Interim City Manager of Wichita Falls, James McKechnie A Steady Hand at the Helm
James McKechnie spoke at the North Texas Home Builders Associations monthly general membership meeting on April 8th.
The City of Wichita Falls proudly appointed James McKechnie] as Interim City Manager, in October 2024. A native of Austin, Texas James brings a strong legal background, a decade of dedicated public service, and a deep understanding of municipal operations to this vital leadership role.
Before stepping into this new position, James served as Deputy City Attorney from 2019 to 2024, Senior Assistant City Attorney from 2015 to 2019, and Assistant City Attorney I from 2012 to 2015. With each role, it demonstrates a steadfast commitment to ethical governance, organizational excellence, and community collaboration.
James holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Edward’s University and earned their Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law. Throughout his career, he’s championed the value of professional city management, not only in legal matters but also in shaping sound policy and effective administration.
Wichita Falls, like more than 3,700 cities across the United States—including major metros such as Dallas and Phoenix, and regional peers like Abilene and Frisco—operates under the Council-Manager form of government. This system blends democratic oversight with professional expertise: the elected City Council provides political leadership and policy direction, while the City Manager acts as the organization’s Chief Executive Officer.
In this role, James is responsible for implementing City Council priorities, managing day-to-day city operations, hiring and supervising department directors, and overseeing more than 1,200 full-time employees. Their mission is to maintain continuity, ensure accountability, and help the city meet strategic goals—all while keeping ethics, efficiency, and transparency at the forefront. James showed the audience a graph of how he and other city staff share responsibility.
“Professional city management creates a stable foundation for communities,” James explains. “It reduces operational costs, centralizes accountability, and fosters consistent leadership that can adapt to challenges while staying focused on long-term goals.”
In addition to city duties, James is deeply engaged in the community, currently serving on the Sheppard Military Affairs Committee (SMAC), the City-County Hospital Board, and the Junior League of Wichita Falls Board. He is also an IMLA Credentialed Fellow, reflecting his professional integrity and commitment to lifelong learning.
When not working, James enjoys spending time with his spouse Lauren and their son, John—finding balance and inspiration in family life while serving the residents of Wichita Falls.
As Wichita Falls looks to the future, James offers steady leadership, a collaborative spirit, and a clear vision for operational excellence.
Legislative Update
As part of our ongoing commitment to keeping residents informed and engaged, James shared updates on several key bills being considered by the Texas Legislature. Each of these could directly impact how cities like Wichita Falls manage land use, building regulations, and long-term planning.
Here’s a quick overview of the most relevant bills we’re tracking:
🏗️ HB 871 – Municipal Building Codes
Summary: This bill relates to the adoption and enforcement of residential and commercial building codes by municipalities.
Potential Impact: If passed, HB 871 may limit a city’s ability to tailor local building codes to reflect specific safety, growth, or environmental considerations unique to our region. Wichita Falls currently adopts, and updates codes based on national standards while considering local needs and stakeholder input. This bill could shift more control to the state level, reducing municipal flexibility.
🏘️ HB 369 / SB 1567 – Regulation of Dwelling Units on Certain Properties
Summary: These companion bills address municipal authorities to regulate the number of residential units allowed on a single property, including accessory dwelling units (ADUs) or multi-family conversions in traditionally single-family zones.
Potential Impact: This legislation could curtail local zoning authority, impacting neighborhood character, infrastructure planning, and public service delivery. While increasing housing supply is a key issue across Texas, this approach may bypass essential community engagement and local land use cons
⏱️ HB 987 / HB 993 – Building Permit Timelines
Summary: These bills propose changes to the timeframe’s cities have to process building permit applications.
Potential Impact: While aimed at increasing efficiency, these bills could impose rigid deadlines that don’t account for the complexity of larger or unique development projects. Wichita Falls continues to improve turnaround times, but this legislation may challenge our ability to ensure comprehensive review and compliance with safety standards
💧 HB 2109 – Removal of Reservoir Projects from the State Water Plan
Summary: This bill relates to removing proposed reservoir projects from the State Water Plan, potentially at the request of local landowners or stakeholders.
Potential Impact: While not immediately affecting Wichita Falls, this bill raises broader questions about long-term water planning in a rapidly growing state. Reservoir projects are critical to ensuring sustainable water supplies, especially in drought-prone areas like ours. Any change to how these projects are managed could impact regional planning and intergovernmental coordination.
Final Thoughts
As always, my office remains committed to advocating for local control, transparent governance, and policies that support safe, sustainable growth. We are actively monitoring these bills and will continue working with regional partners and the Texas Municipal League to ensure Wichita Falls’ voice is heard in Austin.
If you have questions about these legislative proposals or would like to get involved, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Stay informed. Stay engaged. And thank you for your continued support as we work together for the future of Wichita Falls.