Craig Lemin joined the City of Robinson in May of 2016 during a Special Called City Council Meeting.
Lemin was born in New York, but moved every two to four years due to his father serving in the Air Force. This made it hard for him to call anywhere home. Lemin graduated from Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth, Texas around the time his father retired. He attended the University of Texas at Arlington and graduated in 1994 with his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He received his master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of North Texas in 2000.
Out of High School Lemin started work in quality control for an oil field equipment manufacturing company, and during that time he became a Reserve Police Officer. When the Oil Field went under in 1983 he started his career in public service as a police officer for Benbrook Police Department. After three short years with the Police Department he was promoted to detective. While at Benbrook Lemin received five “Detective of the Year” awards during a 10 year period, served as a member of the SWAT team, achieved his Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Master Peace Officer certificate, and became a State Certified Police Instructor.
In 1995, Lemin joined the Azle Police Department as their Police Lieutenant. One year later he was promoted to Deputy Chief, and in 1999 he was promoted to Police Chief.
It was in 2001 when Lemin was persuaded into moving over to the administrative side of Azle and became the Assistant City Manager and Director of Administrative Services. In 2004, Lemin was appointed as City Manager for Azle and would accomplish many things before his retirement in January of 2016.
Through Lemin’s leadership the city received 12 consecutive GFOA Distinguished Budget Awards, oversaw five debt issues totaling $34.5 million in revenue bonds and certificates of obligation including presentations to Moody’s, Fitch and Standard & Poor’s rating services, and implemented a street maintenance program that improved over 35 miles of streets in 13 years. During his management the City of Azle improved its financial situation from a position of no cash reserves in August 2001 to cash reserves exceeding $6.7 million by the end of FY 2007-08 and $8 million by the end of FY 2012 to 2013. Lemin was also instrumental in establishing a successful Economic Development Program.
Lemin comes to the City of Robinson after 32 years of public service and when asked why he chose to come to Robinson he responded with, “I left my previous position because I was ready for a change and new challenges. I was looking for a City where I could use my education, skills, and experience to help make a difference. Robinson looked like a City with a great deal of potential for the future. Going through the selection process only confirmed what I found before I applied.” “My immediate goals are to get to know the Council, staff and residents and various other stakeholders. Then to learn everything I need to know about Robinson. From there we will all work together to develop a plan for the future, states Lemin. His long term focus will be to move the city towards the future vision the council and community have for it. “With its size and location, the City has great potential to be whatever the council and the community want it to be. It will be my job to make that happen,” says Lemin.
Lemin is a current member of the Texas City Management Association and of International City Management and Government Finance Officers Association of Texas. In his spare time, he enjoys photography, particularly outdoors and wildlife.
Lemin and his wife, Anne, have two golden retrievers, Merle and Izzy, and their rescued cat, Gobi. They have also have two children together, Matthew and Rachel.
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