League of Arizona Cities and Towns
Encyclopedia
League of Arizona Cities and Towns is a municipal league that provides an important link among the ninety incorporated cities and towns in Arizona. The League is the only organization that connects each and every municipality regardless of size or geographic location. The League represents the collective interests of cities and towns at the State Legislature, provides timely information on important municipal issues, creates skill-sharpening workshops and develops networking opportunities.
The issue prompting the formation of the League was the Arizona Legislature
's reluctance to allow elected city and town officials reasonable discretion in making decisions about their communities. The League's formation was the first step in gaining city and town access to the State legislative process.
But the establishment of the League did not gain immediate acceptance by the State Legislature. There were some "hard times" when the League had to prove itself as an organization.
In 1942, a League-sponsored initiative was passed by the people of the State, securing a 10 percent share of the State sales tax for cities and towns. This successful initiative was met with disapproval by State legislators. A lawsuit was filed, questioning the legitimacy of the League. The Arizona Supreme Court
ruled that it was unconstitutional for cities and towns to support the League through payment of dues.
The ruling was a serious financial blow to the League. However, a number of mayors throughout Arizona believed that the League was such an important part of local government that they funded the organization out of their own pockets for six years until the Supreme Court reversed its decision.
In the meantime, the League sponsored initiatives that resulted in shares of the state gas tax and the state income tax being returned to cities and towns, along with an increased share of state sales tax These initiative drives, backed by the type of determination demonstrated by mayors and councilmembers who themselves funded the League, have made the League a political force representing viable local government.
League activities are directed by a 25-member Executive Committee, consisting of mayors and councilmembers from across the State of Arizona.
Committee officers are elected to two-year terms. Committee members are elected to one- or two-year overlapping terms. Members and officers of the Executive Committee are determined by all League members at the League's Annual Conference through a process coordinated by a Nominating Committee.
The current President of the League's Executive Committee is Mayor Boyd Dunn, City of Chandler.
History
The League of Arizona Cities and Towns was formed in 1937 as the Arizona Municipal League, with a guiding principle that remains the modern League's primary mission - home rule and local determination. In short, home rule and local determination are the beliefs that local decisions are best made by local decision makers and not by officials at some other level of government.The issue prompting the formation of the League was the Arizona Legislature
Arizona Legislature
The Arizona Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Arizona. It is a bicameral legislature that consists of a lower house, the House of Representatives, and an upper house, the Senate. There are 60 Representatives and 30 Senators...
's reluctance to allow elected city and town officials reasonable discretion in making decisions about their communities. The League's formation was the first step in gaining city and town access to the State legislative process.
But the establishment of the League did not gain immediate acceptance by the State Legislature. There were some "hard times" when the League had to prove itself as an organization.
In 1942, a League-sponsored initiative was passed by the people of the State, securing a 10 percent share of the State sales tax for cities and towns. This successful initiative was met with disapproval by State legislators. A lawsuit was filed, questioning the legitimacy of the League. The Arizona Supreme Court
Arizona Supreme Court
The Arizona Supreme Court is the state supreme court of the U.S. state of Arizona. It consists of a Chief Justice, a Vice Chief Justice, and three associate justices. Each justice is appointed by the governor of Arizona from a list recommended by a bipartisan commission. Justices stand for...
ruled that it was unconstitutional for cities and towns to support the League through payment of dues.
The ruling was a serious financial blow to the League. However, a number of mayors throughout Arizona believed that the League was such an important part of local government that they funded the organization out of their own pockets for six years until the Supreme Court reversed its decision.
In the meantime, the League sponsored initiatives that resulted in shares of the state gas tax and the state income tax being returned to cities and towns, along with an increased share of state sales tax These initiative drives, backed by the type of determination demonstrated by mayors and councilmembers who themselves funded the League, have made the League a political force representing viable local government.
