Queen Creek Mayor Wheatley elected to MAG committee

Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley will serve as the vice chair of the Maricopa Association of Governments’ transportation policy committee.

Wheatley was elected to the position during MAG’s annual regional council meeting on Wednesday. The transportation committee is responsible for overseeing the development of the group’s 20-year Regional Transportation Plan and to guide transportation planning in the region, according to a press release.

Buckeye Mayor Eric Orsborn will serve as chair of the transportation policy committee. All newly elected officers will serve a one-year term.

At the meeting, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego was elected as chair of the MAG regional council. Gallego said the extension of Proposition 400 will be her top priority.

“Our most pressing priority is to give voters the power to shape their transportation future through the extension of Proposition 400. The regional strategic transportation infrastructure investment plan is critical to propelling our region forward and to our continued prosperity,” said Gallego stated in a press release. “We are confident that if provided the opportunity, voters will weigh in and support our transportation plan and that our region will continue to enjoy the benefits of a safe and reliable transportation system.”

Gallego also said she will focus on other regional efforts, such as ozone pollution and protecting the region’s most vulnerable citizens.

“This includes our work in addressing homelessness and coordinating the regional heat-relief network to provide shade, water and cooling resources for those at risk due to extreme temperatures. We continue our work with the age-friendly network, our regional domestic violence council and providing human services transportation resources,” Gallego said during the annual meeting.

Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke was elected to serve as MAG vice chair. El Mirage Mayor Alexis Hermosillo will serve as treasurer.  Avondale Mayor Kenneth Weise will move into the position of past chair.

Selected to serve as at-large members are Orsborn, Gilbert Mayor Brigette Peterson and Mesa Mayor John Giles. The MAG’s regional council is a 32-member board that serves as the governing and policy-making body for the association.       

Other newly elected officers include Mesa City Manager Chris Brady as chair of the MAG management committee, with Phoenix City Manager Jeff Barton serving as the vice chair. The management committee is responsible for receiving input from MAG technical committees, analyzing the technical and policy implications and providing recommendations to the regional council.