Q&A with new Pinal County Manager Louis Andersen

 

[quote_box_right]LOUIS ANDERSEN
Title: Pinal County manager
Hometown: Snoqualmie, Washington
Education: MBA from City University of Seattle
Military: U.S. Air Force
Worked for Pinal County since: 2013
Previous bosses: Seattle Housing Authority, Town of Gilbert[/quote_box_right]Louis Andersen became county manager in October upon the retirement of Greg Stanley. Previously the director of Pinal County’s Public Works Department for six years, Andersen was selected by the Board of Supervisors from three finalists that also included Assistant County Manager Leo Lew and Chris Keller, a chief deputy in the County Attorney’s Office.

Andersen estimates the county will need 15,000 workers in construction manufacturing over the next two years because of pending economic development.

What is your background?

“I was born in Snoqualmie, Washington. Mostly my family worked in the forestry industry. My father transitioned from logging to brick masonry. He also held a G permit (trash-collection permit) for the Snoqualmie Pass areas. My mother was a medical assistant. She lives part-time on Shaw Island in Puget Sound and partly in Bellevue, Washington. My father and two brothers reside in Arizona. My first job was a hod carrier for my father, then joined the Air Force. Following the Air Force, I worked at Seattle Housing for 11 years. My final position was the special service manager, which was Enterprise Operations i.e. Waste Management, Fleet, Hazmat. I moved from the Seattle area to Ellensburg, where I built a 1,300 gala apple tree orchard. In 2003, I moved to Gilbert and was the environmental services manager for the town. In 2013, I accepted the public works director position at Pinal County.”

Why did you want to be county manager?

“We have a good group of elected officials with vision. I also felt the timing was right for my career based on my experience, leadership and knowledge. [I worked] with Mr. Greg Stanley closely for the past six years along with great staff here at the county, assisting our citizens and seeing businesses thrive.”

What is looking up for Pinal County for the next five years?

“The continuation of economic development, manufacturing, jobs and growing our workforce. Plus, building the East-West Roadway Connection from Maricopa to Florence, the North-South Connection and the 24 Extension.”

[pull_quote_center]We want to further develop the Arizona Technology Corridor as well as give continued focus to living-wage jobs.[/pull_quote_center]

What challenges is Pinal County facing?

“Water. Pinal AMA’s (Active Management Area) fifth Management Plan’s effects on growth and our county for both municipal and agricultural use. We have challenges with available private lands, San Tan Valley size and the service needs.”

What are your top three priorities?

“Economic development is a priority. We want to further develop the Arizona Technology Corridor as well as give continued focus to living-wage jobs. We want our citizens to ‘Live, Work and Play’ in Pinal County. I want to continue the collaboration with towns, cities, State Land and Tribal Communities. Also, get to know the staff and departments; get a perspective on services we provide.”

Pinal County cannot currently use funds collected by Prop 417 for road improvements (like State Route 347) because of the Goldwater Institute lawsuit. What is the status of Prop 417?

“We are feeling very positive. We should hear back within six to eight weeks (from mid-October) from the Appellate Courts. We hope then to start building the much-needed roads that our citizens voted for us to do.”

---

This story appears in the November issue of InMaricopa.