Leadership
| Committee Members |
|---|
| Marie Lopez Rogers, Mayor of Avondale Avondale, Arizona Avondale is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, adjacent to Phoenix, Arizona. According to 2010 Census Bureau, the population of the city is 76,238.Avondale is the home of Phoenix International Raceway, an auto racing facility... |
| Gilbert Lopez, Councilmember of Coolidge Coolidge, Arizona Coolidge is a city in Pinal County, Arizona, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 8,154.Arizona Highway 87 and Arizona Highway 287 pass through the town. Coolidge is 56 miles southeast of Phoenix, and 69 miles northwest of Tucson. It is 21 miles... |
| Byron Jackson, Mayor of Eloy Eloy, Arizona Eloy is a city in Pinal County, Arizona, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 10,855.-Geography:... |
| Joe Donaldson, Mayor of Flagstaff Flagstaff, Arizona Flagstaff is a city located in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States. In 2010, the city's population was 65,870. The population of the Metropolitan Statistical Area was at 134,421 in 2010. It is the county seat of Coconino County... |
| Steven Berman Steven M. Berman Steven M. Berman is a past mayor of the Town of Gilbert, Arizona. Mayor Berman is an Arizona native and has lived in Gilbert since 1981. He is a former captain in the United States Army and holds a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University. He owns a business that sells cell phones and... , Mayor of Gilbert Gilbert, Arizona -Demographics:As of July 1, 2009, Maricopa Association of Governments, Census 2000. United States Census Bureau. there were 217,521 people, 74,147 housing units, and 3.01 persons per household.... |
| Elaine M. Scruggs, Mayor of Glendale Glendale, Arizona Glendale is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, located about nine miles northwest from Downtown Phoenix. According to 2010 Census Bureau, the population of the city is 226,721.... |
| Stanley M. Gibson, Mayor of Globe Globe, Arizona Globe has an arid climate, characterized by hot summers and moderate to warm winters. Globe's arid climate is somewhat tempered by its elevation, however, leading to slightly cooler temperatures and slightly more precipitation than Phoenix or Yuma.... |
| Jim Cavanaugh, Mayor of Goodyear Goodyear, Arizona Goodyear is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 65,275... |
| Claudia Walters, Vice Mayor of Mesa Mesa, Arizona According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%... |
| Paul Loomis, Mayor of Oro Valley Oro Valley, Arizona Oro Valley, incorporated in 1974, is a suburban town located north of Tucson, Arizona, USA in Pima County. According to a July 2008 estimate, the population of the town is 43,223, an increase from 29,700 in 2000 Oro Valley, incorporated in 1974, is a suburban town located north of Tucson,... |
| Greg Stanton, Councilmember of Phoenix Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data... |
| Rowle Simmons, Mayor of Prescott Prescott, Arizona Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It was designated "Arizona's Christmas City" by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford in the late 1980s.... |
| Verlyn Michel, Mayor of Quartzsite Quartzsite, Arizona Quartzsite is a town in La Paz County, Arizona, United States. According to Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town was 3,397 in 2006.Interstate 10 runs directly through Quartzsite. It is at the intersection of U.S... |
| Mary Manross Mary Manross Mary Manross is the former Democratic mayor of Scottsdale, Arizona. First elected in June 2000, she served two terms and lost her candidacy for her third term as mayor in the November 2008 runoff mayoral election to her opponent, former Certified Public Accountant and businessman and former city... , Mayor of Scottsdale Scottsdale, Arizona Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385... |
| Gerry Whipple, Councilmember of Show Low Show Low, Arizona Winters in Show Low bring highs between 45°F and 55°F , with lows usually below freezing between November and March, averaging in the 20s December through February, and in the low 30s for November and March.... |
| Mark Mitchell, Councilmember of Tempe Tempe, Arizona Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale... |
| Bob Rivera, Mayor of Thatcher Thatcher, Arizona Thatcher is a town in Graham County, Arizona, United States. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the town is 4,865. It is part of the Safford Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Thatcher is located at .... |
| Robert E. Walkup, Mayor of Tucson Tucson, Arizona Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200... |
| Ken Edes, Mayor of Williams Williams, Arizona Williams is a city in Coconino County, Arizona, United States west of Flagstaff. Its population was 2,842 at the 2000 census; according to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 3,094. It lies on the route of Historic Route 66, Interstate 40, and the Southwest Chief Amtrak... |
| Larry Nelson, Mayor of Yuma Yuma, Arizona Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. It is located in the southwestern corner of the state, and the population of the city was 77,515 at the 2000 census, with a 2008 Census Bureau estimated population of 90,041.... |
League activities are directed by a 25-member Executive Committee, consisting of mayors and councilmembers from across the State of Arizona.
Committee officers are elected to two-year terms. Committee members are elected to one- or two-year overlapping terms. Members and officers of the Executive Committee are determined by all League members at the League's Annual Conference through a process coordinated by a Nominating Committee.
The current President of the League's Executive Committee is Mayor Boyd Dunn, City of Chandler.