By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD — The Safford City Council unanimously voted Monday night, May 11, to hire Eric Bejarano as the city’s permanent City Manager following interviews with three finalists last week.
Bejarano, who has served as Safford’s Interim City Manager since December 2025 and Assistant City Manager since June 2024, emerged from a pool of 15 applicants as the council’s choice to lead the city’s administration. The decision came after the council interviewed the finalists on May 8.
The other finalists were Peter Jankowski and Anthony Kozlowski. The council opted for an internal recruitment process led by the city’s Human Resources Department rather than contracting with an external search firm.
“I am truly honored and humbled by the trust placed in me by the Mayor and City Council to serve as the next city manager for the City of Safford,” Bejarano told the Gila Herald. “This community means a great deal to me and my family, and I remain committed to leading with transparency, collaboration, and a continued focus on providing exceptional service to our residents and the entire Gila Valley. We have an incredible team at the City of Safford, and I look forward to working alongside our employees, community partners, and residents as we continue moving our city forward and building on the momentum already underway. Safford is a great place to live, work, and visit, and I am excited for what the future holds.”
Bejarano has deep roots in the region and a diverse background in public service, law enforcement, military service, and business development. He directed the Eastern Arizona College Small Business Development Center before joining the city, and previously spent eight years as a business/area manager for Air Methods air medical services. He retired from the Tucson Police Department as a motorcycle patrol officer in 2014 after a distinguished law enforcement career and served six years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a telecommunications center watch supervisor (Sgt/E-5).
He holds a doctorate in organizational leadership from Liberty University, a master’s degree in counseling/human relations, and a bachelor’s degree in justice systems policy and planning from Northern Arizona University. Bejarano has taught as associate faculty at the University of Phoenix and as an independent instructor on topics including child passenger safety for the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.
Active in the community, he is a member of the Safford Lions Club and Rotary Club and serves on the boards of the Graham County Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties. In January 2026, the council unanimously raised his salary to $168,000 annually (retroactive to December 2025) and guaranteed his return to the assistant city manager position if not selected for the permanent role. He has received public support from local leaders, including Graham County Supervisor John Howard.
The Search Process
The council had previously chosen to keep the position open for a competitive search rather than immediately appointing Bejarano permanently, emphasizing the value of evaluating multiple qualified candidates. Human Resources Director Danielle Nelson reported that 15 applicants were reviewed before the three finalists were advanced.
Peter Jankowski brought more than 24 years of municipal government experience, including roles as City Manager of Mesquite, Nevada, and as Town Manager in Surfside, Florida; Cave Creek, Arizona; and communities in Massachusetts and Maine. A licensed attorney and U.S. Navy veteran, he holds a Juris Doctorate from Franklin Pierce Law Center.
Anthony Kozlowski currently serves as Assistant City Manager for Lake Havasu City and previously worked in the Bullhead City Manager’s office. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science (cum laude) and a Master’s in Public Administration from Arizona State University, with experience in intergovernmental relations, water issues, and facilities oversight.
With Bejarano’s selection, Safford moves forward under a leader familiar with city operations and the local community as it addresses ongoing municipal priorities.
