Eagle Pass City Council Culminates 20 Months-Long National City Manager Search Hiring Local Bridge System Manager Homero Balderas
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2024
The City of Eagle Pass, Texas City Council culminated their record 20 months-long national City Manager search on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, unanimously selecting local Eagle Pass International Bridge System Manager Homero Balderas as the new City Manager.
The Eagle Pass City Manager position became open on August 9, 2022 when former City Manager George Antuna abruptly resigned after an Executive Session evaluation session, prompting the City Council to appoint Assistant City Manager Ivan Morua as Interim City Manager until a new manager was hired.
At least 46 candidates applied for the vacant City Manager position during the 20 months long search and twelve were selected for interviews on February 1 and 2, 2024, but only eight accepted the invitation to be interviewed. However, only five candidates showed up for the interviews. Many qualified candidates dropped out of the selection process due to the long delay or accepted employment elsewhere or simply got tired of waiting while other qualified candidates were not invited to interview.
Homero Balderas was born in Dallas, Texas, but raised in Eagle Pass. He graduated from Eagle Pass High School in 2003 and attended Southwest Texas Junior College, earning two Associate of Arts degrees. He entered the workforce and ten years later returned to earn his Bachelor and Master of Business Administration degrees from Sul Ross State University-Rio Grande College.
Balderas worked at several banking institutions before entering the public sector as Purchasing Director for the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas and later with the City of Eagle Pass. He was hired by the City Council as the Eagle Pass International Bridge System Manager until his new hiring as City Manager on February 6, 2024.
In April 2023, Balderas received the Sul Ross State University Spirit of the Scholar Certificate of Advancement for Exemplary Leadership Qualities and recently served as the Sul Ross State University-Rio Grande College Fall 2023 Commencement Speaker.
Most recently, Balderas led the push for the approval of the construction of a new state of the art $3.6 million Eagle Pass International Bridge System Administration Building at the Eagle Pass Camino Real International Bridge (II) site within the Port of Eagle Pass, which was inaugurated on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 after three and a half years. The Port of Eagle Pass had over $32 billion in imports and exports in 2023.
The Eagle Pass City Council will negotiate an employment agreement with Balderas and upon the parties reaching an agreement, Balderas will officially start as the new City Manager of Eagle Pass, bringing closure to the longest City Manager search.
Interim City Manager Ivan Morua is expected to return to his previous Assistant City Manager position at City Hall.
Balderas’ new hiring as City Manager now opens up the Eagle Pass International Bridge System Manager position within the City of Eagle Pass.
