PHXations—Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Looks like the race to become Phoenix’s next mayor has (unofficially) begun:

Phoenix City Councilman Claude Mattox has yet to formally enter the 2011 Phoenix mayoral race, though he’s already claiming enough support from local political and business leaders to support a campaign.

Mattox… has raised $300,000 in contributions, according to a Tuesday press release paid for by the councilman’s exploratory committee.

His supporters include former Phoenix mayors Paul Johnson and John Nelson, in addition to Jerry Colangelo, former Arizona Rep. Matt Salmon, and Salt River Project President David Rousseau, according to his camp.

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon’s term expires in 2012. The city’s election for mayor is scheduled in August 2011, with filing deadline in June.

Maddox is the second prospective candidate to succeed Gordon, who can’t run again due to term limits. Peggy Neely, another current Phoenix City Council member, announced her intent to run for mayor in May.

---

The head of Fender is retiring.

After more than 30 years at the company, Chairman and CEO Bill Mendello announced Tuesday he will retire from Scottsdale’s Fender Musical Instruments Corp. later this year.

The company says a successor to the position of CEO was recently appointed by the board, but Fender is not yet announcing who that is. Mendello will remain on the company’s board.