Kansas City's city manager, Brian Platt, withdraws from Austin top job consideration

Five days after Austin Mayor Kirk Watson announced three finalists for Austin's next city manager, one dropped out of the running.

Brian Platt, the city manager of Kansas City, Mo., withdrew Sunday afternoon, according a statement from Platt provided by Kansas City press secretary Sherae Honeycutt.

The other two finalists for the top-level executive position in Austin are T.C. Broadnax, the city manager of Dallas, and Sara Hensley, the city manager of Denton.

After some Kansas City news outlets reported that Platt planned to withdraw, Watson posted to the Austin City Council message board Friday: "We have been in contact with Mr. Platt through our search firm. He has not withdrawn from consideration for the Austin job."

Platt's formal withdraw came over the weekend.

More:Austin City Council announces 3 finalists for city manager

Platt was hired by Kansas City less than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic. He has worked in executive level city management since 2018, holding the position of city manager in Jersey City, N.J., before moving to Missouri.

Platt did not reply to the American-Statesman's requests for comment or an interview on his candidacy last week or questions related to his application status Friday.

Watson said last Tuesday that candidates will participate in city meetings March 25 and will attend a public town hall that evening. The next day, the mayor and City Council will interview the candidates in executive session. The plan is to have a candidate selected by early April.