Austin, Texas, CIO Gail Roper Quits, to Return to Raleigh, N.C.

Gail Roper, CIO, Raleigh, N.C.

July 27, 2009 By Matt Williams

After just seven months as top technologist for Austin, Texas, Gail Roper is returning to her former job as the CIO of Raleigh, N.C.

Roper resigned as the CIO of Austin effective Aug. 19, according to the Austin American-Statesman. She decided to leave because she couldn't sell her home in Raleigh, according to a city memorandum obtained by the newspaper.

Roper returns as Raleigh CIO on Sept. 1, Raleigh spokeswoman Jayne Kirkpatrick told Government Technology on Monday.

"We have a good IT team here, and that's to Ms. Roper's credit," Kirkpatrick said. Karen Randolph had been serving as Raleigh's interim CIO after Roper left for Austin.

Roper was named CIO of Austin in January. She was expected to pursue a redesign of Austin's city government Web site, which observers say is outdated for a city of its size.

Roper's departure is the second big loss in less than a year for Austin's IT department. Former CIO Pete Collins resigned in August 2008 during an internal investigation that he misappropriated government resources. Police declined to press charges.

Roper is a past recipient of Government Technology's Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers, an annual honor that recognizes visionaries in public-sector IT.

She formerly worked as an information technology division manager for Austin in the 1990s. She has worked for more than 25 years in the public and private sectors in information systems management.

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Austin, Texas, Names Gail Roper CIO

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