Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord shares her life, legacy and love for Goodyear in this special final interview recorded in October 2021.
Remembering Mayor Georgia Lord: In Her Own Words
SPEAKERS
Host Digital Communications Director Tammy Vo and Mayor Georgia Lord
Host Tammy Vo
It was with heavy hearts that we learned of the recent passing of Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord. As our mayor she served the Goodyear community as a public servant for nearly two decades. Her contributions extended well beyond her time as an elected official. Her fingerprints are all over Goodyear and the West Valley since she moved here in 1997. I'm Digital Communications Director Tammy Vo. I was lucky enough to have a recent conversation with Mayor Lord for the city's podcast, Growing Goodyear. What you're about to hear are excerpts from that interview, which showcases the love, enthusiasm, passion and warmth that Mayor Lord felt for the city that she called her hometown. You came to Goodyear in 1997. Is that correct?
Mayor Lord
Yes, 97 and contracted a house and we build at Pebble Creek. But we traveled all over the cities and looked at living in Scottsdale, Phoenix, you name it, we had looked at it had lots on hold all over the cities. And then we just coming back to Goodyear and kept driving the streets and driving the streets. And we stayed with some friends in Litchfield. And there's just something about it. Ron and I just think we fell in love with this place. Ron and I really decided Goodyear was really our hometown. Although we had retired to Virginia the first time. But there was something about this city we just really liked. Before I ran for council, I was very active in all the sport events and did a lot of things. But until Gary Gelzer cornered me in a meeting, we were on the committee together at Pebble Creek. And Gary was a real character. And so he's the one that said hey, the way you are round table and the way you talk to people and the way you can convince people a certain things, you really need to know about our city. And so that's when I took the government class, which wasn't named LEAD at that time, for eight weeks. It was exciting for me. I loved hearing about what was going on. Much of it reminded me of living on a base, because you saw all the departments just like you did on a base. And I just got excited about it, and decided I would eventually do something.
Host Tammy Vo
Look where we are now in the nation's ninth fastest growing city.
Mayor Lord
Oh my god.
Host Tammy Vo
Does it kind of feel like your baby in a way that you've watched grow over the years and look where we are now?
Mayor Lord
Absolutely. I really wanted to do it. I really wanted to be part of it. So I worked hard, and I had never run for office and I had no money so I had find someone that would donate to me. And who is this person, we don't know who this person is. But I really wanted it. And so I worked hard to be elected. And the other thing is, I'm a people person. I always have been. And I enjoy meeting all sorts of people from all sorts of societies from all sorts of countries. And having lived in foreign countries so many times, I think I've learned a lot about people. And America is made up people from all over the world. And whether they were first born in the United States, or whether they were, you know, from other countries, I understand family and how people are proud of where they come from. And so I feel that I've always been very respectable.
Host Tammy Vo
Just hearing you and watching how you are Mayor it really feels like Goodyear has your heart.
Mayor Lord
Oh, it does. It does. I care about my city. And I try very hard not to hurt in any way that I could and can and do sometimes with my verbal statements. I'm very, I guess you could say in your face. And I'm not shy to say exactly what I feel. And so some people interpret that a little differently. And so that makes me aware that I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings, but I want to finally be the one that tells the truth. We put a lot of time and effort and work into bringing the city together. I like team play. I've always been a team player, whatever I've been involved in. And so I like meeting people. I like being able to organize things. I like being very verbal. And this was all part of it.
Host Tammy Vo
What is the best part about being the mayor of Goodyear?
Mayor Lord
There's so many of them. You know we moved 20 sometimes in the military, lived on base at some times. And I always wanted to get more involved in other things like a city. And we lived in many of the cities, you know, and politics was always palatable for me because my mother was in politics. And I can remember, you know, all the conventions, we went to all the people we met, I remember going door to door to campaign with mother for different people. And so that was always in the back of my mind. So I think all that really had some influence on it.
Host Tammy Vo
So you've been someone who is, you know, not afraid to stand up for what you believe in in really hard times. How does, how does that translate into being the mayor of a city?
