Chandler council appoints John Papier as acting city manager amid concerns about process
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Summary
The Chandler City Council voted to approve the appointment of John Papier as acting city manager effective July 13, 2025, approving an employment agreement after debate about whether the selection process was sufficiently transparent; the motion carried by majority with Council member Hawkins dissenting.
The Chandler City Council on June 26 approved the appointment of John Papier as acting city manager and voted to approve his employment agreement, with the position to begin July 13, 2025.
Council member Hawkins said her “no” vote reflected concerns about how the selection was handled rather than the individual’s qualifications. “My vote is about the process and not about the candidate,” Hawkins said, calling for a more public, inclusive process that would allow broader input and more options.
Council member Harris defended the council’s approach, saying the council followed the charter and bylaws and considered internal and external candidates. “We looked internal. We looked external as well,” Harris said, noting the council would later conduct a national search.
Council member Linda moved to approve the appointment and the employment agreement for John Papier; a second was recorded and the motion carried by majority, with Hawkins dissenting. The council did not adopt additional conditions or amend the employment agreement on the council floor.
During remarks leading up to the vote, several members praised Papier’s credentials and said they expected him to provide steady leadership while the city conducts a broader search. Harris noted Papier’s prior public-sector experience and said the city will advertise a national search in the coming months.
The council’s action is an interim appointment and, per comments during the meeting, the council intends to begin a national search for the permanent position following Papier’s start date.