New City Manager Appointed By City Council In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — City Council voted to appoint James F. Parajon as the new city manager Wednesday evening. Effective, Jan. 18, 2022, Parajon will succeed City Manager Mark B. Jinks, who will retire in January.

Parajon will join Alexandria city government from the City of Arlington, Texas. He has served in Arlington, Texas since 2006, most recently as deputy city manager for asset management, communication & legislative affairs, economic development, esports stadium, fire, libraries, office of strategic initiatives, Handitran and the Municipal Airport. He previously served as Arlington’s community development and planning director, managing real estate services, planning, and the Arlington Housing Authority; civil engineering, federal grant programs, and natural gas well functions; and development services and building inspections functions.

Before his work in Arlington, Texas, Parajon worked for Raleigh and Cary, North Carolina and has over a decade of experience managing planning functions for large private consulting firms. In 2014, he was elected to the College of Fellows for the American Institute of Certified Planners. He has presented at national and regional conferences on planning topics and has been an adjunct professor for the University of Texas at Arlington.

A graduate of Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, Parajon has a master’s degree in regional planning from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Originally from Poughkeepsie, New York, Parajon will return to the East Coast to live in Alexandria. His wife, Elizabeth, is an educator with experience in public and private schools, and his children, Eric and Stephanie, are in college.

The selection comes after City Council selected the firm POLIHIRE to conduct a nationwide recruiting search. Over the summer, Jinks had announced his upcoming retirement. Jinks, who joined city government in 1999 and became city manager in 2015, indicated he would remain in the position until a replacement is hired. The deadline for candidates to submit application materials was Sept. 17.

“A nationwide search for our next City Manager was shaped by input from Alexandria residents, business owners, and City staff to find the right combination of strengths, experience and qualities to lead Alexandria’s City government," Mayor Justin Wilson said in a statement. "With input through surveys, town halls and review panels, City Council sought to find a candidate who would reflect our values and we found that in Jim Parajon. We look forward to working with Jim, City staff and Alexandrians to accomplish great things together."

Parajon will be working with city staff on the fiscal year budget in the coming weeks. Times for the public to meet Parajon will be announced in January.

According to the city's website, City Council sought a city manager candidate who has "a demonstrated and verifiable record of inclusive, transparent and inspirational leadership in guiding an organization and clear commitments to making a difference through public service." The candidate also has to have strong administrative, fiscal management and decision making skills; a history of expanding revenue through state and federal grants; and value participation in intergovernmental activities at the regional, state, and national levels. The candidate should also have experience managing a city or county government similar to the City of Alexandria.

During the search process, City Council sought feedback from residents, business owners, civic leaders and others who frequent Alexandria. A survey conducted from July 12 to Sept. 17 garnered 670 responses, and a town hall was held Sept. 22 to collect additional input.

The survey asked residents what the characteristics of the next city manager should be and what the most critical challenges Alexandria faces in the next five to 10 years are. Some of the top characteristics mentioned by respondents were transparency, inclusiveness, integrity, honesty, and resident-focused. Some of the top challenges for the city identified by respondents were schools, affordable housing, flooding, climate change and traffic.

The next city manager will assume the role as new members of City Council will be sworn in during January. New members joining City Council are Sarah Bagley, Alyia Gaskins and Kirk McPike. Councilmember Amy Jackson will become vice mayor after securing the most votes in the November election. Mayor Justin Wilson and Councilmembers John Taylor Chapman and Canek Aguirre were also reelected.