David Cavazos has been named the new Phoenix city manager and will begin his new responsibilities Friday, Nov. 6.

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and the City Council met at Phoenix City Hall in an executive session to consider the selection of, and interview finalists for, the position of city manager.

Cavazos, 49, is the first Hispanic to hold the job.

He joined the city in 1987 as a management intern and was economic-development manager from 1991 to 1997. From 1998 to 2000, he served as deputy director of the Aviation Department and later the assistant Aviation director from 2001 to 2003.

Cavazos served as acting Aviation director from 2004 to 2005, with his most recent position as deputy city manager.

In that position, he oversees the Development Services, Information Technology, Planning and Water Services departments; ASU Downtown; water strategy; and Westside Revitalization.

"David will lead a great team that over the next 20 years will take this rising Phoenix and make it soar," Gordon said. "We got it right, but it would have been hard to get it wrong."

"This is a historic day in Phoenix," Vice Mayor Tom Simplot said. "David Cavazos is a true professional and will lead Phoenix into the next decade."

Cavazos earned a master's degree in management and public policy from Carnegie Mellon University and a bachelor's degree in political science from Western Illinois University.

The other candidates interviewed were Phoenix deputy city managers David Krietor, Rick Naimark and Ed Zuercher.

Frank Fairbanks, current city manager, will retire Nov. 5 after serving in this capacity for 19 years. The 63-year-old Phoenix native has held the city manager's position longer than any previous manager, ending a 37-year career with the city.