Queen Creek Mayor Gail Barney was posthumously honored with the 2022 Distinguished Public Official Award from the American Planning Association, Arizona Chapter. Barney was recognized for his commitment to service, the community and partnerships.

“It is an honor for our family to receive this award on behalf of my dad, Gail Barney, particularly – my mom, Pam Barney, and siblings, Heather and Greg,” stated Gail Barney’s son, Jeff, in a press release. “Dad loved the Queen Creek community and spent many years working to ensure its success and the success of the region. It is humbling to hear how his leadership and dedication will leave a legacy on the community that was so dear to him. We are so appreciative of this distinct honor.”

Gail Barney was nearly a lifelong resident of Queen Creek, with his parents moving from Safford in 1948 when he was just six months old. He grew up on his family farm and continued to farm in Queen Creek for many years, which is how he got involved in local government.

Barney often shared he was having trouble crossing Germann Road on his tractor, so he got involved and never looked back. He served on the Queen Creek Planning & Zoning Commission from 1998 to 2002, when he was appointed to fill a vacancy on the town council. He served as a council member until he was elected mayor in 2010 and was still serving in that capacity when he died on June 22. He was 74.

During his 25 years in local government, Barney was involved in many of the town’s milestones, many of which were related to the planning of the community. He contributed to two zoning ordinance updates, four general plan updates, countless development applications, master planning efforts, and policy decisions.

From opening Ellsworth Loop, to starting a fire department and providing municipal water services, Barney assisted the council with strategic decisions that helped propel the community forward. Under his leadership as mayor, the town continued to make strategic advancements – with Queen Creek one of the fastest-growing communities in the nation.

“It is an honor for our family to receive this award on behalf of my Dad, Gail Barney, particularly – my Mom, Pam Barney and siblings Heather and Greg,” shared Jeff Barney. “Dad loved the Queen Creek community and spent many years working to ensure its success and the success of the region. It is humbling to hear how his leadership and dedication will leave a legacy on the community that was so dear to him. We are so appreciative of this distinct honor.”

Mayor Barney was nearly a life-long resident of Queen Creek, moving from Safford Arizona when he was just six months old in 1948. He grew up on his family farm and continued to farm in Queen Creek for many years, which is how he got involved in local government. Mayor Barney often shared he was having trouble crossing Germann Road on his tractor, so he got involved and never looked back. He served on the Queen Creek Planning & Zoning Commission from 1998 to 2002, when he was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Town Council. He served as a council member until he was elected Mayor in 2010 and served in that role until he passed away in June 2022. 

During his 25 years in local government, Mayor Barney was involved in many of the Town’s milestones, many of which were related to the planning of the community.

He contributed to two zoning ordinance updates, four general plan updates, countless development applications, master planning efforts, and policy decisions. From opening Ellsworth Loop, to starting a fire department and providing municipal water services, Mayor Barney assisted the council with strategic decisions that helped propel the community forward. Under his leadership as Mayor, the Town continued to make strategic advancements – with Queen Creek one of the fastest growing communities in the nation.