Duncanville, TX – During an August 28, 2025, Special Called Meeting, the Duncanville City Council accepted the resignation of Douglas E. Finch, who served as City Manager since January 8, 2024. Mr. Finch’s resignation is due to personal and family reasons, and in keeping with his wishes, no further comments will be offered at this time.
Following this action, the Council voted to extend the appointment of Richard B. Abernethy as Interim City Manager.
As Interim City Manager, Mr. Abernethy will continue serving as the City’s chief executive officer, appointed by the City Council to manage all City operations. He will serve in this capacity while the City Council begins the process of identifying and selecting a permanent City Manager.
Mr. Abernethy joined the City of Duncanville in May 2025 as Assistant City Manager for Operations, bringing more than 20 years of municipal leadership experience. He has overseen key operational departments, including Human Resources, Information Technology, Public Works, Project Management, Fiscal Services, and the City Secretary’s Office.
Before coming to Duncanville, Mr. Abernethy served as Director of Administrative Services for the Cities of Burleson and Waxahachie and held multiple leadership positions with the City of Dallas. He holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Texas and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Texas State University.
“I’m honored to continue serving as Interim City Manager and will work to maintain the high level of service our residents expect,” Abernethy said.
The City Council will conduct a recruitment process to fill the City Manager position permanently. Updates on the process will be shared through the City’s website and official social media channels to keep residents informed and engaged.