Maricopa County District 4 Supervisor Clint Hickman was elected unanimously this week as the new Chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors for 2016.
“Our focus needs to be on local firms and local residents,” said Hickman. “We need to make it easier for local businesses to work in and with Maricopa County by better educating them about our own procurement processes. These are the men and women who earn their wages and invest their money in Maricopa County and create the vast majority of new jobs. “And, over the next year, I want to wean ourselves off general fund dollars and work with the County’s Industrial Development Authority on exploring and partnering to spur job growth,” said Hickman.
Hickman also plans to work with the State to reduce cost-shifts. “When the Arizona economy collapsed in FY 2008, Maricopa County came to the table and worked with State leaders to help ease the burden for all Arizonans,” said Hickman. “We negotiated with both House and Senate leadership and helped the State dig out of a $3 billion deficit during a period of dire need. But that monetary support was never intended to be permanent.”
Hickman commended immediate past chair, District 2 Supervisor Steve Chucri, on a number of wins for the County during his term, including personnel reform.
Hickman, a Republican, now leads the five-member board of four Republicans and one Democrat. On the board, he represents District 4, which serves Avondale, Buckeye, Circle City, El Mirage, Glendale, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Morristown, Peoria, Sun City, Sun City Grand, Sun City West, Surprise, Wickenburg, Wittmann, and Youngtown.