Welcome New ACMA President Gilbert Town Manager Patrick Banger
Gilbert, Arizona: Gilbert Town Manager Patrick Banger was recently elected by his peers to serve as president of the Arizona City/County Management Association (ACMA) Board of Directors. Banger began his term as president at the organization’s annual business meeting in Sedona, Arizona on January 26 and his term will run through January 2024. Upon the completion of his term as president, Banger will remain on the board as the past president for another year, through January 2025. Banger has been a member of the ACMA since 2011.
As president, Banger will lead the association to accomplish ACMA’s mission as a professional development association dedicated to serving our communities by strengthening the knowledge and expertise of Arizona’s existing and aspiring government leaders.
The council-manager form of local government combines the political leadership of elected officials with the professional experience of an appointed government manager. City and county managers implement the policies of elected officials and provide leadership for the day-to-day operations of running a city or county.
“City management is a challenging and rewarding profession, helping elected officials meet the needs of their citizens and instilling integrity, trust and confidence in local government. ACMA is an invaluable resource to appointed public sector leaders who carry out the important work of delivering effective and efficient services to their citizens”, said Banger. “I am proud to be selected by my peers to serve as ACMA President and I look forward to serving the needs of our organizations and supporting our cities over the next year.”
Patrick Banger was appointed City Manager in August 2011. Patrick has more than 24 years of local government experience in addition to 7 years of executive level leadership in the private sector. He provides leadership to an organization of over 1,600 employees, a $1.8 billion dollar budget and over 80 major lines of service. Gilbert is nationally recognized as one of the best run local governments in the nation, with a track record of innovation and efficiency.
During Patrick’s tenure Gilbert has become the 80th largest city in the U.S., with a growing population of 277,486. Patrick has been a key leader in the process of transforming Gilbert into one of the most sought-after places for residential living and corporate expansions and relocations. He is a forward-thinking, change-orientated leader and has been instrumental in helping Gilbert become one of the most prestigious and award-winning communities in the nation. Since 2011, Gilbert’s financial performance has excelled and was recognized as the top performing city in the nation post-recession, tripling its general fund reserves, and receiving thirty six credit rating upgrades culminating in AAA ratings from all three agencies; Moody’s Investor Service, Fitch and S&P placing Gilbert in the top .002% of cities in the nation.
Patrick has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from Missouri State University and a Master of Arts Degree in Management from Webster University. He is an active member of the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Sr. Staff Committee, Past Chairman of the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Management Board, current President of the Arizona City/County Management Association (ACMA) and a former Honorary Base Commander at Luke Air Force Base. He also received the 2019 John J. ‘Jack’ Debolski Award for Excellence in City Management by the Arizona City/County Management Association, the highest award ACMA bestows on a public official.
About ACMA
The Arizona City/County Management Association was established in 1954. It is a non-profit, professional development association dedicated to serving our communities by strengthening the knowledge and expertise of Arizona’s existing and aspiring government leaders.
The ACMA cooperates with the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, the International City/County Management Association, various public institutions of higher learning in Arizona and other organizations dedicated to supporting and promoting local government management. The organization was incorporated in 1998. It currently has approximately 280 members and is staffed by the League of Arizona Cities and Towns.
