City Election 2008 Candidate Profile Series: Michael Godsey

As part of inmaricopa.com’s in-depth city election coverage we will be running candidate profiles each week in no particular order between now and the primary election in March. This is the second in a series.

Name: Michael Godsey

Position desired: Mayor

Family: Married to Deanna Godsey with two children, Michael, 12, and Morgan Leigh, 13.

Why you moved to Maricopa: Affordable housing and the small town atmosphere. I believe in keeping our small town atmosphere, but promoting the growth we need to become self-sufficient and successful.

Neighborhood or subdivision: Tortosa.

How long in Maricopa: Since May 2006.

Prior political office(s): I have not previously held a political office.

Community service: I have been an active member of several political-action committees. One committee I was very active in was based in Florida where myself and members of the Fire Protection and Safety Industry successfully lobbied for the requirement of safety alarms on homes with swimming pools. This requirement was adopted into law in the state of Florida and has saved countless children from the senseless accidental drownings that occur every year. I am a firm believer that action is far more effective than politics.

I am an assistant scoutmaster with the Maricopa Boy Scout Troop 993, in which my son is a member. Myself and many other scout volunteers work diligently at local events such as; Founders Day (selling hot dogs and assisting the city with clean-up efforts the following day), Stagecoach Days, and virtually all community events.

Occupation: I currently work as a convention planner for one of the largest exposition and trade show companies in the country. Strategic planning and very careful coordination with up to thousands of businesses and individuals are essential to produce a successful event for our clients. I have stated that if elected I will resign my current position and dedicate my time to the citizens of Maricopa as a full-time mayor. Because I believe that it will take a full-time commitment to get the job done. And, no, that doesnt mean I want more money to do so.

Vision statement: My vision is to make Maricopa into a city that meets the needs of our citizens, because growth and change are inevitable and it is up to the next Mayor and Council to recognize that Maricopa is now a diverse city and the needs of our citizens as a whole are also diverse with most of those needs not being met. Most of our current issues; gangs, education, economic growth, fiscal responsibility, and transportation are all very closely related to each other and if we fail with just one, then the others will fail as well.

Where to learn more: www.GodseyForMayor.com.

For a collection of our previous and continuing election coverage please visit our elections page.

Photo by RuthAnn Hogue