manager on March 1". The Rivard Report. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
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