Accepting his first position as a City Administrator for the City of Fairfield, Doug Key says, “It will absolutely be a learning curve, but I’m up for the challenge!”
Bringing 18-plus years of experience in municipal government, Doug has served as a building official and has worked hand-in-hand with businesses in both big and small cities to bring companies to towns for growth. He knows the ins and outs of budgeting, networking, and the like, working collaboratively to bring all key parties together for building projects.
He has previously served in the cities and communities of Grand Prairie, Lancaster, Mansfield, Sunnyvale, DeSoto, and Robinson before landing in Fairfield.
The City of Fairfield welcomed Doug to the team on April 2, 2026, following a vote to hire him during a special-called meeting held on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
Originally from Grand Prairie, Doug currently resides in Coolidge with his wife of 17 years, Kathy. Together they have six children (5 boys & 1 girl) and four grandchildren (2 boys & 2 girls).
He graduated Grand Prairie High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Dallas Baptist University.
“I wasn’t looking to elevate my career, but a friend brought to my attention that Fairfield was looking for a City Administrator,” explains Doug. “I did some research on the city and decided that I liked it, so I decided to apply.”
Doug says he has been told there is a long list of things the Mayor and Council would like for him to work on once he gets settled into his new position.
“I know the citizens have many concerns, roads being one of the top priorities,” he says. “Roads seem to be an issue in most cities. My goal is to work together to build a plan that takes care of that and other issues. I want Fairfield to be a great place for people to live, work and play. As the county seat for Freestone County, we need to be a leader.”
During his first couple of weeks, Doug has worked hard to get to know all the City employees and to listen to any concerns they may have.
Next, he will be planning some meet & greets and town hall meetings to get to know the citizens and businesses better and to learn their needs and concerns.
“My door will always be open, and I will make myself available to the citizens, businesses, city employees, Mayor, and council members,” he says. “I will also promote Fairfield to the surrounding counties and throughout the state. The I-45 Corridor is expanding, and I want to make sure we advance the city without taking away from the history of this great town.”
In addition to serving in this new position, Doug also serves as a Bi-Vocational Pastor at First Baptist Church of Coolidge. He does have plans to relocate to Freestone County eventually.
He enjoys sports, going on cruises with his wife and family, and spending as much time with his grandkids as possible.
If you see him around town, be sure to welcome him and introduce yourself.
Doug may be reached by emailing douglas.key@fairfieldtexas.gov or by calling City Hall at 903-389-2633.
