Mark B. Jinks Appointed Alexandria City Manager

At its regular meeting Tuesday, City Council unanimously appointed Mark B. Jinks as City Manager for the City of Alexandria, effective immediately. Jinks has served as Acting City Manager since Jan. 2.

“Mark is the right leader for the City’s administration and operations at this important time,” said Mayor William D. Euille, in a news release. “For 15 years, he has faithfully served our community with good judgment, broad skills, and financial acumen. My colleagues and I are confident that he will continue to guide our City through major projects like the implementation of the Waterfront Plan and the proposed Potomac Yard Metrorail Station.”

Jinks joined the City in 1999 as Chief Financial Officer, responsible for the City’s budget, finance programs, and information technology services. He served for 10 years in that role before becoming a Deputy City Manager. His portfolio in that position included the City’s land use planning, zoning, historic preservation, transportation, environmental protection, code administration, affordable housing, parks, recreation, cultural activities, museums, economic development, project finance, and project implementation.

Prior to his time in Alexandria, Jinks served as the Director of Management and Finance and Budget Director for Arlington County.

“It is special honor to be the manager of this great city,” said Jinks. “Alexandria is a unique place, home to a wonderfully diversity of residents and businesses that care deeply about our future. I will continue to work hard for everyone in our community, those who visit here, and the dedicated and talented colleagues with whom I have the privilege to serve.”

Jinks holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration from The Pennsylvania State University. He is an alumnus of executive education programs at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, the University of Virginia, and Syracuse University. Jinks has taught public finance and budgeting at universities in the United States and abroad, and has served as an economic development and financial management consultant to the cities of Warsaw and Krakow in Poland.

Jinks’ involvement in local government began when he was a teenager and helped establish a new regional transit authority in State College, Pa. He is now a member of the Regionalism Council of the Urban Land Institute Washington and the Board of Directors of the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership. He served as the Chair of the Alexandria-Arlington Waste-to-Energy facility board, and on the boards of public pension funds for both Arlington County and the City of Alexandria. Jinks served as a member of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Joint Development Task Force and the Client Advisory Board for Prudential Retirement, and was a Governor’s appointee in 1993 to the Joint Legislative Subcommittee that reformed Virginia’s business license tax system.

Jinks’ wife, Eileen, is the Pastoral Care Coordinator for Westminster Presbyterian Church in Alexandria. They have two adult daughters.