Miami Town Manager Micah Gaudet, who debuted in that position on Jan. 11, 2021, submitted his resignation to the Town Council last Monday, May 9. Gaudet, who will continue to serve through June 17, said he was leaving to better care for a family member. “I want to thank the Mayor and Town Council for the opportunity to serve as Town Manager, for their understanding of my family’s need and acceptance of my resignation,” he wrote in a letter thanking the council and the community, adding that his time as manager was “one of my greatest honors.”

When he first appeared before the council last January, at the age of 29, Gaudet was the youngest town manager in Arizona. A U.S. Army veteran who served in two campaigns in Afghanistan and finished his enlistment filling the role of a captain, Gaudet went on to be the first Director of Crime Strategies in the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. He was then recruited by the City of Nogales, where he served as executive director of the Nogales Housing Authority. When Covid-19 hit, Gaudet was asked to lead the city’s response efforts; he also frequently volunteered to draft financial and operational policies.

“Micah came into his position as a town manager with no previous experience and Council took a chance on a young person with enthusiasm and determination,” said Miami Mayor Sammy Gonzales. “He was immediately thrown into the fire in his first year, dealing with fires and floods that he was able to handle like an experienced manager.”

Gaudet said the community response to the 2021 Telegraph Fire and floods was “simply remarkable” – and he was a part of it, pitching in during post-flood cleanups in the streets of Miami. He also worked to put together an August town hall meeting for community residents affected by the flooding. Gaudet also proposed and administered the Miami Renaissance Grant program, which provides commercial building property owners and tenants with grant funds – awarded quarterly – for façade improvements. He pointed to fixing a town budget and greatly increasing sales tax revenues – “putting the Town on a healthier track going forward” – as two other highlights of his term. “I built a strong foundation here for future success,” he said, adding that he would be willing to lend his assistance to a successor.

“It’s hard to see him leave, but our Council and staff have been pleased with him and wish him well on his new journey," said Gonzales.