By Kyle Daly | InMaricopa.com
Maricopa Fire Chief Wade Brannon plans to step down from the fire department’s top post, saying an individual who has more experience operating in larger cities should take the reins.
Brannon’s announcement this week comes on the heels of the local fire union’s vote of no confidence against the fire chief, but both Brannon and city spokeswoman LaTricia Woods said the vote had no effect on Brannon’s decision and the chief had discussed with the city manager a possible position change within the department weeks prior to the vote.
“The final decision happened to coincide right as the union vote was taking place,” Woods said. “But one was not dependent on the other, or vice versa. It was just timing.”
Brannon said Maricopa is becoming one of the fastest growing cities in the country again with a recovering economy, and that will present new challenges for the department.
