By Ken Hedler
The Daily Courier
A group of mayors representing Northern Arizona spoke extensively Friday about restoring financing for state parks and called for repealing a new state law on municipal elections.
“At our last meeting we decided that state parks would be our issue, and so we got together and discussed it,” Cottonwood Mayor Diane Joens, who chairs the Greater Arizona Mayors’ Association, said after the three-hour meeting at Chino Valley Town Hall.
“When you get this many cities’ and towns’ mayors together, it’s a process, and we learn from each other,” Joens said.
However, Joens and Chino Valley Mayor Chris Marley said maintaining local control from inroads by the state Legislature is the overriding theme for the association. GAMA’s mission statement said its role is to advance shared interests, issues and legislation that benefit its member municipalities.
