Longtime Winston-Salem City Manager Lee Garrity has let city officials know he plans to retire in June.
“It has been an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of Winston-Salem for these many years,” Garrity said in a release. “But it is time to move on. I am looking forward to having more time to spend with my family and my grandchild.”
Garrity’s tenure began in 1990 when he took a job as a budget analyst. He moved up through the ranks, being named to the top administrator position in 2006 upon the retirement of previous City Manager Bill Stuart.
Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines praised Garrity for his work streamlining the government and guiding successful bond efforts in 2014 and 2018.
“He’s a smart guy," Joines says. "He’s very committed to providing good customer service to the citizens of Winston-Salem and we’ve been very fortunate to have him for all these many years.”
Joines says he’s still counting on Garrity’s leadership in the months he has left.
“Naming a new police chief is a key piece of that work," Joines says. "And then we’ll be getting right into the budget season, so he’ll be staying with us until the budget is adopted in June.”
Joines says the city will hire an executive search firm to help find Garrity’s replacement. He says he hopes the next city manager will be identified before Garrity leaves.