Mayor Lord
I don't have a lot of fear. I don't have a lot of apprehension. We worked as diplomats for four years. I've dealt with people way above my, way above my social and economic level. I have no apprehension talking to people no matter what level of society they're in. I think all of that is, is help. I think, as a military wife, I became very bold. I didn't hide from things. You know, I have a really strong love for the United States. And for this country, my parents were from Greece. So I'm first generation. And I remember the stories they told me how reception wasn't that well when they came and it improved. But my daughter gave me this sign it says, I heard myself today and I sounded like my mother. You know, and that's so true. You say something in all sudden, you realize, oh, my goodness, generations ago, that's the way it was. And here you are talking about it.
Host Tammy Vo
When we talk about Goodyear, what makes this such a special moment in time for our city and for you?
Mayor Lord
I believe that we have done such a good job of talking about our city, developing our city, that our residents have taken ownership of the city. I think the different committees that the city has offered to the public is wonderful. I think the idea of we have all these social events, outside events. I think our progression has been visible. People are amazed. But much of it is because people have spoken. And so you're working to improve it to make their life more quality. I think the whole thing about council action, I think that's what we're there for. We're not there to be important, we're not there to espouse our personal feelings, although one every now and then we do. We're there for the people. That's truly and you can see how this city has developed. And it demonstrates that.
Host Tammy Vo
What do you want your legacy to be at the city?
Mayor Lord
Well, I guess if you look at the construction side was probably the City Hall, because that's where I started before I was elected. That's why I ran. I ran because I wanted to see that city hall built. I'd like the legacy to be I've accomplished a great deal. I was a team player. Not everybody likes me. I understand that. Not everybody agrees with me. We get lots of emails telling me that so I'm, I'm quite aware of how some people feel. But I feel like I've accomplished a great deal. I never finished college. I quit I think it was my junior year. I got married and had a wonderful daughter from that marriage, but then divorced and very short period of time and then to leave my hometown and go to Florida and work there and find my husband during the Cuban crisis. You know, it was, it's been very interesting life.
Host Tammy Vo
I know I'm not the only one to say that you are amazing. And we appreciate your leadership every day. And thank you for all that you do for Goodyear and we're really lucky to have you as our mayor.
Mayor Lord
Well, I love my job. I love being a mayor. I love being a council person. I had not planned on being a mayor. But when the opportunity came, they told me that the mayor had left. I had 48 hours to decide what I wanted to do. And I had resigned from Council. And so there's those opportunities when somebody comes up to you and faces you have to make them make them quick and make sure that that's what you'd like to do. Sometimes you don't know sometimes you do know. So it's just all made me I think help be a better mayor.
Host Tammy Vo
What was that like for you to have kind of those highs and lows and the disappointments over the years? What have you learned from that and what could you share with other people about that and just being part of life?
Mayor Lord
Don't give up. Another opportunity comes in for you take it. This is thing I find about a lot of young women. And I suppose this happens with men also is that opportunity comes before them. They've got their eyes wide open, have all the information. And they say themselves, Well, I can't do that. They always find an excuse not to take on this venture. And so I have to tell you through all my life, whatever the challenge was, and I've had some biggies, socially and economically, but I've reached out and took the chance, and took the opportunity. And I wouldn't have the background, the people always tells me all you have such a background, tell the story about this. Tell the story about that. Well, it's because my husband and I both kind of opened our arms to new ideas, new happenings, new places. Without Ron's support, because it was like when I sold real estate when I first sold in real estate when we got out of the military, and I was gone all the time. Well, you know me it was great money. And so if I had to write a contract under a bridge, I'd write a contract. And so we come here and we had, you know, some wonderful times traveling and doing things and then I took that on. And it took a lot away from my marriage. It took it to the fact that I was gone a lot. But he got very used to it and started to participate. And he liked the dinners he got invited to. And he like meeting new people. So it turned out fine. But again, it was a sacrifice on his part. But then, of course I sacrificed for the 30 years in the military so it was tit for tat.
Host Tammy Vo
That's a partnership, right?
Mayor Lord
That's a partnership. So he was a real supporter.
Host Tammy Vo
Thank you, Mayor.
Mayor Lord
You're welcome.
Host Tammy Vo
We hope you enjoyed this insightful look into what made Mayor Lord such an amazing person, friend and public servant. Although she will be incredibly missed by all of those who loved her, Mayor Lord's legacy will forever be remembered in Goodyear. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers and follow the city social media pages for updates on a public memorial honoring the life of Mayor Georgia Lord.