Gov. Napolitano brings message to Pinal Partnership

Saying that the packed house was a reflection of all the issues Pinal County is facing, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano addressed members of the Pinal Partnership Thursday afternoon in Casa Grande.

Napolitano, who was re-elected in 2006, talked about a variety of items of interest to the attendees, including the three challenges she laid out in last year’s State of the State address. Napolitano touched on education, economic development and growth.

The governor noted that the state must be diversified with its economy, not just relying on one or two areas to carry things. She added that with residential housing construction on the decline, jobs need to be found for those who are currently out of work.

Napolitano continued that Arizona has to make sure it has not just growth, but quality growth.

“You (Pinal County) are the epicenter of growth,” Napolitano remarked. Napolitano noted that according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Arizona currently has a population of 6.2 million people, but the projection is that the state will hold more than 12 million people by 2030. “Population growth means enormous infrastructure needs,” Napolitano added.

In 2006 Napolitano formed a Growth Cabinet, a group that includes the directors of agencies dealing with growth-related issues. Since that time, Napolitano expanded the scope of the Growth Cabinet. According to Napolitano, it is the job of cabinet members to see to it that all agencies of state government work together on critical growth issues. Napolitano added that cabinet members will meet with officials in Pinal County to assess the county’s needs.

One need that is obvious to most is transportation.

Napolitano addressed the issue of transportation, noting, “Transportation is not an easy issue when you grow as fast as we are,” Napolitano said. She believes that transportation doesn’t end with roads. “I’ve asked the Growth Cabinet to look at transit as opposed to transportation,” Napolitano said. “We need to look at rail.”

Napolitano also touched on the state’s water needs and what the future may hold.

“We manage it (water) well, but we have to be more creative than we already have been,” Napolitano commented. She said three keys include fighting for the state’s share of water from the Colorado River, the necessity to make the best use of the current water supply and the need to think about open space and trust land.

In closing before taking questions, Napolitano spoke glowingly of the state and its potential. “We have a wonderful future ahead of us,” Napolitano remarked.

Before departing, Napolitano took a few questions from the audience. One attendee asked why college tuition has more than tripled statewide in recent years.

“In the ’90s, we didn’t go up (price) at all,” Napolitano said. “We’re now seeing kids playing catch up. Overall, though, we’re in the bottom third in the country as far as tuitions.”

Maricopa Councilman Ed Farrell spoke briefly before the governor’s visit as local officials gave an update on how their respective cities are doing.

“The honeymoon is over,” Farrell said, referring to life in Maricopa for city officials. Farrell noted the transportation issues that Maricopa faces, remarking that the city is on an island. “We need to be a self-sustaining city, and we need to create jobs in Maricopa,” Farrell said. “That will help out our transportation problem.”

Napolitano said transportation issues in general in Pinal County are high on the list of the state’s projects.

“Because Pinal County is growing so rapidly, we are playing catch up here,” Napolitano said. “Work is being done as rapidly as it can be done.”

Photo by Aaron Thacker