By Jakob Thorington | State Affairs
The League announced today in a new release that its former Deputy Director René Guillen is succeeding Tom Belshe, who is retiring after 30 years of working with Arizona municipalities.
“I’m honored to lead an organization that has been such a vital voice for Arizona’s local governments,” Guillen said in a statement. “Cities and towns are where innovation happens first. My goal is to strengthen the partnership between municipal leaders and state policymakers so that communities of every size — from our largest metros to our smallest rural towns — have the tools and support they need to thrive.”
Guillen first started with the League in 2010 as its legislative director before becoming a policy advisor to former Republican Gov. Doug Ducey. He was the town of Gilbert’s director of intergovernmental relations before he became the league’s deputy director in 2020.
“René has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing Arizona’s municipalities,” said Chandler Mayor and League President Kevin Hartke. “His experience, relationships and dedication to service make him the right leader to guide the League into its next chapter.”
