R. Escalante named to UNT position

[NT80]

Escalante named to post at UNT

01/28/2003

Staff report

Richard L. Escalante, city manager for Farmers Branch, has been appointed vice chancellor for administrative services for the University of North Texas system by Chancellor Lee Jackson.

Mr. Escalante, 52, will begin his new job Feb. 18. Reporting to Mr. Jackson, he will oversee the system’s campus master planning, real estate and buildings. He also will oversee the hiring of architects, engineers and contractors, and will manage the university’s new construction and renovation projects.

The position was created by the separation of the offices of vice chancellor and vice president for administrative affairs. Fred Pole, who retired last year, held both positions.

On Jan. 16, UNT President Norval Pohl named Richard Rafes, who had held both positions on an interim basis, senior vice president for administration.

"It’s sort of bittersweet" to leave Farmers Branch, Mr. Escalante said. "I have so many close ties here. This is a fine staff and a great community, and it’s hard to leave that after 15 years. But the University of North Texas is a great institution, and I look forward to helping move the university forward."

His base annual salary will be $175,800.

As city manager for Farmers Branch since 1987, Mr. Escalante coordinated the development of capital planning and the construction of a city hall, justice center and senior center.

Mr. Escalante developed a tax dividend program for Farmers Branch that made it the first city in the country to return dividends to taxpayers. Because of this program, Harvard University selected Farmers Branch as a finalist for the Innovations in American Government award program. Also in 2001, Farmers Branch received the award for excellence in governmental finance from the Government Finance Officers Association.

Before working at Farmers Branch, he worked in Carpentersville, Ill., Moundsville, W.Va., and Boca Raton, Fla.