HUNTSVILLE — Huntsville’s still-new city manager Matt Benoit says Huntsville can leverage its assets to bring new business into the community but hopes voters will give him the consistency of a tenured stable of elected officials to help him achieve his vision.   

Matt Benoit, who has been on the job 45 days, addressed a group of citizens at a lunch-and-learn session Friday sponsored by the Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce.

“I have a wonderful mayor and City Council…and Huntsville has a great governing body,” he said. “My success and the city’s success relies on my ability to effectively communicate with the mayor and City Council.”

Benoit said having the option to work long-term with low turnover in city staff and elected leaders is key to bringing success and development to the city. This stability helps the city establish a concrete vision of how it wants to grow.

“I am a manager and I operate most comfortably when things are planned and executed,” he said. “The assets and opportunities for economic growth in Huntsville will be established when the city establishes what it is and isn’t comfortable with.”

Voters can help by returning their elected officials to office year after year — this allows experienced leaders to continue the work associated with attracting new business, he said.

“Huntsville needs political stability,” he said. “Huntsville’s political figures change every four to six years, and I am not passing judgment on anyone…I just work better in a politically stable environment, and I don’t think changing political figures every four to six years is a stabilizing feature. Like I said, I operate comfortably when things are planned and executed.”

Benoit moved to Huntsville from Farmers Branch, Texas, where he had been assistant city manager. That job and others taught him that every city has advantages and disadvantages that affect its growth — and Huntsville is no different.

“Every city in the state has their shortcomings and get labeled accordingly. No city should look at its advantages or disadvantages and feel that it is doomed compared to another,” he said. “I know Huntsville has some work to do to establish economic development and that there are challenges to face..., but Huntsville has potential for economic growth.”

Benoit said he’s already become familiar with what some business owners envision for the city. He said he welcomes continued dialogue.

“I am the city manager, but as business owners, you’re always welcome in my office,” he said. “My feeling is, when developers and builders with ideas come in for restaurants or retail stores or any business, I turn no one away…some may make me jump back a little, but if someone wants to do something for Huntsville, then I’m not going to turn them away. If we can pull something together to better Huntsville’s economic potential for growth, then I welcome it.”

Huntsville Mayor Mac Woodward said at Friday’s luncheon he is pleased with Benoit’s fresh outlook and straightforward approach and looks forward to the growth he hopes Benoit will bring to Huntsville.

“I am very pleased to have Matt in out community and his family a part of the community,” Woodward said. “We are very optimistic about the city’s future and its ability to serve the people of this community under Matt’s leadership.”

One guest at Friday’s luncheon who said she is especially pleased to have Benoit as the new city manager was Michelle McKenzie Spencer, executive director of the Walker County Boys and Girls Club.

“We’re just happy that Matt is in our community and has a forward-moving approach,” she said. “We want our youth to be happy they’re in Huntsville and with a forward-moving mentality, we can only get better.”

Chamber President Carol Smith said she also looks forward to working with Benoit.

“We’re just excited to have his enthusiasm and experience with other communities,” she said. “So we’re looking forward to the experience.”

For more information regarding the Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce, contact their office at (936)-295-8113 or visit www.chamber.huntsville.tx.us/.