Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke was recently elected as the next one-year chair of the Maricopa Association of Governments Regional Council during the agency’s annual meeting.

As the agency’s new chair, Hartke said his highest priority is to ensure that MAG is ready to implement a suite of transportation projects if Maricopa County voters approve the extension of the dedicated half-cent sales tax for transportation — known as Proposition 479 — in the Nov. 5 election.

Hartke served as the council’s vice chair this past year, while Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego served as chair.

“My priority will be to ensure that MAG has our toes in the starting blocks, so that if transportation funding is approved, we will be ready to sprint forward with the implementation of the regional strategic transportation infrastructure investment plan,” Hartke said during a passing-of-the-gavel ceremony, according to a news release.

Hartke, in the release, said the plan was developed with the input of MAG’s 32 member agencies — large to small, rural to urban, Wickenburg to Apache Junction, Cave Creek to the Gila River Indian Community.

The plan was unanimously approved.

“Growth means more strain on our transportation system, slowing down our commutes and our everyday lives,” Hartke said. “What benefits one area of the Valley benefits all, because vehicles and people don’t stop at city boundaries. It is a seamless, connected system.”

Hartke also vowed to focus on other important efforts to the region, such as working with other western states to address ozone pollution.

“MAG will continue its critical air quality planning and modeling work to develop and submit a plan that meets EPA standards,” stated Hartke.

Additional areas of focus for the new chair will be increasing electric vehicle infrastructure and programs that protect vulnerable residents, such as the continued partnership in the Heat Relief Network to provide resources during extreme summer heat and in the area of homelessness.

El Mirage Mayor Alexis Hermosillo was elected to serve as MAG vice chair and Buckeye Mayor Eric Orsborn as treasurer.

Those selected to serve as at-large members on the Regional Council are Gilbert Mayor Brigette Peterson, Mesa Mayor John Giles, and Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers.

Gallego will move into the position of past chair.

The Regional Council is a 32-member board that serves as the governing and policy-making body for MAG.

Other newly elected officers for the agency include Phoenix City Manager Jeff Barton, who will serve as chair of the MAG Management Committee, while Glendale City Manager Kevin Phelps will serve 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 MAG Regional Council.

Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley will serve as chair of the Transportation Policy Committee, with Weiers as the vice chair. The TPC is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of the regional strategic transportation infrastructure investment to plan and guide transportation planning in the region.

All newly elected officers will serve a one-year term.

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