Rudy has seen the city grow from its roots to the thriving area of today. On top of that, he has been instrumental in the process of getting the state land development poised for housing construction.”

Apache Junction City Manager Bryant Powell

Rudy Esquivias, who has worked at the city of Apache Junction for more than three decades in various roles within the development services department, has been named department director.

Esquivias, who will mark 33 years with the city this summer, has been the interim director since February, when director Larry Kirch retired from the city after seven years at the helm, according to a release.

“No one is better prepared to lead us into this next chapter than Rudy Esquivias,” Apache Junction City Manager Bryant Powell said in the release. “Rudy has seen the city grow from its roots to the thriving area of today. On top of that, he has been instrumental in the process of getting the state land development poised for housing construction.”

As planning manager since 2019, Esquivias has been involved in every step as the Arizona State Land Department set in motion putting 4 square miles of land up for auction, having the city annex that land and working with the developers to set up the first two master planned communities.

“My professional life as a planner has been spent ‘growing up’ with the city of Apache Junction,” Esquivias said. “I hope to apply my experiences and knowledge about planning, development, managing people, earnestly listening to the concerns of citizens and business people alike and providing optimum customer service to all.”

Prior to holding the title of planning manager and zoning administrator, Esquivias was the city’s senior planner and zoning official for 14 years. Esquivias started with the city as an assistant planner in 1989, moving up to senior planner by 2000.

From 2002-05, Esquivias served as department director in a transitional period for the city. The Apache Junction City Council on May 3 night ratified Esquivias’ appointment.

A native of Nogales, Arizona, Esquivias started at the city fresh from receive a bachelor of science degree in design, with a concentration in urban planning, from Arizona State University in 1989.