Today, we started hearing more about Tempe mayor Mark Mitchell’s plans to take over a position that Tempe councilmember Shana Ellis has been working on for quite some time.
According to an AZCentral article, Mark says that Shana can continue on the Regional Public Transportation Authority board but he would like to replace her on the Metro light-rail board.
Diana Nunez reported today that:
“Mitchell said that he made a campaign promise to voters to serve as a regional leader. He suggested that service on the Metro board, which establishes policies for and has oversight of the light-rail agency, would fulfill that promise.”
Really? Sitting on this board fulfills a promise of being a regional leader? Doesn’t leadership take more than sitting on some self appointed board of directors? I hope there is more to it than that.
Shana is currently on the board of directors and, from what I can tell, has done a fine job. Over the past several years, I have seen Shana at many light rail related events and have listened to her speak of transit issues in Tempe, in Phoenix and in Mesa.
Shana has policy experience from serving on the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Transportation Policy Committee (TPC) and the National League of Cities Transportation Infrastructure and Services Policy and Advocacy Committees. Hopefully, Mark is as well qualified
As the city council determines what to do next, I have a feeling that we will be hearing more of this in the near future.
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