By Teri Carnicelli

    The City Council last month saw another one of its members tapped for a higher office as Maria Baier, councilwoman for District 3, answered the call of Gov. Jan Brewer. As of press time, the City Council was scheduled to appoint her replacement at a June 30 policy meeting.

    Baier, who was elected to her first term in 2007, last month was asked by Gov. Brewer to take over as head of Arizona State Land Department, replacing former Commissioner Mark Winkleman, who resigned recently. Baier is particularly suited for this job, having previously spent 10 years on the executive staff of the Office of the Governor, serving two administrations. She served as senior policy advisor in the areas of natural resources, growth and development, environmental quality and criminal justice.

 

She also previously was a member of the Governor’s Growing Smarter Oversight Council, and additionally served on several boards and commissions dedicated to public lands, including: the Trust for Public Land Arizona Advisory Board; the National Board of The Conservation Campaign; the Agricultural Protection Commission, and the Conservation Acquisition Board.

    Baier accepted the position of Arizona State Land Commissioner and resigned her council seat on June 17, with mixed emotions. On the one hand, land preservation and environmental issues have long been a passion of hers. On the other, she had come to greatly love the District 3 community, in which she also resides.

    District 3 cuts a wide swath across the northern portion of the city, stretching from the Black Canyon Freeway on the west, to 64th Street at its easternmost boundary. To the north, Bell and Greenway roads bound the district, with Northern Avenue serving as the southern cutoff.

    “It was the greatest privilege of my life to have served the residents in District 3,” Baier said. “They are kindhearted, constructive and positive, beyond my wildest imagination.

“I’m honored to become a member of Gov. Brewer’s Cabinet and continue working as a public servant [but] I’m saddened to leave my position with the city,” she added.

    The State Land Commissioner oversees the Arizona State Land Department, which is responsible for managing over nine million acres of land across the state, much of it surrounding urban areas. The land is actually held in trust, and money made from sales and leases of it goes to fund public schools and other public institutions.

    “It is truly an honor that Gov. Brewer invited me to serve as her Land Commissioner, and I am going to work hard at this important job where so much can be done to help citizens across the state, especially schoolkids,” Baier said. “I look forward to the new challenges and will continue to work hard to improve the quality of life for residents statewide.”

    Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon noted that, “While I’ve worked with Maria Baier the least amount of time on the council, she quickly and clearly became one of our council’s brightest stars, I commend the governor for an outstanding selection to help lead our state and am sure she will leave a legacy we can all take pride in.”

    It’s the second time this year the Phoenix mayor had to say goodbye to one of his fellow council members. In February, Greg Stanton, councilman for District 6, was asked by Attorney General Terry Goddard to join his team as deputy attorney general for Legislative Affairs & Strategic Planning. Stanton, who holds a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School, accepted the offer, and the City Council appointed Sal DiCiccio to replace him until this September’s city election. DiCiccio is an incumbent in that election, facing three challengers.

    Under the Phoenix City Charter, the City Council must call a special election to fill Baier’s vacancy and must appoint an interim council member until the special election is held. More details on this can be obtained through the www.phoenix.gov Web site.

    Individuals interested in seeking more information about the District 3 seat should contact the City Clerk Department at 602-262-6837.