Dallas, TX
Cothrum: I’m optimistic about Kim Tolbert as Dallas city manager
Give her a chance. That’s what I’ve been telling clients and friends since the Dallas City Council named Kimberly Bizor Tolbert the new city manager. Most of these people are surprised that I’m cautiously optimistic. Those calling are mostly City Hall insiders, even employees and elected and appointed officials. They know I’m critical of most things coming out of Marilla Street, and that the city has serious problems — unhappy citizens, a poor debt rating, homelessness, aging infrastructure and high taxes, to name just a few.
So why am I optimistic?
Because Tolbert works. Hard. She puts in long hours. She actually comes into the office — something her predecessor T.C. Broadnax didn’t do.
In many ways, she reminds me of Mary Suhm, who started her career as a librarian. Suhm learned from the ground floor up and worked hard as the city leader. She earned her spurs, gaining wide levels of expertise across many city departments. Most important, she had institutional knowledge. She combined this with an admirable work ethic.
Effort counts, and ability begins with availability. So far, so good with Tolbert.
My optimism has increased after seeing that rank-and-file city employees began filling the council chamber as the agenda item to name her came closer. They filled the place. They were excited that someone from the ranks would lead them. I also believe they know that she works, not just presides.
I believe these people will work for her and be willing to make the changes she promotes.
I am hopeful she will not allow employees to hide, coast or provide poor customer service. It’s become a norm in the building. Calls and emails go unanswered. Plans go unreviewed. Most galling, employees boast about their side hustles, a dynamic facilitated by work-from-home policies.
The Broadnax years featured managers that wanted to make employees happy. I hope Tolbert empowers directors and their assistants to hold employees accountable and help them improve.
Other cities treat people like customers and know they are competing. I’ve been concerned that Tolbert uses platitudes — that Dallas is winning, and keeping the city at the top. I’m hoping that is just excited rhetoric, because it’s not true.
In my experience, the city of Dallas is the most dysfunctional, siloed, political, expensive and rude place to do business in the region — by a wide margin. This must change quickly for Dallas to even begin to be competitive.
Tolbert is going to lead from out front. I worried it might be more from the Broadnax playbook. So far, I was wrong — and I’m happy to admit it. She crawled out of the wreck of the good ship Broadnax and got to work repairing the damage, while many others scurried to his new ship in Austin.
I believe Tolbert is going to make different choices and run a different and more accountable government. She is willing to be graded. Only someone confident they will do the job behaves that way.
She’s not waiting for leadership from the council; she’s leading. She’s asking for input, not instructions.
She’s certainly not waiting on the mayor to provide inspiration or insight. The next expected sighting of the mayor, predictable like a comet, is in 2026, when he will take full credit for the World Cup games and be out and about in a new cowboy hat.
Tolbert has worked outside City Hall enough to know what the real world is like. More important, she started at the lowest level inside City Hall and made it to the top. Tolbert has had a variety of mentors during her career.
There’s no honeymoon for Tolbert. There’s no time for it, and too much to do. I’m optimistic, but I’m watching for backsliding. She’s got two and a half years to get things headed in the right direction, so when the city has a mayor willing to lead, the pace can quicken. The City Council must make explicit that she must blaze this path swiftly.
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The search for the next general manager or president of basketball operations of the Dallas Mavericks has begun. They terminated Nico Harrison in November, which was about nine months too late, and gave any available candidates clear notice that they were open for business.
The plan was always to wait until after the season to start the search. While names popped up as the season reached an end, they didn’t begin turning over the staff until the Monday after the season ended. However, Dallas Mavericks fans are not going to like how the team is going about the search.
Patrick Dumont Leading Search for General Manager
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that the Mavericks are not hiring a search firm in their hunt for a new lead executive. Instead, team governor Patrick Dumont is “acting as his own point person.”
This is an… interesting decision, to say the least. Dumont is not a basketball person whatsoever, and most organizations usually hire a search firm. The Chicago Bulls hired one as they look for their replacement for Arturas Karnisovas. Just because a firm is hired doesn’t mean a team will listen, though.
The Mavericks hired a firm in their last search for a GM. They let Donnie Nelson go in 2021 after a long tenure with the Mavs. Instead of listening to the firm, though, Mark Cuban ignored it to hire Nico Harrison, who had no previous NBA front office experience. Harrison had been an executive with Nike, which gave him connections with players like Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and plenty of others.
For a while, that seemed to be working out okay. While he still had some questionable transactions, such as trading for Christian Wood and letting Jalen Brunson walk in free agency, they were still able to make a run to the NBA Finals in 2024. Then, he blew it all up, trading away Luka Doncic for an older and injured Anthony Davis, and the team hasn’t been the same since.
