GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Grand Rapids City Manager Mark Washington has decided he is here to stay.

Washington has withdrawn his candidacy from a job opening as city manager of Dallas, Texas, he announced Thursday, Dec. 19, in an email to city executive staff.

Last month, he was named as one of four semi-finalists being considered for the job. He previously shared that he had put his name in the running because of uncertainty surrounding his contract here in Grand Rapids.

RELATED: Grand Rapids City Manager Mark Washington is a semi-finalist for a job in Texas

"A few weeks ago, news about my candidacy for the city manager position in another community was released," he said in the Dec. 19 email to staff. "While my desire has always been to continue the important work we're doing here in Grand Rapids, I explored other opportunities to ensure a clear future for my family amid contract renewal delay."

"While I was carefully examining other options, the Grand Rapids City Commission unanimously approved my contract, and many members of this community and workforce reached out to me and affirmed their desire for me to remain a Grand Rapidian. Therefore, I have withdrawn my candidacy from all city manager recruitments."

The city commission was set to authorize Washington's contract back in October, but commissioners decided to delay the contract to allow more time for review. However, they ended up unanimously approving the contract a month later.

Before coming to Grand Rapids in 2018, Washington previously served as assistant city manager in Austin, Texas. He is a native of Port Arthur, Texas.

Washington said he looks forward to the work ahead, which will include working with incoming Mayor David LaGrand and new First and Third ward commissioners.

"We have so much more ahead of us, and I look forward to serving this community, leading the staff, and helping our elected officials elevate the quality of life for all residents," he said.

RELATED: Grand Rapids leaders hope city manager stays after applying for Texas job

The Dallas city manager search is still up in the air, and local news outlets have reported that the Dallas City Council is divided over the list of finalists. After a long meeting behind closed doors on Monday, Dallas City Council members on a committee in charge of the city manager hiring process voted to hold interviews on Dec. 23, Fox 4 reported.

The committee removed one of the four previously named semi-finalists from the list and added two new finalists, but those names haven't been made public yet. It is unclear whether Washington remained on the list of finalists.

When asked about a timeline for the search and a list of finalists, a spokesperson for the city of Dallas told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press to fill out an open records request that had still not been answered nine days later as of Dec. 19.

As Grand Rapids city manager, Washington oversees a $690 million budget and more than 2,700 city employees across all city departments.

Washington earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Tarleton State University, his master's degree in business administration from Amberton University, and a master of arts degree and doctorate degree in education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Before serving as assistant city manager in Austin, Texas, Washington served as assistant human resources director, compensation and benefits manager, and street services project manager for the city of Fort Worth, Texas.