City Manager Marc Ott steps down

After almost nine years as the most powerful person in local government, City Manager Marc Ott resigned his post today. Ott has accepted a position as executive director of the International City/County Management Association in Washington, D.C., beginning Oct. 30. In his new role, Ott will be leading an influential association of local government managers from 23 countries around the world. “This wasn’t an easy decision,” Ott said in a statement. But he said his new position is an opportunity for him to “apply 30 years of experience toward advancing the profession and bettering communities around the world.” Ott came to Austin after serving as assistant city manager in Fort Worth. A statement from the city of Austin highly praised Ott’s tenure during a period of unprecedented growth. But it was also no secret that some city officials, especially Council Member Don Zimmerman, were trying to force Ott out. Still, Ott had Mayor Steve Adler’s support. In a statement Friday, Adler thanked Ott for almost a decade of service, saying, “Under his management, Austin has grown into one of the most vibrant and successful cities in the world. That’s huge, and he deserves a lot of credit.”