City council appoints Joe Pizzillo as Goodyear’s Mayor

PHOENIX — The Goodyear City Council unanimously voted to appoint councilmember Joe Pizzillo to be the mayor on Friday following the death of Mayor Georgia Lord earlier this week, officials said.

Pizzillo was sworn in in the afternoon and will complete the remainder of Lord’s term, which ends in December 2022, according to the press release. 

“I’m honored to continue to serve our great city, and I have some big shoes to fill,” Pizzillo said in the release. “I will certainly lean on our city council as we work as a team to continue to build upon our success.”

The city will begin accepting applications Dec. 22 to fill the council vacancy left by Pizzillo, which city residents can be considered for, officials said.

The newly named mayor previously served as vice and acting mayor in 2010 and 2011 following his entry into the city council in 2009.

Pizzillo said he will focus on several initiatives, including bringing high-quality restaurants and jobs for locals, getting a better handle on traffic flow and congestion, and preserving the city’s condition through code enforcement, according to the release.

He is currently an adjunct professor of accounting and finance with Grand Canyon University, Park University and Estrella Mountain Community College.

Pizzillo previously served as the city’s budget manager.

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