Many Phoenix civic leaders breathed a sigh of relief when Assistant City Manager Sheryl Sculley withdrew her name from consideration to become the next city manager of San Antonio.

In April, Sculley announced her intention to leave Phoenix for the top spot in the Texas metropolis, but last-minute opposition by San Antonio city councilman Julian Castro scuttled the council's unanimity, and Sculley subsequently decided to stay in the Valley of the Sun.

Colleagues point to Sculley's leadership as a vital ingredient in the city's plans to build a thriving biomedical corridor and renovated urban community in downtown Phoenix.

Among the projects Sculley has been helping to lead are the major Civic Plaza renovation, the expansion of Arizona State University to a downtown campus, and the development of the Phoenix Biomedical Campus, including the proposed branch of the University of Arizona medical school and the recently-opened Translational Genomics Research Institute.

"Sheryl has proven herself to be a vital asset to the city of Phoenix," Phoenix City Councilman Tom Simplot told the Business Journal, "and we're excited that she will be here to continue working on the ASU downtown projects as well as the other downtown projects."

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For more information:

"Sculley nixes San Antonio deal, stays in Phoenix," Business Journal, 04/13/2005

"Sheryl Sculley's decision a lift for city," Arizona Republic, 04/15/2005

"Phoenix official likely next city manager for San Antonio," Arizona Republic, 04/12/2005