Outgoing Fairfax Town Manager Bids Residents Farewell

FAIRFAX, CA — Much has changed during Garrett Toy’s eight-plus years as Fairfax’s town manager.

Nobody knew how bad the first of two prolonged droughts that started shortly before he took over in February of 2013 would get, and a pandemic that’s brought most of the world to its knees, along with a national reckoning on racial justice weren’t exactly on his radar, either.

But despite a myriad of unforeseen challenges, Fairfax's outgoing top administrator is leaving with the same sunny disposition with which he arrived.

“I will always Smile ☺ when I think of my time in Fairfax,” Toy wrote in what he said would be his “first and last” letter to the town Tuesday in which he bid residents farewell.

“No surprise, the past 16 months have been one of the most challenging times I have experienced in my many years in government,” Toy wrote in his letter to the town.

Toy, who last month accepted an offer to become the city of Sonoma’s top administrator, offered a similar assessment of his first month as the town's top administrator.

"I'm still here and still smiling," he told Patch in a February 2013 interview.

Toy will be replaced on an interim basis by Adam Politzer, who retired as Sausalito's city manager in December.

“I will be moving on to another unique opportunity similar to the one Fairfax gave me in February 2013,” Toy wrote in his letter to the town.

“I have enjoyed my 8 plus years in Fairfax and the opportunity to interact with the community on many projects. I greatly appreciate the support given to me by past and present Councils as well as staff.

“While a few may disagree, I believe the Town has accomplished quite a bit during my tenure. I say ‘Town’ because it’s a team effort with the Town Council, staff, and the community.”