One of the great things about Litchfield Park is that it hasn’t changed that much. It really has been able to maintain the small city, neighborhood feel.”
Litchfield Park will ring in the new year with an interim city manager and a new city attorney.
City Manager Bill Stephens and City Attorney Susan Goodwin both have announced their retirements. Mr. Stephen’s last day will be Jan. 3, 2021, and Ms. Goodwin will leave her post in December after 30 years.
Mr. Stephens joined the city in March 2018 after serving as Benson city manager for four years. The Ohio native, who grew up in Tolleson and Maryvale, went into city administration after retiring from the U.S. Air Force at the rank of colonel at the end of a career that spanned 37 years.
It’s time for his second retirement, Mr. Stephens said Nov. 19 via email.
“My wife and I would like to travel, hike, see our national parks and visit with our grandchildren to name a few things we’d like to do,” he said. “It’s been a wonderful opportunity and time here in Litchfield Park. It’s been my pleasure and honor to serve our community and I’m grateful for all the support and understanding from our community, citizens, council and staff during my tenure as city manager.”
During its virtual regular meeting Nov. 18, the Litchfield Park City Council met in executive session with Mr. Stephens and Assistant City Manager Matthew Williams, who is being considered to take over as interim city manager, effective Jan. 4, 2021.
The council is expected to vote on Mr. Williams’ appointment during its virtual regular meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16.
Ms. Goodwin, who introduced her replacement, Joseph Estes, during the Nov. 18 meeting, will work with Mr. Estes to negotiate a contract with Mr. Williams to serve as interim city manager while Litchfield Park searches for a new city manager.
She spoke highly of Mr. Estes.
“We looked long and hard for someone with the right personality and experience working with councils,” said Ms. Goodwin, who began her tenure with Litchfield Park in 1990. “I know you will enjoy working with him.”
Mr. Estes, who joined Ms. Goodwin and other attorneys at Phoenix-based law firm Gust Rosenfeld PLC three weeks ago, most recently served assistant city attorney for the city of Yuma, and previously served as Page city attorney. He also has experience on the other side of the dais, serving on the Maricopa City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity,” he told the council. “Susan has some very large shoes to fill.”
Mayor Thomas L. Schoaf welcomed Mr. Estes on behalf of the city.
“We’ve had a great working relationship with Susan,” he said. “I’m sure we’ll develop a great working relationship with you.”
Ms. Goodwin spoke with the Litchfield Park Independent via telephone Nov. 19 about her tenure with Litchfield Park and her plans for the future.
She also serves as attorney for the towns of Clifton, Miami, Quartzsite and Wellton; and previously served as attorney for Chino Valley, Wickenburg and Youngtown, before handing over duties for those municipalities to other partners in her firm.
“Representing Litchfield Park is one of the highlights of my career,” she said. “I’ve loved every council. It will be hard to let go.”
The decades have brought many changes to the city and surrounding area, the most notable being the Southwest Valley’s urbanization, Ms. Goodwin said.
“When I started in 1990, it was kind of an oasis,” she said of the city, recalling how Litchfield Park’s iconic palm trees would come into view as she drove west from Phoenix for meetings.
While buildings as far as the eye can see now block that view, Ms. Goodwin lauded city leaders for working hard to hold on to Litchfield Park’s small-town roots and atmosphere.
“It’s still a wonderful oasis,” she said. “One of the great things about Litchfield Park is that it hasn’t changed that much. It really has been able to maintain the small city, neighborhood feel.”
When she closes the door on a law career that began in 1978, Ms. Goodwin plans to take a couple of months off, then travel if COVID-19 conditions permit.
“I’m a big traveler,” she said, noting that the pandemic forced her to cancel what would have been her sixth trip to India in March. She hopes a two-month trip to Montenegro, Albania, Italy and other countries in Europe scheduled for spring 2021 will be a go.
Another trip that will be on Ms. Goodwin’s agenda will be a little closer to home.
She plans to visit Litchfield Park down the road to check out how projects including the long-awaited City Center downtown and Sun Health’s La Loma Campus expansion are progressing.
“I couldn’t stay away,” she said. "It's no secret I love Litchfield Park."
Kelly O’Sullivan can be reached at kosullivan@newszap.com or 760-963-1697.
Kelly O’Sullivan News Editor | Litchfield Park& Goodyear @AzNewsmedia
Kelly O’Sullivan is a longtime journalist who joined Independent Newsmedia in January 2020, after returning to the Valley from Twentynine Palms, California, where she worked for eight years as a communications specialist for the U.S. Marine Corps. When she’s not covering stories of interest to Litchfield Park, Goodyear and other Southwest Valley residents, she stays busy rediscovering Arizona and photographing its spectacular landscapes and wildlife.
Litchfield Park,
city of Litchfield Park,
Bill Stephens,
Susan Goodwin,
Matthew Williams,
Joseph Estes,
Mayor Thomas L. Schoaf,
Gust Rosenfelt,
Gust Rosenfeld PLC,
city manager,
interim city manager,
city attorney
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