It’s imperative that the Mavericks get this hire correct. The interim Co-GM setup with Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley has performed admirably, but the 2026 NBA Draft is important for the Mavs to get right. It’s their best chance to pair Cooper Flagg with another young star, as they don’t own their first-round pick again until 2031 after this.
Hiring the right GM could help bring in more draft capital by bringing in bad contracts or flipping veterans into picks.
Dumont was able to convince Rick Welts, a Hall of Famer, to come out of retirement to be the CEO and lead the charge for a new arena. Maybe Dumont pulls another rabbit out of his hat for the GM.
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For a moment, it looked like FC Dallas was on its way to another statement win at home tonight.
Petar Musa scored two first half goals, to extend his Golden Boot leading tally to nine goals. But after Dallas grabbed control, the Galaxy found a way back before halftime with goals from Lucas Sanabria and Joseph Paintsil.
The second half brought more chances and more frustration for Dallas, which finished the night with 13 shots to LA’s nine. In the end, the point stretched Dallas’ unbeaten run to five games, though just like last week, it felt like another match where Dallas left points on the table.
Key Moments
7’ – GOAL! After a poor pass back by a LA defender, Petar Musa was free to go one-on-one with the LA goalkeeper. After a touch to get ahead of a defender, Musa slotted home his eighth goal of the season from outside the penalty box.
21’ – Offside! Joaquin Valiente sent a floating ball over the Galaxy defense, where Musa was able to get behind the defense and make an easy play for what appeared to be his second goal of the night. The play was called offside despite a fairly lengthy review period.
38’ – GOAL! This one counts! Musa gets his second of the night off a great ball from Chris Cappis. Logan Farrington picked off the ball in the midfield. He then played Cappis wide to the left of the penalty area. Cappis immediately played a ball back across the goal for Musa to slide in and finish for his ninth of the season.
43’ – Goal LA. Lucas Sanabria got the ball near the top of the penalty area. He took a couple of touches to get outside the penalty box before firing a shot that beat Michael Collodi at the near post.
45+4’ – Goal LA. Gabriel Pec got the ball near the top of the penalty area. He pulled the ball back a bit, which caught a pair of Dallas defenders. This allowed Joseph Painstil to get free behind the Dallas defense as Pec played him through inside the penalty area. Pec immediately smashed home a shot above Collodi to tie the game.
75’ – Another offside goal. This time on a corner kick for Dallas, after a scrum in the penalty box, Kaick hammered home what looked to be the go-ahead goal. But after a few seconds the flag was raised due to a deflection on Osaze Urhoghide, who was in an offside position.
Instant Reaction
Yeah, this is another disappointing result for this team. In a real way, it felt like the first half against Houston from last month. Dallas grabbed the lead, looked in control, but some defensive miscues opened the game up for the visitors to climb back.
With a double-game week coming up, this will certainly be another game where Dallas will wonder ‘what if’ more than anything else…especially when you factor in the two goals called off for offside.
About the Subs
Eric Quill went to his bench for the first time in the 66th minute, as he brought on Santiago Moreno for Logan Farrington. Quill went to his bench again 81st minute with Ran Binyamin and Nolan Norris coming on for Sebastien Ibeagha and Deedson. The final sub came during stoppage time with Herman Johansson and Joaquin Valiente coming off for Sam Sarver and rookie Nick Simmonds, who made his MLS debut.
Man of the Match
No question about it tonight, it has to be Musa.
Where does this fit into the season
As of this writing, the draw puts Dallas into a three-way tie for 5th place with Real Salt Lake and Seattle. Both are in action right now and look firmly in control of their games. I’d expect Dallas to be in 7th place by the end of the night.
What’s next for FC Dallas
Dallas wraps up a three-game homestand next Wednesday night as they host Minnesota United.
Dallas, TX
Akheem Mesidor selected by Cowboys by Blogging The Boys in SB Nation’s community mock draft
Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami
Pass rush has been an issue since the Micah Parsons trade. The Rashan Gary trade helped, but Dallas still needs an injection of talent. Akheem Mesidor fits here because his body size allows for some versatility inside and out, something DC Christian Parker utilizes. Mesidor is also a high-motor player with a deep bag of pass rush moves.
His last season at Miami was full of disruption in the offensive backfield and he shows an all-around game, not just a bend-around-the-edge pass rusher. Yes, he’s a little older than you’d like in a rookie (25), but his motor, pass rush toolbox, and ability to play the run matches up with a need and makes him a quality pick at number 20.
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