Parks and Rec committee gets four new members

When Roberta Cianciosi arrived at Tuesday’s city council meeting, she was expecting to receive a certificate of completion from the city’s second Citizens Academy. Cianciosi, along with about 20 others learned about various aspects of city government in the academy, and a third one is planned for spring.

Cianciosi was surprised to learn that the four vacant seats on the Parks, Recreation and Libraries (PRL) advisory committee were also being filled that evening. “Wow, I guess this is a big night for me,” said Cianciosi, one of the applicants.

Four Maricopa residents applied for the four open seats, and all were approved by council. Council member Marquisha Griffin, the PRL committee liaison, nominated Cianciosi, Terri Kingery, Richard Reeves and Jimmy Tonthat. “Each applicant will bring balance to the committee,” said Griffin.

Cianciosi is a preschool teacher at Tutor Time and has been a Maricopa resident for three years. “I am a strong advocate for literacy, and I want the city of Maricopa to have one of the best state-of-the-art facilities in Arizona. I want to be on this committee to help make it a reality,” she said in her application.

Terri Kingery is the Executive Director of the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce. She has lived in Maricopa for four years. “I feel that I can provide input from a community level since I see and talk to a broad range of residents on a daily basis,” Kingery noted. “Parks are a vital part of building a vibrant community,” she added.

Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission Richard Reeves has also been in Maricopa for four years. In his application he said, “I would like to continue my involvement with the city and help the city grow in a way that benefits all citizens.”

Jimmy Tonthat came to this country 20 years ago as a Vietnamese refugee. He has been a civil engineer for eight years. “I know how important it is as a citizen of a great nation to serve the community I live in,” Tonthat said in his application. He added that he believes the city needs to provide more parks and recreational facilities for residents of all ages in environments that are both safe and unique.

The four new members join Joe Griffin, Camarino Lopez and Nancy McTighe on the committee.

Photo by Joyce Hollis