The most powerful nonelected job inside Austin is up for grabs.
The seven finalists who want to be Austin's next city manager are being interviewed this week.
Before the month is over, the person chosen to replace Toby Futrell will be in charge of 12,000 employees and more than a $2 billion budget.
Yet, some are not happy with how the new city manager is being picked. A group known as Better Austin Today held a press conference Tuesday to announce their arrival. The group wasted no time, jumping into city hall's latest controversy.
Hope Morrison of Better Austin Today said it's time for a change.
"The city manager is one of the single most important positions in Austin, and the decisions that that person makes will have implications on everyone who lives here," Morrison said. "We should have some input on who that person is."
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New City Manager Selection
Many Austin residents disagree with the method for choosing a new city manager.
 
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But only members of the Austin City Council will get that chance.
Councilmember Mike Martinez said the council has the duty of selecting the right person for the job.
"This is a responsibility by charter," Martinez said. "We are authorized with the responsibility of selecting the city manager."
Martinez said the council is looking for a city manager who will implement the council's policy and not be a political figure.
"We think that this process speaks to the kind of manager that we are looking for that is an administrator and is not political like we've seen in the past," he said.
Better Austin Today is afraid the past will repeat itself if the public is left out and the decision is left completely to the council.
Martinez said the council is discussing the possibility of a community event with the final three candidates.
City leaders hope to make a final decision by January 17.
