SE Valley Times

Christopher J. Brady, the City Manager of Mesa, has announced his retirement effective May 31, 2025. After nearly two decades in this role, he will transition to a position as a mission leader for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Since 2006, Brady has been the chief administrative officer of Mesa, Arizona's third-largest city. During his tenure, he managed a workforce of about 4,000 employees and oversaw an annual operating and capital budget totaling $2.6 billion. Under his leadership, Mesa has grown into a municipality with over 500,000 residents while undergoing organizational reforms and maintaining high standards in municipal services and fiscal management.

Brady expressed gratitude for his time serving the city: "It has been the honor of my lifetime to serve Mesa. I have had the privilege of working alongside many dedicated Mesa employees to bring the vision of our Mayors and Councilmembers to life," said Brady. He emphasized that throughout his service in Mesa, knowledge, respect, and integrity were his guiding principles: "I hope that by upholding these values, I have made a positive difference in the lives of our residents and employees."

His leadership was characterized by achievements in fiscal management and operational efficiency. Notably, he guided Mesa through economic challenges and a pandemic while implementing innovative financial strategies like capital bond initiatives for parks, streets, and public safety.

Before joining Mesa's administration, Brady accumulated over ten years of experience in municipal leadership roles. He served as Assistant City Manager in San Antonio for ten years and held executive positions in Bellaire and Houston, Texas, as well as Provo, Utah.

In announcing his retirement via a farewell letter to employees this morning, Brady indicated plans to work closely with the Mayor and City Council during the transition period as they select Mesa's next city manager.