Gilbert Officials Resign Amid Leadership Shakeup

Budget Director Kelly Pfost and Assistant Town Manager Dawn Prince depart their administrative roles.

Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in People

Bold flat-color editorial illustration depicting a stylized, geometric municipal building facade, reflecting the administrative shift in Gilbert town government.
Budget Director Kelly Pfost and Assistant Town Manager Dawn Prince resigned from their administrative roles in Gilbert following a series of municipal leadership changes. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Gilbert Budget Director Kelly Pfost and Assistant Town Manager Dawn Prince have resigned from their positions at the town. Their departures follow a period of significant turnover within the Gilbert municipal government.

Why it matters

The resignations mark the latest leadership changes following the departure of Town Manager Patrick Banger earlier this year. These exits continue a broader pattern of staff turnover affecting several administrative departments in Gilbert.

The announcement confirms 2 senior staff departures following the exit of the town manager in January 2026. These resignations occur alongside the transition of several other former town officials who previously left their roles.

The players

Kelly Pfost

She served as the Budget Director for the town of Gilbert.

Dawn Prince

She held the position of Assistant Town Manager in Gilbert.

Patrick Banger

He previously served as the Town Manager of Gilbert until his departure in early 2026.

Leah Rhineheimer

She is an Assistant Town Manager in Gilbert and is currently a finalist for the role of Pima County administrator.

The details

The departures include both the budget director and an assistant town manager, continuing a trend of staff turnover in the municipal government. Additionally, Assistant Town Manager Leah Rhineheimer is currently a finalist for the position of administrator in Pima County.

Timeline

  1. Patrick Banger exited his position as Town Manager in January 2026.

  2. Kelly Pfost and Dawn Prince resigned from their city roles in October 2026.

Market Landscape

These departures follow the January 2026 resignation of Town Manager Patrick Banger, extending a period of significant leadership turnover. This trend suggests a period of transition as the town faces the loss of multiple senior administrative officials.

Residents may experience shifts in administrative operations as multiple senior roles are vacated simultaneously. The town continues to navigate ongoing transitions within its core management structure.

The takeaway

Ongoing administrative turnover often signals a period of strategic change for local government entities. Stakeholders should monitor upcoming town announcements to see how these vacancies will be filled and how town operations will be managed.

Further reading

For more information on the current municipal administration, visit the Gilbert People section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Your Valley.

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