SOUTH PADRE ISLAND — All the important ideas and project plans pass over Darla Jones’ desk in City Hall.
For nearly a decade, Jones has been a guiding light for city leaders as assistant city manager.
“Darla has high standards of integrity, is super smart, and knows a lot,” said Alita Bagley, the longest serving council member for the City of South Padre Island.
Over the years, she has helped keep the city moving past its goals and objectives to make the Island city a world-class destination.
For her hard work and dedication to excellence in local government, Jones recently received the Credentialed Managers designation from the International City/County Management Association.
Jones is one of more than 1,300 local government management professionals currently credentialed through the ICMA voluntary credentialing program.
ICMA’s mission is to create excellence in local governance by promoting professional management worldwide and increasing the proficiency of appointed chief administrative officers, assistant administrators, and other employees who serve local government and regional entities around the world.
The organization’s nearly 10,000 members in 27 countries also include educators, students and other local government employees.
To receive the prestigious ICMA credential, a member must have significant experience as a senior management executive in local government, have a college degree preferably in public administration or a related field, and have demonstrated a commitment to high standards of integrity and to lifelong learning and professional development.
Jones has 27 years of professional local government executive experience.
Since her appointment in 2010 as assistant city manager of South Padre Island, she has twice served as interim city manager.
When Jones is not in the office preparing the details about the new sidewalks, the skate park or new hotel construction plans for the City Commission, she is out there in the city participating in community events such as beach cleanups the annual Independence Day parade.
Darla Jones has 27 years of local government experience. She has served as the assistant city manager for South Padre Island since 2010.
• La Feria, assistant city manager
• City of Pharr, senior planner
• City of San Benito, director of planning and development
• City of Harlingen, city planner
• Bachelors of public administration from Texas A&I University
• Utility Management Institute graduate
