During a recent city council meeting, Lancaster City Manager Mark V. Bozigian announced his retirement from local government.
The highest praises offered were by Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris and the city council who expressed feelings of gratitude for Bozigian’s commitment to the city in noting him as “one of Lancaster’s best city managers.”
“When Mark Bozigian first took over as city manager, the problems which confronted him were nothing short of enormous. In fact, we had lost many members of our city staff, as well as most of our income,” Parris said. “In contrast, the last 10 years under Mark’s leadership have truly been the most profound when it comes to the development of our city as a whole. So, while I am indeed saddened about his upcoming retirement, I feel we as a city should celebrate all that has been accomplished during his tenure as city manager and wish him nothing but the best on his new life chapter.”
The following are excerpts on Bozigian’s address to the city council:
“After almost 24 years with the city of Lancaster, I have submitted my intent to retire by the end of this year. I am blessed and humbled to work with a Mayor and Council who provide strong and effective leadership every single day. I am equally blessed with the privilege of working with a wonderfully talented and committed City staff, serving my hometown.
“As city manager over the last 11 years, I am particularly proud to have supported Mayor Parris and the city council in serving our residents and businesses through numerous programs and projects, notably the BLVD downtown renovation and significant business attraction efforts. A particular point of pride is having supported Mayor Parris and the city council in restoring a sense of innovation, spirit, and in positioning Lancaster as a ‘City of Firsts’ all while shepherding the city through the Great Recession.
“Serving Lancaster as city manager has been by far the most purposeful and rewarding experience of my professional career and one of the great blessings of my life. At least for me, being an effective city manager requires a 24/7 commitment and deferring many other personal and professional pursuits. I look forward to the future with a sense of anticipation towards new professional opportunities and renewed life balance for both my family and myself.
“While I will greatly miss the people and friends I work with daily in serving our community, and being a part of the amazing advancements Lancaster will see over the next five years and beyond, I am secure in the knowledge that we are positioned very well for the future with great Council and City staff leadership. I will most certainly still be around, as my wife, Karen, and I plan to live and remain active in the Antelope Valley.”
