The San Marcos City Council voted to appoint Michelle Bender as the new City Manager on Thursday, Aug. 24, subject to the negotiation of a mutuallyMichelle Bender, City Manager acceptable agreement. The vote was unanimous, with all City Council members voting in favor of Michelle’s appointment.
“I am honored to be appointed as the City Manager of San Marcos,” stated Bender. “San Marcos is very special to me, and I will do everything I can to serve this community to the best of my capabilities.”
As City Manager, Michelle will provide leadership and guidance to the city departments, effectively manage city resources, and work with City Council on helping achieve the city’s annual goals.
“We are so excited to bring on Michelle as the new City Manager and as the first female City Manager,” stated San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones. “She has always been a positive light for the City of San Marcos, and I believe she will continue this legacy in her advocacy for our city”.
Michelle started her tenure in San Marcos in 2009 as a Human Resource Analyst. She was promoted in 2011 to Human Resources/Risk Manager and then again in 2014 to the Director of Human Resources/Risk. In 2018, she moved into a more comprehensive leadership role as Deputy City Manager, followed in 2021 by a promotion to Assistant City Manager. She has served as acting City Manager since July 2023.
Prior to her role in San Marcos, Bender served in several human resources roles in the private sector. She holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology from the University of South Africa.
