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AZCap Newsletter
Fall 1999
Page 3
SPOTLIGHT
ON LOCAL LEADERS
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Spotlight #13: MARK SCHNEPF
Mark Schnepf, mayor of Queen Creek and president of
the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, has had the
unique experience of working toward the incorporation
of a new municipality and then becoming
its first mayor! 1999 year marks the
10th anniversary of Queen Creek and Mayor
Schnepf's service. Indeed, the evolution of
both the town and his role as chief executive
make an interesting story. Discussions of
corporation began in the mid-1970s but
when Mesa and Gilbert began waging annexation wars
10 years later, they turned serious.
The impetus, of course, was control over
land use, with incorporation as a defensive
response. The measure was approved 2-1,
and the Maricopa County Board of
Supervisors appointed Mark as mayor. Those early
days were exciting-starting the first parks and
recreation programs, making improvements to streets, but
an influx of new residents in the last two years has
changed the civic dialogue and tone of governing.
With population growth, issues have become more
complicated, and Marks role has evolved from one of
traditional leadership to that of building consensus
and resolving conflicts. The newcomers, he finds, are
much more involved in civic matters and want more
information.
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Mark's first foray into politics began in the mid-1980s
when he served on the Maricopa County Planning
and Zoning Commission. That experience, however,
didn't prepare him for what became the most challenging
of his political career: serving as chairman of a
landfill siting committee. Reminisces Mark, "I entered this process
full of great optimism that I could do it,
but instead I got a lesson in political
reality when we encountered jurisdictional
animosities and resident opposition. Six hundred
people would attend meetings just to lynch me!" In contrast,
Marks greatest satisfaction comes from
seeing his four children, ages 5 months
to 5 years, participating in Queen
Creek's new recreational programs, and
sharing their enjoyment, with the other parents.
Mark's mayoral style is reflected in all aspects of town
government: balance between public and private
interests, respect for citizens, customer service,
consensus, and civility. AzCAP salutes Mark Schnepf for
his 10 years as mayor and his contribution to the
professionalism of Arizona cities and towns.
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AzCAP on Wheels...
Tanis Salant gave a workshop on "County Charter Government
in the West" at NACo's Western Interstate Region conference
in Concord, California in May. She also attended ACCMA's
summer meeting in Tucson. Carol Whittaker and Tanis both
attended AACo's conference in Scottsdale in June as well
as September's League of' Arizona Cities and Towns conference
in Oro Valley. Professional outreach also included September's
ICMA conference in Portland.
AzCAP Projects
Tanis Salant gave a presentation on documenting the fiscal
impacts of criminal illegal immigrants to the U.S./Mexico Border
Counties Coalition in Las Cruces in June. She also led workshops
for the International Association of County Treasurers and the
International Association of County Recorders at IACREOT's annual
summer conference in Scottsdale. Committee work includes the
Pima County Property Tax and State Revenue Reform Committee, the
City of Tucson Court Reform Task Force, and the Pima County Juvenile
Drug Court Steering Committee. Project Arizona Civic Education
piloted "Arizona Counties, Cities and Towns" in eighth-grade
classrooms and is partnering with the Arizona Bar Foundation's
"Project Citizen."
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