By Gary Nelson | The Arizona Republic
Scott Smith has about nine months to figure out whether he wants to stay on as Mesa’s mayor or plunge into what could be a boisterous race for Arizona governor in 2014.
That’s the timetable he laid out last week during his regular media briefing in his seventh-floor office at Mesa City Plaza
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When asked directly whether he will run for governor, Smith said, “I don’t know yet.”
But it was clear he plans to spend the year dealing not only with a plethora of budget and development issues, but boosting his already considerable national profile.
His ascension in June to the presidency of the U.S. Conference of Mayors will make him the nation’s foremost spokesman on urban issues as he weighs whether to join a probably crowded Republican field in next year’s gubernatorial race.
“I am focused first and foremost on being the mayor of Mesa and also my upcoming term as president of the United States Conference of Mayors,” Smith said.
Related: C-SPAN Cities Tour gives Mesa history, growth a national audience
