Mayor Spotlight

City of Casa Grande
Incorporated: 1915
Population: 48,571
Elevation: 1,405 ft.
County: Pinal
Area within Limits: 110.12 sq. mi.

Name, title & city/town:
Bob Jackson, Mayor, City of Casa Grande
Year elected to office: Elected to Mayor in 2007
Years served as Mayor: Eight years (This position is term-limited; this will be my last term)
Hometown: I moved to Casa Grande in 1991 from Reno, Nevada and prior to that moved more than 30 times to six states and 14 communities. I don't really have a home town, but I was born in Whitefish, Montana.

Why did you decide to serve in local government?
I had been considering running for council in 2007 but the more I looked at the direction the city was going decided the position of mayor would be a better place to make a difference.

What are the biggest challenges facing your town today?
The biggest challenges facing Casa Grande are figuring out how to increase our revenues while holding our tax rate and fees at current levels, the state legislature's changes in how we are able to finance our operations, and developing a strong work force.

What opportunities do you see for your community?
Our location at the intersection of I-8 and I-10 provides us with unique opportunities to become a commerce center for freight movement east and west and into Mexico. We need to better market ourselves to become better known in the logistics and freight business.

What are you most proud of during your time in office?
I have been lucky to be surrounded by a great staff and a City Council that shares a common vision. We have managed to survive the worst economic downturn in decades while investing over $200 million in new infrastructure, managed our finances to continue providing the same level of service to our citizens while increasing our bond rating three times and maintaining a fund balance of $20 million.

Why is the League important to cities and towns in Arizona?
For a city like Casa Grande, we rely on the League to be our voice at the State Legislature. We do not have the ability to have someone on site during the whole session and appreciate the job the League does in keeping us informed and helping us to argue our case when necessary.
 

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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