council w Crane — City Councilmember Eric Goettl, left, with Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., Mayor Nancy Smith and Councilmember Henry Wade in Washington, D.C. last week.

Government

City leaders meet with Washington lawmakers

Mar 12, 2024

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Maricopa Mayor Nancy Smith and City Councilmembers Eric Goettl and Henry Wade flew to Washington, D.C., late last week to push for support on projects crucial for the city’s future, especially State Route 347 improvements.

“Bringing Maricopa’s voice directly to the heart of our nation’s capital is more than advocacy — it’s about making connections, sharing our story, and securing the support Maricopa needs to thrive,” Smith said.

With state funding on the line, city leaders hope to move the needle at the next level, spending time with U.S. Reps. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.).

The meetings were “about painting a vivid picture of the transformative impact these improvements along SR 347 will have on our community,” Goettl said. “We hear time and time again from our community members that something needs to be done, and that is why we are here working to make changes happen.”

Time was spent with the staff of U.S. Sens. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.). The council members also met with staff from both the Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to discuss SR 347, flood control measures around Maricopa and the support needed at the federal level to continue such projects.

The trip was rounded out by meeting with the staff of U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.) and Assistant Secretary for Tribal Government Affairs Arlando Teller. Smith said she is sure the conversations “will bring positive movement to projects around our city and even neighboring areas.”

“We had some very long, but more importantly productive days in D.C.,” Smith said. “We have seen what good these meetings have done for our community in the past, so I am excited to see what they continue to do for our community moving forward.”

In recent years, the city secured federal funding support for a pedestrian bridge to help re-energize the Heritage District, an aquifer recharge project and a plan to expand waterline infrastructure to serve the west side of the city, the mayor said.