AZ League Connection

The League's Monthly Online Newsletter

Issue 170: June 2017

Mayor Jose Yepez, City of Somerton

Name, title & city/town: Jose Yepez, Mayor, Somerton

Years served: Mayor Yepez has served on Somerton Council for 16 years; he acted as Mayor in 2005. After two more terms as a councilmember, he became mayor again in 2016.

City of Somerton
Incorporated: 1918
Population: 14,287
Elevation: 103 ft.
County: Yuma
Area within Limits: 5 sq. mi.

Why did you decide to serve in local government?

I wanted to be at the table where the decisions were being made about my home town that I grew up in and love so much. Making sure that my kids and the youth in Somerton had parks and activities to keep them active in a positive and safe manner was very important to me. Being a small business owner at a young age and seeing the struggles that local businesses were facing, made me want to help the efforts in retaining and expanding our local economy. Also, the fact that people told me that I couldn't do it, that I was too young and I didn't have a chance made me just want to work harder for a seat on city council. The first time I ran for city council I ran as a write-in candidate and won against an incumbent. I literally went door to door and taught some of our elders how to write my name in the ballots. 

What are the biggest challenges facing your town today?

I would have to say that attracting sale tax generating businesses is the biggest challenge facing Somerton today. City council and city staff have been working diligently on our infrastructure for the past ten to twelve years. We now have a two-million-gallon water storage capacity, a new waste water treatment plant, almost all our interior roads have been redone completely, a new public safety facility, brand new city hall, and several great parks for our residents. We are also being proactive and have contracted with Buxton to help us in developing a professional package to attract some of those businesses that our residents would like to have in our community. We strive to be THE BEST LITTLE CITY IN ARIZONA. 

What opportunities do you see for your community?

Thanks to the team work with city council, city staff, and our residents Somerton is now poised for great things to come. Somerton is now on the radar of those companies that will bring employment opportunities and generate sales tax. With a new high school in the works we will also be able to have our youth better prepared for the future and be engaged in their community. 

What are you most proud of during your time in office?

Being part of a great team of people that really care about the community they live in, THE SOMERTON TEAM, we all worked hard to make Somerton what it is now. THE FUTURE OF SOMERTON LOOKS BRIGHT and we will continue to work toward being THE BEST LITTLE CITY IN ARIZONA.

Why is the League important to cities and towns in Arizona

For us here in Somerton the League serves as our lobbyist and represents and promotes the interest of all the 91 cities and towns as they meet with our State Legislature. Ken Strobeck and his professional and dedicated staff do a great job of defending our rights to self-govern and safe guard our State Shared Revenues. The City of Somerton has also benefited from the work of the League as they provide to us the information and assistance for our elections and set up various educational venues such as Newly Elected Trainings and our Annual Conference.

 

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