Avondale hires new city manager after months-long search

Avondale City council voted Monday to hire a new city manager after an eight-month-long search following the firing of the previous city manager, Charles Montoya.

Cottonwood City Manager Ron Corbin has been chosen for the position. He will take over the role in November.

“The City Council and I were seeking someone with strong, steady leadership who understands and believes in our core purpose of making lives better for the residents and business community in Avondale,” said Mayor Kenn Weise. “Avondale has built great momentum over the past few years, and we are just getting started.”

By the time Corbin takes over as city manager, the city of Avondale will have been without a dedicated city manager for almost a year after Montoya’s firing in December 2021.

Montoya, who was appointed as city manager in 2018, is accused of violating his employment agreement and various city policies in a December 2021 letter signed by Mayor Weise.

Assistant City Manager Cherlene Penilla has since served as interim city manager.

In the summer of 2022, Montoya sought nearly $7 million restitution from the city of Avondale, alleging a breach of contract and defamation.

Corbin has been with Cottonwood for the last three years and previously served in the U.S. Army for almost 10 years as deputy HR director, HR director, and deputy city administrator for the city of Yuma in Southern Arizona.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in secondary education and teaching, a Bachelor of Sciences degree in biology from Eastern Washington University, and a Master of Administration degree in public administration from Northern Arizona University.

“I am excited about the opportunity to become Avondale’s city manager, and I am humbled and honored that the City Council selected me for this role,” Corbin said. “I look forward to working closely with the Avondale team to build upon the incredible success this city has achieved.”

The Avondale City Council used a process to select a new city manager that included a nationwide search, and an interview process for the finalists. City residents and employees were invited to participate in the evaluation process.