Phoenix promotes deputy to city manager

Deputy Phoenix City Manager David Cavazos will succeed long-time City Manager Frank Fairbanks, who will retire Nov. 5.

Cavazos, who has been with Phoenix city government since 1987, was selected by Mayor Phil Gordon and the City Council in an executive session on Monday. Three other deputy city managers -- David Krietor, Rick Naimark and Ed Zuercher -- were interviewed for the job.

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

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

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

He was Phoenix economic development manager from 1991 to 1997, deputy director of the Aviation Department from 1998 to 2000, assistant aviation director from 2001 to 2003 and acting aviation director from 2004 to 2005, when he became a deputy city manager.

In the deputy job, he has overseen the Development Services, Information Technology, Planning and Water Services departments, ASU Downtown, water strategy and Westside Revitalization.

Fairbanks, 63, has served as city manager for 19 years, the longest tenure of anyone in the position. He has been with the city for 37 years.