It’s a new city and a new vocation for Natasha Henderson.

The Texarkana, Texas, city employee accepted a city manager’s position in Michigan this week. The 31-year-old director of public relations had been in the running for the position for two years and was hired following a 5-2 vote by the Muskegon Heights, Mich., City Council Monday night.

“I was excited,” she said of hearing the news. “They’ll have to send me a contract. It shouldn’t take long.”

Henderson’s contract requests had been a subject of debate among council members in Muskegon Heights. She had...