Valley Metro CEO Scott Smith to remain in position until 2020
Dec 10, 2017, 8:55 PM

(Facebook photo)
(Facebook photo)
PHOENIX — The CEO of Valley Metro will continue in his position for another two years, it was announced last week.
Scott Smith will remain in his role as Valley Metro CEO until November 2020 after the Valley Metro RPTA and Valley Metro Rail Boards unanimously approved the extension, the department announced.
In a statement, Vice Chair Thelda Williams praised Smith’s “open, honest and collaborative management style and said it has “demonstrated the ability to manage every aspect of the organization.”
“Under his leadership, Valley Metro has restored fiscal responsibility, increased customer service satisfaction, addressed issues related to safety and security and increased regional understanding of the importance of transit,” Williams said.
“He offers the leadership this organization needs and we are happy he will continue to lead us into the future.”
Smith, who served as Mesa mayor from 2008 to 2014, was first brought on as an interim CEO after the previous chief executive, Stephen Banta, resigned under a cloud of suspicion in November 2015.
Banta left after published reports questioned of thousands of dollars in expenses he turned in that were paid with public money. The organization reached a civil settlement with Banta.
The Valley Metro transit system has an annual budget of nearly $500 million.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.