Douglas Craig Lingner

Douglas Craig Lingner, passed away on May 31, 2016 in Phoenix, AZ. He was born June 16, 1955 in Perry, Iowa to Joyce Graham and was reared by his mother and his beloved grandfather Francis Potter. Before being elected to the Phoenix City Council, Doug formed a Block Watch Organization in his neighborhood and was active on the Maryvale Village Block Watch Alliance, Maryvale Village Planning Committee and the West Phoenix Human Services Center Advisory Committee. He worked along with other residents to address many community issues which gave him the ideas for many of the initiatives he enacted through the Subcommittee and Council. He was a former small business owner and a construction subcontractor and completed the Tile Setter Apprenticeship Program in Seattle. He also served four years in the US Army.

Doug began his first four-year term to serve on the Phoenix City Council in 1995. He was re-elected in the fall of 1999 and again in 2003 to serve two more consecutive four-year terms representing District 7, which included most of South and West Phoenix with approximately 215,000 residents. The City Council elected him as Vice Mayor twice during his tenure. Even though District 7, at that time, was supposed to be 1/8 of the City, the district consisted of 14 villages, three of six Police Precincts, 17 of the City’s 35 Historic Districts and nearly half of the new home building permits in the past year. Doug focused on City and District Wide issues using political, professional and sustainable perspectives. Doug chaired several committees including the: Housing Neighborhoods Downtown Revitalization Historic Preservation; Veterans Commission; City Budget Bond Projects & Programs; Transportation and Infrastructure; Sister Cities Program; Sustainability Subcommittee; and Redevelopment Area Strategies.

Doug was a creative consensus builder and was a factor in all major city issues during his terms in office which included three Council election and re-election campaigns; Multiple bond campaigns approved; Census and Redistricting processes; and National relationships with Housing, Homeless, and Senior Advocacy Groups. Also during Doug’s tenure, Phoenix grew to be the 5th largest City in the United States, became Nationally recognized by Neighborhoods USA; Changed Environmental review process for business expansions; and Phoenix was recognized for the Best Run City and All American City during the 12 years he spent as Councilman and Vice Mayor. District 7 was transformed into the place to live, work and play.

Doug’s achievements were many, however, his greatest legacy is his family. Doug was married to the love of his life Judy for over 30 years. He has three children, Keyon, Desirae and Brandon. Desi and Brandon were known throughout City Hall, as Doug would bring them to work, and have them volunteer on his many community projects. It was important to Doug that his children value community they live in as much as he did. Doug was raised by his grandfather whom he loved dearly. He would quote him often and reflect on his wisdom all the time. It is no surprise when Doug became a grandfather he was overjoyed. Doug and Judy have seven grandchildren, Oscar Ramirez, Zoei Ramirez, Oliver Ramirez, Landon Lingner, Emaleigh Lingner, Alexis Lingner and Levi Lingner, who were his pride and joy. Doug loved his family and friends. If you were LUCKY enough to be considered a friend by Doug, it meant you were an extension of his family, and he would do anything for you. Sadly, in March of this year, Judy passed away, his family is comforted in knowing Doug and Judy have been reunited again.

“There are many reasons to be proud of Phoenix: the weather, the people and the city organization. I am most proud of the community spirit that I see every day in District 7. I have always felt that the highest office that one can hold is that of volunteer.” ~Doug Lingner