Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

BRIDGE CITY — The Bridge City City Council unanimously appointed Christopher Baker as the next city manager.

Baker was selected from 24 applicants including four finalists. He officially starts Jan. 15.

Leading the search process was Slavin Management Consultants, of Norcross, Georgia, a local government executive search firm, specializing in assisting local governments find their next chief executive officer.

Baker brings 27 years of experience in local government, most recently as the development services director in Goodyear, Arizona (population 112,000), where he oversaw substantial growth of the city as one of the Phoenix metropolitan area’s fastest growing suburbs.

He has experience in economic development, transportation, land use planning and public works.

As an Alabama Gulf Coast native, where he spent much of his professional career, Baker and his family look forward to returning to the southeast.

“I am excited to join a visionary city council and work with a talented staff team at Bridge City,” he said. “Elizabeth and I are also happy to return to this part of the country and to be near family”

Mayor David Rutledge said local leaders are happy to welcome Baker and his family to Bridge City.

Rutledge touted the city manager’s experience in the public and private sectors, advancing solutions important to local government.

“He has a significant understanding of the issues facing coastal communities and looks forward to learning more about the priorities from the council and citizens of Bridge City,” Rutledge said. “We look forward to working with him and getting to work on addressing the problems and getting to work on addressing the priorities of the community.

“Mr. Baker is a successful leader who has managed large staffs, some larger than that in Bridge City. His past working experience in the Gulf Coast region and exhibiting leadership in the areas of interest by the City Council were important considerations for us.”

Bridge City citizens, other city and county officials and members of the press are invited to the City Council meeting Jan. 16 at 6 p.m. for a reception to officially welcome Baker to Bridge City.

Bridge City is a council-manager form of government and operates with an adopted city charter.

The city manager reports to the seven-member elected city council and oversees the day-to-day operations of the organization.