Thelda Williams is Phoenix’s newest mayor, and her acceptance of the interim position means three Arizona women hold high position in Phoenix politics.  Former Mayor Greg Stanton vacated the position so he could run for Congress.

Interim Mayor Thelda Williams is not the first female mayor of Phoenix, but she believes it is the first time that a U.S. city has had a female mayor, police chief and fire chief serving simultaneously.

Thelda Williams will be leading Phoenix with Phoenix Fire Chief Kara Kalkbrenner and Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams.

Phoenix is revamping the male-driven the political sphere in more ways than one.  The city has a majority of females in leadership roles with 19 female department heads out of the 36 departments in Phoenix.  Many of these women are considered experts on the national stage.

Williams is also experienced in Phoenix politics as she has served as vice mayor three times.  However, she has no plans to run in the November special election and prefers to return to her role as a councilperson once her term as interim mayor is up.

In her limited time in the mayoral position she will focus on infrastructure, public safety and homelessness.

Williams credited her grandmother for providing motivation and an example of hard work ethic.