Mesa mayor talks with family about running for governor
Dec 26, 2013, 8:23 AM | Updated: 8:23 am
MESA, Ariz. — An East Valley political leader has a big decision to make.
Mesa Mayor Scott Smith is spending the holidays talking with his family about whether to run for governor.
Smith said he’s talking with them “because this is a big change. I did not get into politics to climb the ladder. I ran for mayor, coming straight from the business world, because I wanted to change Mesa.”
Although, now might be an inconvenient time to run for mayor.
“Things are going really well in Mesa, and I am involved on a national level with my U.S. Conference of Mayors Presidency,” Smith said. “With the resign to run law, I would have to resign as Mayor of Mesa. That’s a tough decision.”
On the other hand, Smith thinks 2014 might be the right to run for governor because it’s an election year and Arizona is at a crossroads.
“The next governor will probably face an improving economy,” Smith said. “(He or she) will face some incredible challenges as to what to do with the state in that economy. Not only from state expenditures, but building a state that’s competitive in a global economy.”
The mayor will announce his decision on whether to run sometime after the beginning of the new year.
