Office of the City Manager

The City Manager's Office – manages the day-to-day operations of the various city departments and staff, directing the delivery of services and executing all city policies and ordinances. In addition, the City Manager and his staff guide all goals and strategies of the city's operations, including future city development and the expansion of services.

The City of Mansfield operates under the council-manager form of government. As designated by the City Charter, the City Manager is appointed by the Mayor and City Council and serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the city. 

City Manager Joe Smolinski, ICMA-CM

Joe Smolinski was appointed City Manager on Aug. 10, 2020. Prior to his appointment, he was Deputy City Manager for five years. As Deputy City Manager, Smolinski oversaw the Planning and Development, Building Services, Public Works, Public Utilities and Code Compliance departments, which manage items like zoning, engineering, maintenance, capital improvements and overseeing the city’s long-term water strategies.  

Before he began his 20-year career in the City of Mansfield, Smolinski served seven years as a United States Army Military Police Officer. After his time in the military, Smolinski joined the City of Mansfield's Utility Department, first as assistant director and later director. He later moved into the position of Deputy City Manager. 

Smolinski is a member of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), the Texas City Management Association (TCMA), Congress for New Urbanism (CNU), the Texas Municipal League and the Texas Economic Development Council. He currently serves on the ICMA’s Advisory Board on Graduate Education and the University of Texas at Arlington’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) Advisory Board. Additionally, he serves as the Region 4 representative for the TCMA Ethics Committee. Smolinski was awarded Public Official of the Year by the Texas Municipal Utility Association in 2016.

Smolinski has a MPA and BS from the University of Texas at Arlington. He is an ICMA-Credentialed Manager and has received his CNU-Accreditation. 

Deputy City Manager Troy Lestina

Troy Lestina was named Deputy City Manager in December 2022 and also continues to serve as the Chief Financial Officer for the City of Mansfield.  He previously served as the city's Director of Finance, a role to which he was appointed in December 2020. As Chief Financial Officer, Lestina manages the city’s budget efforts, administers the city’s financial functions, sets the city's financial policy and ensures that, financially, the City of Mansfield meets the expectations of its residents. 

Lestina has worked for the City of Mansfield for more than 12 years, having served as Assistant Director of Finance from May 2007 to March 2019. Lestina served as Director of Finance for the City of Cleburne from April 2019 to December 2020 before returning to the City of Mansfield. Prior to 2007, Lestina worked as an accountant in the private sector. 

Lestina has a BBA from Texas State University. 

Assistant City Manager Matt Jones

Matt Jones joined the City Manager's Office in February 2021 when he was promoted to the position of Assistant City Manager. Prior to the promotion, he served as the Director of Planning and Development Services. As Assistant City Manager, Jones provides support to the Planning and Development, Economic Development, Building Services, Public Works, Public Utilities and Code Compliance departments, which oversee services such as zoning, engineering, facility maintenance, permitting, capital improvements and administering the city’s long-term water strategies. 

Prior to joining the City of Mansfield in 2019, Jones worked for the communities of Trophy Club, Southlake, Argyle, Bastrop, and Abilene, where he began his career in public service in 2007. His background includes planning and economic development, where he has focused on fiscally sustainable and high-quality developments that create a desirable quality of life for his communities. He embodies a personal philosophy that government service is a noble profession, providing an opportunity for employees at every level to make a difference in the quality of life for those served on a daily basis.

Jones is a certified public manager by the State of Texas, a certified planner by the American Institute of Certified Planners and has graduated from the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service Basic Economic Development Course. He is a member of the International City/County Management Association, Texas City Management Association, American Planning Association, Congress for New Urbanism, Texas Municipal League and International Council of Shopping Centers.

Jones has a MPA from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and a BS from Texas State University. 

Assistant City Manager Vanessa Ramirez

Vanessa Ramirez  joined Mansfield as Assistant City Manager in December 2022. As Assistant City Manager she supports the offices of the City Secretary, Community Services, Public Records & Transparency, and Public Works. Vanessa has previously overseen the administration and operations of the Engineering, Geointelligence, Streets, Solid Waste, Traffic Engineering, Water Treatment Plant, Wastewater Treatment Plant, Wastewater Collection, Water Distribution, and Laboratory Services Divisions in prior roles.  Vanessa’s background experience also encompasses management of capital projects, economic development and revitalization efforts to enhance the quality of life for citizens in the community.  Prior to her transition into Public Works, Vanessa worked in the City Attorney’s office where her primary focuses were contract drafting and negotiation, sale and acquisition of city properties, and ordinance drafting.

Ramirez is an active member of the Texas City Attorney's Association, Texas City Management Association, Texas Municipal League, the American Public Works Association and the American Water Works Association. She is a graduate of the 2021 Beta Class of Texas Women's Leadership Institute which is hosted by the Texas Chapter of Women Leading Government and has been published twice, most recently in 2019 by the University of Oregon School of Law Journal of Environmental Law & Litigation.

Ramirez is a practicing attorney having received her Juris Doctor from Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas Southern University.  Ramirez also has both a Criminal Justice and Sociology undergraduate degrees from Sam Houston State University.