Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton to resign on May 29 to run for Congress
May 21, 2018, 5:21 PM | Updated: May 22, 2018, 8:41 am
PHOENIX — Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton announced Monday that he will resign at the end of the month in order to run for Congress.
Stanton will step down at noon on May 29, he announced in a resignation letter to City Clerk Cris Meyer.
“Serving the people of Phoenix, both as a member of City Council and as mayor, has been a great honor for my family and me,” Stanton wrote.
“I have confidence that with the ongoing leadership of the Phoenix City Council and City Manager Ed Zuercher, Phoenix will continue on its positive path.”
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Stanton announced last year that he would run for the Congressional District 9 seat, which will be vacated by U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), who is running for U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake’s seat in November.
Arizona law required elected officials to step down from their positions before turning in election petitions for a different office. Stanton’s petitions are due on May 30.
Stanton served as mayor for more than six years. His term would have expired in 2019.
His resignation will trigger a special election, which will take place on Nov. 6, to fill the spot. A runoff election would likely occur in March.
Candidates looking to replace Stanton as mayor would have to declare within 10 days of his resignation.
Phoenix City Council members Daniel Valenzuela and Kate Gallego, Moses Sanchez, Nicholas Sarwark and Michael Lafferty have already announced their bids for mayor.
Vice Mayor Thelda Williams will serve as mayor until the council can vote on an interim mayor.
