YUKON, OKLAHOMA — The City of Yukon is pleased to announce that the City Council has voted to extend an offer of employment to Mike Castro for the position of City Manager. The Council has directed city staff to finalize the employment contract, which will be presented to both Castro and the City Council for approval at the next meeting.
Mayor Brian Pillmore expressed his enthusiasm about the appointment of Dr. Castro, stating, "We are excited to have Mike Castro as our new City Manager. His extensive experience in municipal management, combined with his innovative leadership beginning with his training at West Point, makes him an excellent fit for Yukon. We believe that under his leadership, our city will continue to thrive."
Mike Castro is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience in municipal management, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the role. He holds a Bachelor of Science in General Engineering Studies from the United States Military Academy at West Point, a Master of Science in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Houston. This strong educational background has provided him with a solid foundation in public administration, urban planning, and strategic management.
"I am honored to serve the residents of Yukon and look forward to working with the city council and staff to make a great city even better," said Mike Castro.
Throughout his career, Mike has demonstrated a deep commitment to fostering community improvement, advancing responsible development, and enhancing the well-being of residents. His innovative approach to city management is evident in the communities he has served, where he has spearheaded initiatives that leave a lasting positive impact.
Vice Mayor Jeff Wootton shared his support for Castro, saying, "I am eager to welcome Mike Castro as Yukon's new City Manager. With his extensive experience and strong leadership, I am confident he will be an incredible asset to our city. Mike's proven track record of success makes him the perfect fit to lead Yukon into a bright and prosperous future."
Most recently, Mike served as the City Manager of Murphy, Texas, where he played a pivotal role in revitalizing the city's infrastructure and enhancing its financial strength, including improving the city's creditworthiness. He holds the ICMA-CM Credentialed Manager designation from the International City/County Management Association and is a Certified Public Manager (CPM). These certifications underscore his expertise in local government management and his dedication to implementing best practices in public administration.
Mike Castro and his wife, Lisa, are excited to relocate to Yukon from the North Texas area. They enjoy international travel, studying genealogy to trace their family's roots, and photography. Mike is also an active member of the Plano Sunrise Rotary Club and previously served as a Board Member of the Murphy Chamber of Commerce.
Castro will succeed Tammy Kretchmar as City Manager, with Mitchell Hort currently serving as the Acting City Manager since early June. The City of Yukon is confident in the continued progress and stable improvement that will be achieved under his leadership, pending finalization of the contract.
The hiring process for the new City Manager was thorough and rigorous. The City Council developed a robust job description and advertisement for the role in early June. The position was posted for 30 days on the City's website as well as on key municipal association job boards. At the end of the posting period, the City of Yukon received 35 completed applications, with 22 of those applications coming from within the state of Oklahoma. After a careful review of all applications, each City Council Member selected their top five candidates, resulting in 11 candidates moving on to the next round.
To further narrow the pool, the City Council reviewed video submissions from the candidates, where they discussed their background, experience, and reasons for their enthusiasm to lead the City of Yukon. Based on these videos, each City Council Member selected their top three candidates, and seven candidates were invited for on-site interviews. These interviews took place at the beginning of August, and the City Council discussed the results during the first City Council meeting of the month. The final decision to extend an offer to Mike Castro was made at the regularly scheduled City Council meeting on Tuesday, August 20th.
For more information, contact: Jenna Roberson, (405) 350-3938, jroberson@yukonok.gov, www.yukonok.gov