“In 1990, Mr. Payne was elected mayor of Chandler, becoming the first Black mayor in Arizona’s history. He oversaw rapid growth for the city and was loved by his community for being a thoughtful listener and doing all he could to better the lives he served,” Stanton said. “A true public servant, he committed his life to serving the vulnerable, doing the right thing over all else, and giving back to his community. His first love was always Chandler, Arizona, and its wonderful people.”
Watch Stanton’s remarks HERE. His remarks as prepared are below.
“Coy Payne’s legacy is woven into the very fabric of Chandler. He led with humility, vision and a genuine love for people, qualities that continue to shape our community today,” Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke said. “Dedicating the Downtown Chandler Post Office in his name is a heartfelt way to honor his trailblazing leadership and the doors he opened for so many. We are grateful that Mayor Payne’s life and values will always be remembered here at home.”
The Mayor Coy Payne Memorial Post Office Building will be located at 101 N Colorado Street Chandler, AZ 85225.
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Today, I am proud to honor a man who spent his entire life in service to others, former Chandler, Arizona, Mayor Coy Payne.
He was born in 1929 to a hardworking family in Texas and came to Arizona in the 1940s. He earned everything he got. He worked his way through school, served in our army during the Korean War, earned a degree from Arizona State University, and then gave 30 years of his life educating the children of Chandler.
He served on the Chandler City Council for many years, and then in 1990, he was elected Mayor of the City of Chandler, the first Black mayor in Arizona history. As Mayor, he led a booming, growing city with steady hands and an open door. People trusted him because he listened, because he knew he was going to do all he could to make their lives better.
Mayor Payne passed away in 2019. His legacy lives on. As we celebrate Black History Month, I rise today to introduce legislation to name the U.S. Post Office at 101 North Colorado Street in Chandler, Arizona, as “Mayor Coy Payne Memorial Post Office.”
It's only fitting that this memorial sit in the heart of Chandler, a token of our appreciation and a reminder that his first love was the people of Chandler and all of its wonderful activities.
I yield back.