This year, a new face joins Littlefield’s city management. Ray Resendez, the former city manager of Dumas, joins the team with aspirations to expand on existing community initiatives and introduce new ones.
The Tulia, Texas native will assume his new Littlefield City Manager position in February.
“The residents of Littlefield deserve the same service, professionalism, courtesy and the hardworking dedication everyone else has,” Resendez said. “That’s what I hope to bring to Littlefield.”
Before becoming a city manager, Resendez received a criminal justice degree from West Texas A&M and additional public management certifications from the Leadership Command College in Sam Houston.
From there, Resendez served in law enforcement for 29 years in Tulia and Dumas, eventually becoming the police chief in Dumas.
Working in law enforcement enriched and enlightened his leadership outlook, Resendez said.
“It’s made me have a lot of empathy for people,” Resendez said, “and has given me a different mindset of understanding what the citizens are wanting versus what we think they want.”
Resendez said he will continue catering to Littlefield by operating the programs previously organized under Mitch Grant’s leadership. This includes the Blight Program, an initiative to demolish the town’s old buildings.
Furthermore, Resendez said he wants to restore Littlefield’s downtown area, implement more parks, and reevaluate the town’s water resources.
“We’ve got a few water projects: building a couple of wells and another 3 million above-ground storage tank,” Resendez said.
More spaces like the pocket park downtown are similar to what Resendez said he envisions for the county.
“Downtown will never be the retail it once was, but we’re looking for different ideas,” Resendez said. “I’ve thought about putting together a committee of citizens involved in coming up with ideas for the area … maybe more entertainment areas.”
One sentiment repeatedly emphasized by Resendez is the immense hard work and support from the town’s staff and City Council.
“The staff are hard-working,” Resendez said. “(The town) has a great City Council that is very proactive and wants to do the right thing. They want to use the taxpayers’ money the best they can.”
When Resendez is not managing the county, Resendez likes to spend time outdoors fishing and hunting or enjoying the immense support he receives from his partner and kids.
For now, Resendez is looking to expand on the created potential cultivating in town.
“I’m very excited to be here in Littlefield,” Resendez said.