By Yvonne Wingett Sanchez | The Arizona Republic
Craig McConnell, the chief executive officer of Prescott, is in a tough spot: He heads a workforce still grappling with the deaths of the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots and now the unexpected departure of the city’s fire chief.
An engineer, McConnell, 64, has worked in counties and cites in Arizona, Nevada, California and Florida. He began his career in Prescott in 2002 as public-works director, rising over the years to the ranks of deputy city manager, and then, two years ago, city manager.
Since the June 30 deaths of the hotshots, McConnell, the mayor and the City Council have come under fire for some of their decisions, including how the city is handling benefits payments to the hotshots’ families and the departure of Fire Chief Dan Fraijo.
