Mayor Elaine Scruggs is the recipient of the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award for regional planning in Maricopa County.
Scruggs received the award from the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) during its recently held 2012 Desert Peaks Awards ceremony in recognition for her 22 years of service exemplifying regional cooperation.
“It has been my joy and honor to serve on the MAG Regional Council and various MAG committees as we collaborated to create a Valleywide freeway system, plan for the expansion of airports and airport amenities, develop air quality measures and address human services needs,” said Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs. “Working with elected officials from every city in Maricopa County and the county itself has been one of the best parts of my public service. Supporting our efforts to address current and long-range concerns that affect all Valley cities have been the talented and dedicated MAG staff members under the leadership of Executive Director Dennis Smith. I am overwhelmed by this award and want to thank all I have worked alongside during these remarkable 22 years of progress and regional partnership.”
Since becoming mayor in 1993, Scruggs has held leadership positions on numerous regional organizations and committees. She has been a member of the MAG Regional Council since 1993 and served as chair of MAG from 1997-1998. Mayor Elaine Scruggs is a charter member and current member of the MAG Transportation Policy Committee, which she chaired from 2004-2006.
She also served on the MAG Executive Committee, Transportation Subcommittee and Regional Aviation System Plan Policy Committee. In addition, she is a current member of the MAG Economic Development Committee.
In his remarks while presenting the award to Scruggs, MAG Chair and Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman said she was “instrumental in accelerating the regional freeway system completion by seven years” and that she “continues to work closely with citizens and is noted for being visible, accessible and approachable.”
Earlier this year, Scruggs was honored as one of Arizona’s 48 most intriguing women throughout the state’s 100-year history as part the Arizona Centennial Legacy Project.
