Tomorrow is my first day as City Manager.  I am deeply honored and proud to help you serve one of the greatest cities in the country.  With Frank Fairbanks’ leadership over the last two decades, it is no wonder we were named All-America City and the best run city in the world during his tenure. Having begun my career with this organization, I have had the opportunity to learn, grow and be mentored by the best.  I thank Frank Fairbanks for that. I also would like to recognize Alton Washington for his many years of serving the public.  Alton truly is a champion of the residents of Phoenix, always focused on providing the best possible service to all of our customers.  I also would like to thank Mayor Phil Gordon and the City Council for their support.  They had a tough decision to make, and I appreciate their vote of confidence in our management team.

We have unprecedented challenges ahead of us as we continue to serve the community.  As you know, the economic downturn still looms as the city’s sales tax revenue decreases. However, I am confident that we will work together to provide solutions to these challenges.

You can expect a few more changes as the city reorganizes its executive management team.  I am pleased to announce that Ed Zuercher will be named as the Assistant City Manager effective immediately.  Attached is the new organization chart outlining some changes in the management team and the reporting structure.  This organization chart is temporary.  We plan to appoint an interim Deputy City Manager in the next few weeks to handle some of the workload. At that point, we will make some additional reassignments of departments. In the meantime, most departments that reported to me or Ed will continue to do so. I appreciate your patience during the transition.

As our community continues to evolve, so does the need for innovative ideas and creative solutions to solve everyday issues. We are asking employees to do more with less and to continue to strive for excellence. I know all of you are up to the task.  In light of this need for continuous improvement, I am pleased to announce a citywide Innovation and Efficiency Task Force that will assist us in the future by identifying specific recommendations for improvements in areas including customer service, alternative delivery methods and revenue enhancements. I have asked Aviation Director Danny Murphy and Public Transit Director Debbie Cotton to co-chair this important initiative.

Once again, I want to thank each and every one of you for the work and service you provide every day.  I love this city and I commit to you that I will work hard along with our Mayor, City Council members, executive management team and you, our dedicated employees. I welcome and encourage your feedback, ideas and suggestions. Your dedication to serving the public sets this city apart, and I look forward to working with you as a team.

-David Cavazos

It is very sad for me to be sending my last message to you.  I have truly enjoyed working with you.  You have supported me during tough times and given me joy during our victories.  We have done great things together.

I have always believed that regardless of position, the work of each City employee is just as important as the work of any other.  Some of us work with our hands and some with our ears and voices.  Some of us work outside and others work in offices.  Some of us work directly with the public and some of us serve other City workers.  But all of us contribute equally to making our community a better place to live.

One of our weaknesses is that we don’t celebrate our successes enough.  We focus on getting the job done well today and figuring out ways to do the job better, easier, faster and with less cost.  Now we must do more with fewer workers and we focus on doing all we can.

But I want to take a minute to thank you for making Phoenix the best City in the country.  The city of Phoenix is outstanding.  We often are visited by cities across the country and around the world to find out how we do it.  Most of our departments are among the very best departments of their type in the country.  We are the leading innovators in local government.  We are the best!

I am so proud of, and humbled by, our success. This success is not because of me, it is because of you. Our success is because of our teamwork.

Our team begins with the community. Our residents are the reason we are here.  Today, more than ever, they are our partners in everything we do.

The Mayor and City Council are the leaders of our team.  Over the years I’ve worked with excellent mayors and city councils, and Mayor Phil Gordon and the current City Council are among the very best.   The Mayor is incredibly energetic and creative.  The City Council is dedicated to making this a better community.  They work a huge number of hours to achieve excellence.  All of them care deeply about City employees.  I thank them all for the tremendous support, patience and partnership they have shown me personally.

I know you will support David Cavazos as your new City Manager.  He will do such good work that in a year or so, they will say “Frank who?”

Yet I really believe that the future of the City is as much in your hands as his.  It is your commitment to serving the public, innovation, teamwork and integrity that will build the future.   It is your work that will create excellence.  I have faith in David and in each of you.

I also believe that one of the most important things we can do is to support and care for one another.  I regret that the tough times are not over.  But I am confident that a better future is coming.  Until then, it is especially important that we all support each other.

Before I go, I want to apologize if I have done anything that is insensitive or uncaring or if I have done anything to harm you in any way.  I want you to know that it was never my intention.

The last thing I want to say is Thank You .  It has been wonderful working with you.  It has been great to reach the heights working hand in hand.  More importantly, many days when I was down, you put a smile on my face and hope in my heart.

We have been a band of sisters and brothers dedicated to serving the community.   I am proud to have worked along side you.

Thank you!
–Frank

David Cavazos was named today as the new Phoenix city manager and will begin his new responsibilities Friday, Nov. 6.

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and the City Council met today at Phoenix City Hall in an executive session to consider the selection of, and interview finalists for, the position of city manager.

Cavazos, 49, is the first Hispanic to hold the job. He joined the city in 1987 as a management intern and was economic-development manager from 1991 to 1997. From 1998 to 2000, he served as deputy director of the Aviation Department and later the assistant Aviation director from 2001 to 2003. Cavazos served as acting Aviation director from 2004 to 2005, with his most recent position as deputy city manager.

In that position, he oversees the Development Services, Information Technology, Planning and Water Services departments; ASU Downtown; water strategy; and Westside Revitalization.

“David will lead a great team that over the next 20 years will take this rising Phoenix and make it soar,” Gordon said. “We got it right, but it would have been hard to get it wrong.”

“This is a historic day in Phoenix,” Vice Mayor Tom Simplot said. “David Cavazos is a true professional and will lead Phoenix into the next decade.”

Cavazos earned a master’s degree in management and public policy from Carnegie Mellon University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Western Illinois University.

The other candidates interviewed were Phoenix deputy city managers David Krietor, Rick Naimark and Ed Zuercher.

Frank Fairbanks, current city manager, will retire Nov. 5 after serving in this capacity for 19 years. The 63-year-old Phoenix native has held the city manager’s position longer than any previous manager, ending a 37-year career with the city.

Related Links

• Phoenix city manager Frank Fairbanks to retire this fall, from AZCentral.com