Kenneth Williams is the first Black City Manager of Beaumont, Texas. He is past City Manager for the City of Buda, Texas having served approximately 18 years in city management. Kenneth is an ICMA-Credentialed Manager serving as President of the Texas City Management Association (TCMA) in 2019/2020 and currently serves as an elected board member of the International City Managers Association. He is a board member of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators and past board member of Baylor Scott and White Health Central Texas and the Austin Area Research Organization (AARO).

Kenneth has many accolades in his career including having been awarded the Golden Anvil Award by the Angelina County Chamber of Commerce while serving on the board, receiving the Eagle Award from the Angelina Citizens Chamber of Commerce as President-Elect, and receiving the highest award from the Concerned Blackman of Lufkin, Texas Inc. in being a founding member of that organization.

Mr. Williams worked as Emergency Management Coordinator in Lufkin for nine years, having guided the city through Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. Kenneth worked with the City of Lufkin for 18.5 years, having served as Assistant City Manager before becoming the first Black City Manager in Angelina County with the City of Diboll, Texas.

Mr. Williams provided a partial list of the current activities which include Public Safety, Unsafe Buildings, Budgeting, Cooperation with BISD, Infrastructure, and Homelessness. All of these are included in the Strategic Plan for the City of Beaumont.

Vision for 2038:

•  Beautiful Community and Safe Community
• Vibrant Downtown/Riverfront
• Great Neighborhoods
• Leisure Opportunities for all
• Connectivity to the World

Beaumont City Government Mission is to provide Exceptional Municipal Services and to plan for Beaumont’s future in a financially responsible manner with open, transparent, and ethical manner through a high-performing city team that provides outstanding customer service and involves our Beaumont community.

The policy agenda for 2023-2024 includes Downtown Hotel Development Project, Riverfront Master Plan, Water Park, Real Time Crime Center Project Completion, Homeless Strategy, Wastewater System Improvement/Upgrade Plan and Stations Sewer Lift Projects.

The Management Agenda for 2023-2024 includes AT&T Building Demolition, Mandatory Customer Service Training, Bond Rating Improvement, Capital Improvement Plan and Civic Center Upgrade.

Goals for 2028:

•  Great Place to Live
• Financially Sound City providing Excellent Customer Service
• Vibrant Downtown/Riverfront
• Livable Neighborhoods
• Upgraded City Facilities and Infrastructure

Mr. Williams is visionary and practical. He believes that these goals can be met, and the City of Beaumont can be one of the most desirable places to live in Texas as well as in the country. We have a port, industry, a great university, a regional airport, exceptional food and entertainment, access to the Gulf, the Hill Country, Lakes, and the Big Thicket. All of this and more is what other cities would love to have. He expresses a spirit of optimism and is already working toward the goals, mission, and vision for Beaumont.

Thank you to Mr. Kenneth Williams for joining us with an informative program. Thank you for joining our city. We welcome you and look forward to seeing what you will do to make our city the best place to live for all of us.

Photos by: Karen Bourdier