Maricopa’s Director of Public Works runs for Mayor of Casa Grande

People who work jigsaw puzzles know there are several ways to approach them: one is to stick with one color or pattern and work outward from that; another is to stand back, take in the big picture and gradually piece parts together, knowing that each piece is just a small part of the whole.

Bob Jackson is a “big picture” kind of guy.

His attitude no doubt arises from his work, serving for at least 25 years as a civil engineer on projects for Maricopa, Casa Grande, Kearney, Queen Creek, Eloy and other municipalities, while looking to solve problems with buildings, roads, sidewalks, bridges and the rest of the infrastructure that holds communities together and connects them with their neighbors.

What he learned in projects for Maricopa (where he has served as public works director as an independent contractor since incorporation) is that cities – and counties for that matter – can’t operate as islands. “What we do inevitably will affect our neighbors in every direction,” Jackson said.

It’s that belief that has motivated Jackson to join three other candidates in the mayoral race in Casa Grande, where he has lived since 1991.

Maricopa’s Director of Public Work Bob Jackson has thrown his hat into the ring for the position of Mayor of Casa Grande. His platform includes downtown redevelopment, increased involvement in regional issues and economic development.

Jackson said he has seen an attitude of isolation grow in Casa Grande, and he’s concerned that, in the long run, it will hurt his hometown.

“A good example is the Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway project,” he said. “Right now, studies are showing that corridor will be carrying 80 to 100,000 vehicles a day by 2025. State Route 347’s traffic load today is 50,000 vehicles along four lanes, so it’s no surprise that traffic studies call for a six-lane road to replace the present two-lane route on the Maricopa-Casa Grande.”

Jackson said that Casa Grande officials just aren’t responding to the realities of growth and aren’t participating seriously in area-wide conferences on road conditions; an attitude that he feels would cost residents of that city dearly in the end. “There’s kind of a view in Casa Grande that ‘we’re sitting pretty….we have I-10, and it’s the only route we need, and the state and federal government carry the main load of that for us,'” he said.

What distinguishes Jackson’s campaign over his opponents?

“I have three main objectives,” he said.

“One is to see that Casa Grande becomes more involved in regional issues. Another is to instill a sense of priority in the city’s downtown redevelopment district. And I believe the city should adopt a more aggressive stance in economic development so we can attract more good jobs.”

Jackson also favors more cooperation between cities. “We’ve got to think more globally,” he said. “After all, if Casa Grande wins a plant that will hire 500 people, they don’t all necessarily have to live in Casa Grande, and that worksite will help the whole region, not just the city.”

In his first bid for elected office, Jackson is relying on public appearances, signs, brochures and direct mail, all the usual marketing tools, except for radio and television advertising for a community that has virtually no radio or TV outlets.

Bob Jackson for Mayor signs are already in place. Jackson will also rely on public appearances, brochures and direct mail to get his campaign message out.

Casa Grande’s primary election is March 13, and the general election will be held May 15, but if any one candidate polls more than half of the anticipated 6,000 votes in the primary, the primary results will eliminate the need for a runoff in May.

If Jackson becomes mayor of Casa Grande, what will happen to his tenure as Maricopa’s public works director?

“That’s a good question,” he said, “and I’ve broached it with Rick Buss (Maricopa’s city manager) and Mayor Kelly Anderson. There is some potential for a possible conflict of interest, I suppose, but none exists right now,” he said, “so we’ve all agreed to take it as it comes and cross that bridge when and if it happens.”

Casa Grande’s municipal government is structured much like Maricopa’s, with a full-time city manager and a mayor/council form of government setting policy and enacting legislation.

Jackson’s contract calls for him to be on the job in Maricopa for 15 to 20 hours a week, but he often spends 30 hours or more in a job he obviously relishes.

He also once served as chairman of a panel in Casa Grande that created the city’s redevelopment district, allowing for the conversion of Old Main (a former high school) into city hall. Jackson also served as chairman of Against Abuse, Inc. and as vice chairman of the Casa Grande Redevelopment Advisory Committee and offers a long list of other civic and charitable involvements.

A graduate of the University of Nevada at Reno, Jackson is registered as a civil engineer in Arizona, Nevada and California.

He and his wife, Judee, have three grown children.

Photos by Aaron Thacker