Story posted Friday, October 30, 2009
Former DP Resident Takes On Phoenix City Manager's Role
By TODD WESSELL Journal & Topics Editor
In three decades, former Des Plaines resident David Cavazos has gone from a heavyweight in athletics to a heavyweight in city government.
The year Cavazos graduated from Maine West High School, 1978, he wrestled in the heavyweight category where he earned All-State honors and was named the school's Athlete of the Year.
Thirty-two years later, Cavazos, 49, reached the pinnacle of his profession. On Monday, he was appointed city manager of Phoenix, AZ., the nation's fifth largest city where he will be responsible for managing 14,000 employees and a $3.6 billion budget. Cavazos, a Hispanic, becomes the first minority to hold Phoenix's highest non-elected office. He succeeds 19-year City Manager Frank Fairbanks, who is retiring.
An employee of Phoenix for the last 22 years, Cavazos has fond memories of the town he grew up in where he attended Plainfield Elementary, Algonquin Jr. High School and Maine West.
"I lived at Howard and Lee Street across from Lake Park. That was my childhood, with the Des Plaines Theater, Choo-Choo and all those sites," explained the father of three. "I loved Des Plaines. It was like a melting pot. Later on I learned about the great education I got and the outstanding quality of life there. And being in the desert, I miss the four seasons."
After graduating from Western Illinois University in 1983, Cavazos and his wife, Julie, were living in Pittsburgh when he decided to apply for an internship with the city of Phoenix. During his two-decade career there, he has held a number of high-ranking positions including acting aviation director of Sky Harbor International Airport, the fifth busiest airport in the nation. He has also served as Phoenix's economic development administrator and deputy city manager. He has earned four City Manager Excellence Awards and in 2002, served as chairman of the board for the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
"The funny thing is that I'm the same weight now (250-lbs.) as I was when I wrestled at Maine West," said Cavazos. As a member of the varsity squad, his coach was Dick Carlini, who passed away a few months ago---a fact that saddened the former local athlete.
"He was a wonderful man and a great mentor," Cavazos said.
"The biggest issue I'm facing here is the budget and dealing with the recession," Cavazos explained echoing the same story as most city managers are around the country, including Des Plaines. "We're going to be short $65 to $80 million. We'll have to figure out a way of balancing the budget, dealing with the economy and focusing on basic city services. I'll also have to figure out how to fill the shoes of someone who's been here for the last 19 years."
Now totally acclimated to Phoenix, Cavazos admits that it gets hot in Phoenix, especially during the summer.
"But we have Flagstaff to the north and we can always take a plane to San Diego. Still, my wife and I both love the Midwest," said.
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