Interim Phoenix Mayor Thelda Williams Sworn In, Sets Priorities

PHOENIX, AZ — It’s officially Mayor Thelda Williams now. Williams will fill in as interim Phoenix mayor until after the Nov. 6 general election, when a replacement is named for former mayor Greg Stanton, who quit to run for Congress.

The Phoenix City Council officially selected Williams to serve as interim mayor at a meeting Monday. She will continue to represent her north Phoenix council district.

"I'm a very simple person. I just want the city to move forward. I want us to be as nonpartisan as possible,” she said. “I want to focus on public safety, making sure we have paved roads and we have a safe and available water supply.”

Williams has unofficially been filling in since last month after Stanton said he was leaving the post to run for the U.S. House seat Krysten Sinema is giving up. (Get Phoenix Patch's real-time news alerts and free morning news letters. Like us on Facebook. Also, download the free Patch iPhone app or free Patch Android app.)

"Our city is in strong shape and I am proud that we have put Phoenix on the most positive trajectory of any large city in America," Stanton wrote in a letter telling the Arizona Secretary of State about his resignation and congressional bid.

Williams is familiar with the role. When former mayor Paul Johnson resigned in 1994, Williams served as interim mayor for about seven months. She had a significantly shorter stint — three days — when former mayor Phil Gordon stopped down early,

Williams’ vice mayor is Councilman Jim Waring.

Photo and video via City of Phoenix Facebook page