Mission Council Deferred City Manager Search

The Mission City Council held a private executive session regarding hiring but took no formal action.

Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in City Hall

Isometric editorial illustration showing a minimalist wood-paneled arched doorway and hallway, representing municipal government procedure and structure. — The Mission City Council held a closed-door executive session to discuss the city manager search but took no formal action Tuesday. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should your local government freeze executive hiring until after an upcoming election is finalized?

The Mission City Council met in a closed-door session for 45 minutes to deliberate on the selection and interview process for a new city manager. No official action was taken following the meeting.

Why it matters

Residents have urged the council to delay hiring a permanent city manager until after the upcoming November election to prevent potential conflicts in municipal leadership.

The council voted 3-2 in August to initiate the search for a permanent city manager. This follows the appointment of JP Terrazas and Andy Garcia as co-interim managers in September 2025.

The players

JP Terrazas

He currently serves as one of the two co-interim city managers for Mission.

Andy Garcia

He serves as a co-interim city manager alongside JP Terrazas.

Ruben Plata

He is a member of the Mission City Council who voted against the city manager search.

Jose Alberto Vela

He is a member of the Mission City Council who voted against the city manager search.

The details

During the executive session, the council discussed applicant selection and interview procedures while hearing public feedback on the search timeline. JP Terrazas and Andy Garcia continue to serve as co-interim city managers while the council deliberates.

September 2025: Terrazas and Garcia were appointed co-interim city managers.
August 2026: Council voted 3-2 to initiate city manager search.
October 13, 2026: Council held executive session and took no action.
November 2026: City election date.

Political Context

The council's decision to pause hiring follows a pattern set by the Mission municipal election cycle, where administrative decisions are often delayed to allow incoming officials to weigh in on executive appointments. Opposition members have argued that finalizing a long-term hire before the public casts their ballots undermines the democratic process.

The absence of a permanent city manager means that interim leadership will continue to oversee municipal operations through the November 2026 election. Residents should prepare for ongoing temporary management until the council reaches a consensus on the hiring process.

The takeaway

Postponing major administrative hires during an election season allows for a clearer transition once new leadership is seated. Voters in Mission may see the city manager search become a key talking point in the lead-up to the November election.