Mayor Spotlight: Mayor Chris Gibbs, City of Safford

Name, title & city/town:
Mayor Chris Gibbs of Safford
Year elected to office: 2010
Years served as mayor: 4

City of Safford
Incorporated: 1901
Population: 9,566
Elevation: 2,900 ft.
County: Graham
Area within Limits: 6.2 sq. mi.

Why did you decide to serve in local government?
A 23-year US Air Force career emphasized serving for the common good and I had a desire to continue my service to others. Public service is both a personal need and a privilege in my life.

What are the biggest challenges facing your city today?
All city leaders could easily answer "money issues top our problem list," because we all face them. However, as a regional water supplier, Safford has been hit very hard by 19 continuous years of drought. We are in "Stage 3" water restrictions, with no predictable end in sight.

What opportunities do you see for your community?
Safford and the Gila Valley are incredible examples of pioneering persistence and genuinely pleasant people. I am always proud to hear compliments from visitors about our friendly and helpful residents. We also enjoy incredible tourism potential with diverse landscapes and amazing historic tales. We offer huge potential for economic diversification with a great airport, rail and road connectivity, plenty of wide open space, and a top-notch community college next door.

What are you most proud of during your time in office?
During the terrible fiscal realities of recent years, our valley "toughed it out together." Graham County has about 38,000 citizens and approximately 2,500 jobs went away in a three-week period of 2009. This could have destroyed lesser communities. Instead, everyone pulled each other up and we weathered the financial crisis. Many of these jobs have returned and we are finally back to "pre-meltdown" levels. I believe, with this teamwork, we're stronger for it.

Why is the League important to cities and towns in Arizona?
The League offers the conduit for municipal leaders to network, discover ways other cities cope, and improve governmental interactions. Rural Arizona communities have such small individual voices in state government and it sometimes feels as if the "big boys" don't fare much better. Municipal governments operate differently than the federal government, state government, or private concerns. Without the League, our needs might never be heard or addressed.
 

League of Arizona Cities and Towns
1820 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ  85007
Phone: 602-258-5786
Fax: 602-253-3874
http://www.azleague.org

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