Jim Thompson Selected as Scottsdale City Manager

Scottsdale press release

 

 

 

December 8

 

Contact:  Mike Phillips, public affairs manager, 480-312-7825, Cell: 480-220-2008; mphillips@ScottsdaleAZ.gov

 City Council hires Jim Thompson as city manager

 The City Council voted unanimously Thursday to hire Jim Thompson as Scottsdale’s next city manager.

 Thompson will begin his duties around Jan. 8, 2017, pending completion of an employment contract.

 Thompson served as the city manager of Casa Grande from 2003 until earlier this year where he oversaw city operations and a $175 million budget.

 He has 20 years’ experience as a city manager, previously holding that position in Bothell, Washington, and Bullhead City, Arizona.

 “This is a wonderful opportunity,” Thompson said. “Scottsdale is a great city and I’m looking forward to working with the City Council, our employees and the community. It’s very exciting.” 

 Thompson has also served on the Arizona State Personnel Board since 2004 and as an adjunct professor in Arizona State University’s Department of Public Affairs since 2011.

 Thompson has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Indiana University and a master’s degree in business administration from Regis University.

 Under the tentative agreement announced Thursday, Thompson will have a base salary of $211,162 and receive four weeks of paid vacation annually. He will have an annual allowance of $5,000 for professional development and receive a six-month severance package similar to previous Scottsdale city managers.

 Thompson was selected from a field of six candidates that also included:

  •           Konrad Hildebrandt, Assistant City Manager, City of Odessa, Texas
  •          John Kross, Town Manager, Town of Queen Creek, Arizona
  •          Joseph L. Lessard, previous Assistant City Manager, City of Austin, Texas
  •          Gary M. Luebbers, previous City Manager, City of Sunnyvale, California
  •          Jeffery M. Nichols, City Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer, City of Scottsdale, Arizona

 Scottsdale’s city manager position has been vacant since June 2015. Scottsdale Water Director Brian K. Biesemeyer has been serving as acting city manager since then, but was not a candidate for the position fulltime.

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Mike Phillips

Public Affairs Manager

City of Scottsdale

(480) 312-7825

 

Author: Les Conklin

Les Conklin is a resident of north Scottsdale He founded Friends of the Scenic Drive, the Monte de Paz HOA and is the president of the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association. He was named to Scottsdale's History Maker Hall of Fame in 2014. Les is a past editor of A Peek at the Peak and the author of Images of America: Pinnacle Peak. He served on the Scottsdale's Pride Commission, McDowell Sonoran Preserve Commission, the boards of several local nonprofits and was a founding organizer of the city's Adopt-A-Road Program.. Les is a volunteer guide at the Musical Instrument Museum.

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