Amarillo Council Appoints Interim City Manager

The city council selected Rodney Rhoades to lead Amarillo's government operations on an interim basis.

Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in People

Amarillo Council Appoints Interim City Manager

Live Poll

Does frequent turnover in your city leadership negatively affect the quality of your local government?

Amarillo officials appointed Rodney Rhoades as the city's interim manager following the resignation of Grayson Path in September. Rhoades brings nearly four decades of government experience to the temporary role.

Why it matters

The city requires an experienced temporary leader while officials conduct a search for a permanent city manager. Rhoades will evaluate municipal departments to identify operational improvements during his tenure.

Rhoades brings nearly 40 years of local government experience and will receive an annual salary of $364,000, equivalent to an hourly rate of $175. The contract for the interim position is planned to span six months to a year.

The players

Rodney Rhoades

He is an experienced government administrator who has previously served as a county executive in Travis County and as a director in Collin County.

Grayson Path

He served as the former city manager of Amarillo until his resignation in September 2026.

Amarillo City Council

This is the governing body responsible for the appointment of municipal leadership and oversight of city operations in Amarillo.

The details

Rhoades, who previously served in leadership roles for Travis County and the Texas Municipal Water District, will assess all city departments to propose needed improvements. The city council plans to finalize the employment agreement during a scheduled vote on Tuesday.

September 2026: The city council accepted the resignation of former City Manager Grayson Path.
Tuesday, October 27, 2026: The city council will vote on the proposed employment agreement.

Market Landscape

This transition aligns with standard municipal administrative practices for filling gaps in executive leadership while conducting executive searches. The appointment positions the city to maintain operational stability following the departure of a high-level official.

Residents can expect the interim manager to begin evaluating city departments to address ongoing challenges shortly after the agreement is finalized. The leadership change will guide daily city operations and service delivery during the search for a permanent successor.

The takeaway

Appointing an experienced interim official helps maintain continuity during executive leadership transitions. Residents should watch for upcoming council updates regarding improvements to city departmental operations.