Mayor Spotlight

Name, title & city/town: Mayor Felix Callicotte, Town of Clifton
Year elected to office: Elected to town council in 1974-1978; re-elected in 1986-1988. Selected by council as a replacement in 2010; re-elected in 2014; selected for mayor in 2013.
Years served as Mayor: 3 Years
Hometown: Clifton, Arizona

Town of Clifton
Incorporated: 1909
Population: 3,311
Elevation: 3,502 ft.
County: Greenlee
Area within Limits: 15 sq. mi.

Why did you decide to serve in local government?
My first introduction to town government was in the middle 1970's when the Town of Clifton experienced turmoil within the town council and the administration. After a number of council members resigned I was elected to the council and selected to be the vice mayor of Clifton.

During my time away from my home town I saw deterioration. The deterioration had many facets and many were not due to any council doings but from outside sources. Having an interest in wanting to preserve Clifton's diversity, my return to municipal government was based on what I could do to stem that deterioration and offer some suggestions and/or improvements on how Clifton could overcome some areas of apathy as a concerned town official.

What are the biggest challenges facing your town today?
Many of Clifton's infrastructures, sewage system and streets are old and becoming difficult to maintain. We as elected officials of Arizona cities and towns know how expensive it is to maintain or replace that infrastructure and associated areas. There is always our concern for flooding and that, too, is being reviewed as to what improvements can be done with allotted budgeted funding. With the recent increase of the census count Clifton will be eligible for more federal and state funding that could ease some of these concerns. It will be slow but the future looks a little brighter on the items of concern.

What opportunities do you see for your community?
The annual Labor Day Clifton Hill Climb race was revived this year with the bright outlook of possibly being televised in ensuing years. A new Dollar General Store building is in the construction phase with an opening early in 2016. The town is on track to receive up to $1,000,000 in federal funds for rehabilitation of the Zorrilla Street Bridge, a structure on the National Register of Historic Places and considered one of Arizona's most important vehicular spans.

Freeport McMoRan's Morenci Mine Complex, 4 miles north of Clifton on US191 is the most modern copper mining complexes in the nation. One cannot forget the unique and breathtaking scenery between Clifton and Alpine, Arizona along US191, the Coronado Trail Scenic Byway. "Clifton is where the trail begins" and has been rated a favorite among motorcyclists and driving enthusiasts.

The Town of Clifton invites you to come and explore our town's historical background and to see the uniqueness of Clifton and its surrounding beauty and business opportunities.

What are you most proud of during your time in office?
There are three items to this question since my return in 2010; #1 ~ Completion of the Ward Canyon Road project which had been discussed for as many years that I have been on the council came to a realization this year, this project eased the cleanup on Ward Canyon Road after the yearly monsoon rains. #2 ~ Collaboration with Greenlee County and its economic development office that helped to bring the return of the annual Clifton Hill Climb and a national retailer to Clifton with the potential of more success in the future. #3 ~ My fellow members of the Clifton Town Council working together as a team, dedicated to creating a prosperous community that benefits everyone.

Why is the League important to cities and towns in Arizona?
Arizona cities and towns, more than ever before, are looking for innovative and alternative means to maintain, expand, or enrich constituent services. The League of Arizona Cities and Towns offers every municipality, in a collective effort, to increase information on what issues the cities and towns face, whether those issues are a benefit or a detriment to them. In conjunction, the League offers numerous training seminars for local government officials so the municipality is not running afoul of state laws.
 

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

If you have ideas for this newsletter or encounter difficulty reading this email,
please contact Samantha Womer at swomer@azleague.org with your concerns.