The City of Phoenix is dusting off a familiar seat for Ed Zuercher, who is stepping back into the role of City Manager, a position he left in 2021 after nearly three decades of service to the city. Since his departure, Zuercher has been engaged as the Executive Director of the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), but as per the Phoenix city news release, his proven track record has beckoned him back to lead the fifth-largest and quickly expanding American metropolis.
During his previous tenure, which began in 2013 amid a recession-era budget deficit of $37 million, Zuercher is credited with turning financial tides, boosting Phoenix to a $30 million surplus by the time of his retirement. This success story was not without its challenges, navigating economic downturns and a global pandemic with strategies that seemingly kept the city afloat. Mayor Kate Gallego, lauding Zuercher's return, told Phoenix's newsroom, "There is no better person to serve as our next City Manager than Ed Zuercher, whose steady leadership will help provide the stability we need as an organization and can help us navigate the road ahead."
Zuercher's legacy includes leading a robust city workforce, delivering services to over 1.7 million residents while adhering to a three-pronged leadership mantra: work smart, spend wisely, be kind. It's a philosophy that perhaps translated into tangible accolades - during his administration, Phoenix was recognized by Governing Magazine as the "Highest-Performing City in America" and also snagged Gold Certification from What Works Cities for exemplary data-driven governance. His approach especially resonated during COVID-19, where his administration's emphasis on kindness and collaboration was crucial in keeping city employees on payroll and maintaining essential services, winning Phoenix a spot on Forbes’ roster of America’s top 500 employers for the year 2021.
For Zuercher, the return is a second chance at a dream role. He expressed his gratitude in a statement, saying, "It’s rare to have your dream job once in a lifetime, let alone twice and I am incredibly lucky to get that chance." He is set to retake the city's operational reins on November 17, 2025, as approved by both the Mayor and City Council, with a clear signal of confidence from city leadership and the promise of, yet again, stewarding Phoenix on its upward and outward growth.
