The City of Goodyear has announced the passing of Mayor Georgia Lord. Lord passed peacefully on Sunday afternoon in her home with her family at her side.
According to the City, after a recent fall at her home in which she broke her hip, Mayor Lord’s health steadily declined.
Governor Doug Ducey ordered all state flags be lowered to half-staff tomorrow, December 13, 2021 in honor of Mayor Lord.
The Governor called Mayor Lord “an inspiring woman and a proven leader who cared deeply about the City of Goodyear and the men, women and families who called it home.”
Mayor Lord began her career in local government when she was elected to the Goodyear City Council in 2005. She became the mayor of Goodyear in 2011, a position she held until her passing.
“I found public service to be rewarding. I saw for myself how local government shapes everyday lives, creates a community, and impacts overall quality of life. I really wanted to be part of that excitement,” the mayor once said. She went on to describe how she hoped being the city’s first female mayor would be an inspiration.
Lord served on multiple committees and councils during her tenure, including the Arizona League of Cities and Towns Executive Committee, Maricopa Association of Governments’ Regional Council and Transportation Policy Committee, Greater Phoenix Economic Council Board of Directors, WESTMARC Board of Directors, Abrazo West Hospital Board of Directors, and Luke West Valley Partners.
Her most recent achievement was being honored with the Inspiration in Leadership Award at WESTMARC’s 29th Annual Best of the West Awards gala in October of this year. She has received many accolades over the course of her political career, including earning an honorary Doctorate of Public Administration from Franklin Pierce University in 2019, being named the 2019 Government Leader of the Year by the Arizona Capitol Times, recognition as Leadership West’s Civic Leader of the Year in 2018, was named as one of the “50 Most Influential Women in Arizona Business” by Arizona Business Magazine in 2014, and received a Distinguished Service Award from the Greater Phoenix Economic Council in 2013.
Lord is survived by four children, four grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.
Vice Mayor Brannon Hampton is serving as acting mayor until the Goodyear City Council appoints a current city councilmember to complete the mayor’s term which ends in December 2022. The mayor and council would then accept applications from interested residents to appoint a new councilmember to fill the vacated council position. An election will be held in the Fall of 2022 to select a new mayor who will take office in January of 2023.