11 Sept 25th-Oct 1St, 2025 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | ‘Trump-like’ Phoenix leaders blast ‘shameful’ process to rehire city manager. BY MORGAN FISCHER P hoenix is bringing back a city manager who retired under a cloud four years ago, and almost half the city council isn’t happy about it. On Sept. 17, the Phoenix City Council voted to formally approve the hire of Ed Zuercher, who previously served as city manager from 2013 to 2021. Zuercher has been working as the executive director of the Maricopa Association of Governments for the past two and a half years. He’ll take over for current city manager Jeff Barton, who is retiring later this fall. Zuercher’s position is the most powerful in city government, responsible for running the city’s day-to-day opera- tions, overseeing all city departments and their 14,500 employees and managing the city’s budget and finances. Such a big job would seemingly merit a big job search, as the city put on for its new police chief earlier this year. Instead, Zeurcher — who will make $415,000 a year — was rehired with a speed and secrecy that alarmed several councilmembers. No formal interviews were conducted, city attorney Julie Kriegh told the council. No other candidates were vetted by the city council, including Assistant City Manager Lori Bays, whom several community members and council members wanted to be considered. In lieu of a search, Zuercher said, Mayor Kate Gallego and Councilmember Debra Stark “casually” approached him around the time of Barton’s mid-August retirement announcement to gauge his interest in returning to the job. While the hiring process took more than a month, several councilmembers said they didn’t know about Zuercher’s selection the week of the vote. The public wasn’t aware of Zuercher’s expected return until ABC 15 reported it Sept. 15, two days before the council made Zuercher’s hire official. Anna Hernandez, the council’s newest member and a progressive firebrand, blasted the process to bring back Zuercher as “rushed,” “secretive” and “shameful,” saying it lacked transparency and “felt forced” and “a little Trump-like.” In a press release, Councilmember Kesha Hodge Washington said the hiring process “did not align with my expecta- tions.” During the meeting, Councilmember Laura Pastor said it was a tough vote for her, but her decision was about “the process. It’s not about the person.” Hernandez, Washington, Pastor and Councilmember Betty Guardado voted against approving Zuercher’s contract. Councilmember Kevin Robinson also said he “was not a big fan of how we got to this point,” adding that no less than 30 people in city employee groups called, emailed or texted him with concerns about Zuercher’s rehiring. He asked Zuercher to make a “promise and a commitment” to reach out to these groups and address their concerns. However, while Robinson wasn’t “completely and totally comfortable with it,” he voted in favor of Zuercher’s contract, Phoenix City Councilmember Anna Hernandez said the process of rehiring city manager Ed Zuercher was “secretive” and “shameful.” (Kevin Hurley) | NEWS | | NEWS | >> p 12
