Platt officially withdraws from consideration in search for Austin's next city manager

UPDATE: Brian Platt officially removed his name from consideration as Austin's next city manager, according to a statement released Sunday.

“I formally withdrew from consideration for Austin’s City Manager search as of this afternoon,” Platt said in a statement reported by KSHB-TV in Kansas City.

Sunday evening, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson confirmed the news in a post on the City Council's online message board. "Today, [Platt] has told the firm that he is withdrawing from consideration," Watson wrote. "I wanted you to have this information as soon as possible."

Watson also said staff has been working to confirm the details of the activities planned for March 25th and 26th for the two remaining finalists, and is expecting to provide an update on that schedule on Monday.

Original story follows:

AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Just days after narrowing down 39 applicants to three finalists, one of the candidates vying to be Austin's next city manager may be dropping out of the search.

According to multiple media reports coming out of Kansas City on Friday, city council members there voted Thursday night to authorize Mayor Quinton Lucas to negotiate a contract extension with current city manager Brian Platt into the year 2027. His current contract expires at the end of this year.

Platt was named as one of three finalists for the Austin city manager's job on Tuesday.

According to Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, through a post on the city council's online message board , Platt remains in consideration for the Austin job. "We have been in contact with Mr. Platt through our search firm. He has not withdrawn from consideration for the Austin job."

Both Kansas City reports cite city hall sources saying that Platt agreed to withdraw his name from consideration for the Austin job.

According to reporting from KSHB-TV , Platt's office said Friday morning that the council's authorization is just that - authorization for a new contract to be negotiated. "No terms are agreed upon. No contract is signed."

"It should come as no surprise that there’s competition for a quality candidate once applicant names have been publicly released," said Watson. "That is the challenge as we work to balance the reality of recruiting and hiring top talent with our commitment to transparency as well as following state law. Some candidates may not apply at all or, as in this case, the City from which the person comes works to keep them."

The three finalists are expected to come to Austin later this month for a series of interviews with city staff, council members, and a town hall session. According to Watson, a final decision could be made as early as April 2.