We got a new mayor y’all! Her name (YUP, Maricopa’s first female mayor) Nancy Smith and she will serve as Maricopa’s new mayor for the next two years.

There was a large crowd gathered last night (Tuesday). In attendance were former Mayor Christian Price, various Council Members and even Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb. They were in attendance to oversee the City Council choose a replacement for Christian Price.

The entire council agreed that it would be Nancy Smith, who becomes Maricopa’s fifth official mayor and the first woman to hold the post. Something for the history books.

Vice Mayor Vincent Manfredi was acting mayor since July 1st, since then mayor Christian Price started his new role as president and CEO at the Maricopa Economic Development Alliance.

While some expressed distress to the appointment and no official election, former mayor Chrisitan Price pointed out on social media that this was the process:

Maricopa Has A New Mayor

Smith was also credited for assisting in the recent redistricting of the Board of Supervisors, educating the community on the process and stages of the decision making, resulting in a win for Maricopa with no splitting of the city. This has bolstered support for Smith in Maricopa.

“She’s Crazy…”

Rich Vitiello, a Maricopa Council Member, said he supports her as the new mayor and believes she did a good job as vice mayor along with the others who’ve been in that position.

Vitiello is quoted as saying: “I’m going to put my support behind Nancy Smith to lead this city for the next two years and if she thinks about going for four more after that. She’s crazy, but I would support her on that too.”

HA, “she’s crazy”, now maybe THAT’S what Maricopa needs, ‘CRAZY”……

City Clerk Vanessa Bueras swore in Smith, with her large family standing up front around her during the ceremony. Smith’s husband Anthony Smith, served as Maricopa’s mayor from 2008 to 2012. He was proudly by her side and was smiling during the swearing-in ceremony.

Smith said she’s “honored” her fellow council members trusted her with the mayor position.

“It has been my privilege to serve as a council member, a position for which I have immense respect, and I look forward to continuing to serve alongside of my colleagues moving forward,” she said. “Likewise, I share an enormous respect for the office of mayor and will serve in this role with the same high level of energy and attention.”

Smith acknowledged she & Price had many differences — one thing being she’s not “nearly as tall” — TOO FUNNY. On a serious note, she stated that she believes she’ll bring a “unique perspective and style” to the role of mayor. She indicate Price and Smith have, “the same passion of seeing Maricopa thrive”.

Maricopa Has A New Mayor

Smith said she’s had a passion for Maricopa since moving to the city 19 years ago. “I have seen Maricopa grow from its roots of a small, historic town to the growing and flourishing city we know today,” she said.

One of her main goal is TRANSPORTATION:

She indicated she will work “endlessly” to improve transportation — and has what she calls a “laser focus” on the issue of traffic on State Route 347. As well as the growing economic strength with businesses that residents need, also bringing high-paying jobs, having a “balanced” and “responsible” budget, “ensuring” public safety, insisting on high life quality and lowering property taxes.

“I believe our entire City Council is aligned in desiring all of these elements as well,” Smith said. “In the spirit of always moving Maricopa forward, I’ve created a 100 Day Plan that I will share in the near future.”

“I’ve been asked several times what it feels like to be the first woman mayor in the city of Maricopa,” Smith said. “Being a female mayor really doesn’t change anything regarding the work we do. However, if this role brings hope to a young woman that she can accomplish great things, then I am humbled and honored to be that role model.”

She feels honored to have been considered a role model twice before. She was also the very first woman to graduate with an electronic technology degree from her college and ALSO very the first woman to be hired as an electronic technician by the Motorola Government Electronics Division. Both very notable firsts.

So, let’s all welcome our new mayor, Mayor Nancy Smith.