Raleigh City Manager Ruffin Hall announces retirement. What he’s most proud of
Raleigh City Manager Ruffin Hall will retire from the city’s top post Dec. 31, he announced Wednesday.
Hall called his seven years as city manager the proudest time of his career.
Among the city’s achievements during his tenure, he cited the acquisition and development of a master plan for Dorothea Dix Park, the Wake County Transit Plan, the opening of Raleigh Union Station and the renovation of Moore Square.
“I am so grateful of all that we have accomplished together,” he said in a statement, adding that he looks forward to new opportunities and more time with his family.
Hall, 50, plans to remain in Raleigh with his wife and three children and said in an interview with The News and Observer he doesn’t have another job lined up.
“With 25 years in local government management, with almost seven in the city of Raleigh as the city manager, (it) has been a tremendous and rewarding experience,” he said. “I am ready to try some new and different things professionally but to be clear I don’t have another job or some opportunity immediately in front of me. But now is a good time to explore some other professional opportunities.”
In Raleigh’s form of government, the mayor and city council set policy and the manager carries it out. The manager recommends an annual budget and has hiring and firing power over nearly all of the city’s 4,200 employees.
The five months before he leaves will give the City Council time to outline a plan to hire its next top executive.
Was assistant manager in Charlotte before coming to Raleigh
Hall was hired in 2013 after serving 10 years with the city of Charlotte as an assistant city manager and budget director. The then-mayor and council outlined a clear vision for the city that Hall said he believes he’s been able to accomplish.
“How do we help evolve our organization?,” Hall said. “To evolve from a big small town to a small big city. How do we take things to another level? We ended up doing a lot during that time toward that goal.”
There is still work to be done, he said.
“We all know those issues pressing on us today,” he said. “Whether it’s the pandemic or issues of social equity or economic conditions particularly for small businesses. There is a lot still in front of us. We have some of the best and brightest management leaders in our organizations of anywhere in the country. So I think we are in a very strong leadership position. That leads me to believe this is the right time for a transition.”
It also makes sense logistically. It’s an off-election year for the council and after the annual budget has been passed.
The COVID-19 and police protests are just two of the city’s most recent challenges, but Hall said they didn’t factor in his decision to leave.
“This has nothing to do with recent events,” Hall said. “I am very grateful and supportive of the mayor and council. I think we have a strong working relationship, and I support them, and I believe they are supportive of me.”
He sent an email to city staff shortly before noon.
In a statement, Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin praised Hall’s finding dedicated funding for affordable housing, making government more efficient and strategic and focusing on public-private partnerships.
“Under Ruffin’s leadership, we have made huge strides in all these areas, expanded and improved our services, and grown a visionary management team,” she said. “While we will miss him, we also recognize that his positive impact on the city will be felt for years to come.”
The council will likely talk about the process for choosing a new manager at its next meeting, Baldwin said, adding she hopes for a national search.
“I think this gives us an opportunity,” she said. “You mention social unrest and social equity, those are things we will be looking at. Police, equity, social justice. What I will be looking for is someone who has experience in that regard. We don’t want to lose that steady hand.”
Durham city manager also leaving
Hall is the second Triangle city manager to announce this week that he is leaving.
On Sunday night, Durham City Manager Tom Bonfield, manager since 2008, told the mayor and City Council he is retiring effective Sept. 30.
Among other reasons, Bonfield said at 65 he is in a high-risk category for COVID-19 and that the job will require moving from virtual meetings like those held this summer to direct interaction with the public and city employees.
This story was originally published August 5, 2020 at 12:15 PM.
