See Jane on TV

Jane McGarry's gig at Good Morning Texas turns full-time

Longtime Dallas-Fort Worth TV personality Jane McGarry begins a new full-time job on Monday, March 9: She’s now the co-host of WFAA Channel 8’s Good Morning Texas, alongside Mike Castellucci.

McGarry had been working with the program since early 2013, presenting segments such as “Texas Legends.” Now you can watch her Monday through Friday on the hour-long program, which airs at 9 am. She replaces longtime host Amy Vanderoef, whose last day is March 6.

In a release, WFAA president and general manager said they were pleased to welcome McGarry and called her stories “interesting,” said “engaging.”

“WFAA Channel 8 has been a terrific place for me to contribute with Texas Legends pieces, as well as our Starting Over stories,” McGarry wrote on her blog, Real Jane. “I am blessed to work in a business I love, and I hope to share all the exciting moments and people we meet on Good Morning Texas with you.”

During her 30-plus-year career — which hit a speed bump in summer 2012, when she left her longtime job as nightly news anchor for KXAS Channel 5 after pleading no contest to a drunk driving charge — McGarry has interviewed numerous national leaders and celebrities, including former President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, and country music legend Willie Nelson, among many others.

“I hope to make the show fun while also contributing something of lasting value to our viewers,” she said in a statement. “At this stage in my life and career, I’m committed to empowering people with ideas and inspiration and I’m delighted to be able to do so from the powerful platform of Good Morning Texas.”

McGarry is an active volunteer for causes helping victims of domestic violence and breast cancer survivors. She also serves on the board of the AiRS Foundation, dedicated to providing women around the world access to reconstructive breast surgery, and often emcees charity events like November 2014’s Hollywood Domino Dallas.

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Politics News

Dallas narrows down field for new city manager to 4 candidates

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This is an Dallasite's sign to launch that small business they've been dreaming of.

After six months without a city manager, the city of Dallas has narrowed down the field of replacements to four semifinalists including one serving as current interim city manager, plus candidates from Fort Worth, Michigan, and Georgia.

Dallas has been without a city manager since May, when previous city manager T.C. Broadnax left to take a job with the city of Austin. Since that time, Broadnax's former chief of staff Kimberly Bizor Tolbert has served as interim city manager.

The city retained Baker Tilly, a consulting firm, to recruit and compile candidates. (Baker Tilly famously erred in the brochure it created for the position by featuring a photo of the Houston skyline instead of Dallas; they've since replaced it with Dallas.)

A spokesperson for Baker Tilly did not respond to inquiries but according to D Magazine, an email listing the candidates has been sent to the Dallas City Council.

The semifinalists include:

Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, Dallas’ current interim city manager
William Johnson, an assistant city manager in Fort Worth
Mark Washington, the city manager of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Zachary Williams, a county chief operating officer in Georgia

All have more than 25 years' of public administration experience and have worked in similar capacities in their respective cities.

Before working in Fort Worth, Johnson was Baltimore’s transportation director and Atlanta’s deputy chief operating officer and public works commissioner.

Washington worked in Fort Worth and Austin before becoming Grand Rapids’ city manager.

Williams has mostly worked in Georgia at the county level, including serving as county manager in Fulton County and chief operating officer in DeKalb County.

Tolbert began working for the city in 1998, first as the city manager’s assistant and later in the aviation department. Broadnax hired her as his chief of staff in 2017.

Unlike the Mayor and the Dallas City Council, the city manager position in Dallas is not elected but is instead appointed by the city council, and is tasked with executing policies, overseeing the annual budget, and managing staff at city hall.

The council’s Ad Hoc Committee will choose finalists, introduce them to the public, and make an offer in early 2025.

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