(Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents Pinal Partnership.)
By Noah Cullen | Pinal Partnership
Craig McFarland, former Casa Grande mayor and current president and CEO of Pinal Partnership, spoke to Arizona City residents and business owners about lobbying the Arizona Legislature, transportation and growth.
Now out of government but still filling a leading public service role, McFarland spoke frankly to a crowd of Arizona City residents at a luncheon hosted by the Arizona City Chamber of Commerce at First Baptist Church.
Before getting into his new role and work with Pinal Partnership, a nonprofit and “economic engine for the county” as he described, he addressed the question floating silently around the room.
“I get asked the question a lot, ‘do I miss being mayor,’” he said. “Yes, certain parts I miss but some of it I don’t – I don’t miss the 300 emails a day with half of them being from people who are unhappy with something.” He doesn’t miss the countless board and committee meetings.
His successor, Lisa Navarro Fitzgibbons, was elected mayor of Casa Grande in July of 2024 and took office in December.
McFarland is not new to the organization, as he served on the board while he was mayor, the position he held from 2016-2024. His time as mayor was up and coincidentally at a board meeting around the same time in late 2024, former Pinal Partnership President and CEO Tony Smith said he would retire. The 26 other board members blinked, and collectively pinned McFarland with their pupils, inquiring “so, what’re you doing?”
