3 key Peoria officials announce departures
Peoria’s city manager is retiring, and two of the community’s three deputy city managers are leaving their positions as well.
Jeff Tyne, Peoria’s city manager, and Erik Strunk, one of the city’s deputy city managers, announced their upcoming retirements Nov. 22.
Tyne served as city manager for five years and has worked for the city since 1997.
“Over these decades, I have witnessed firsthand the advancement of
the Peoria story,” Tyne said in a statement. “Through a truly unique partnership of civic-minded elected officials and talented staff, the city was able to forge a special relationship with the citizens they serve. This aligned vision has resulted in one of the most livable communities in the country. With this foundation in place, I feel it is the right time for me to embrace new and exciting life pursuits.”
In a council-manager form of government, the elected mayor and city council members approve policy for the city, approve the budget and make other voting decisions like approvals of agreements and contracts. The council hires a city manager, who serves as a CEO for the city. The city manager takes direction from the council and implements policy set by the council.
Tyne’s last day will be March 3. Strunk, one of the city’s three deputy city managers, also announced his retirement. Strunk had worked for Peoria for five years and previously had worked for the city of Glendale. During his time with the city, he oversaw a reorganization that created several of the city’s departments, such as neighborhood services, water services, and arts, culture and library services.
The city of Goodyear announced Monday that Andrew Granger, another of Peoria’s deputy city managers, was selected to be deputy city manager in Goodyear.
Granger will begin his job Jan. 9. “I’m extremely excited to join a fastgrowing, well-run city with a robust leadership team,” Granger said in a statement. “It’s an incredible opportunity to be able to join Goodyear at this point in time and I’m so fortunate to be
part of it.”
Granger served as one of Peoria’s deputy city managers for five years, managing departments including police, fire, finance, budget, human resources, public works, utilities, development and engineering, planning and community development and several others. He had previously been Peoria’s director of development and engineering, according to an announcement from the city of Goodyear announcing Granger’s hiring.
Successors have not yet been announced for Peoria’s soon-to-be-open positions.
Incoming city leadership will be led by a new mayor and a different balance of perspectives on the council. Jason Beck defeated longtime Peoria Council Member Bridget Binsbacher in the city’s mayoral race, and newcomer Jennifer Crawford, a strong supporter of Beck’s, defeated incumbent Vicki Hunt in the race for the Acacia District council seat, which includes historic downtown Peoria.
Incumbent Brad Shafer kept his seat over challenger Diane Douglas. Denette Dunn and Michael Finn ran unopposed in their races, and Bill Patena’s and Jon Edwards’ seats were not up for election this year. Edwards and Dunn both endorsed Beck in the election.
Selecting a new city manager will be among the first major issues taken on by the new council. Beck’s campaign hinged heavily on the idea that Peoria residents wanted a change in direction from the city, with an emphasis on building businesses in the city and reinvesting in Peoria’s downtown.