Arizona Capitol Times Your Inside Source for Arizona Government, Politics and Business

The West Valley city of about 85,000 is attracting some of the biggest corporate names on the planet – names like Amazon, Microsoft and Nike.

During a 20-year span, Scott A. Smith went from legislative page to chief of staff for the governor, which gives him an insider’s view of policymaking.

In today’s developing field of driverless vehicles, Scott Smith, who as CEO oversees the massive mass transportation system operated by Valley Metro, is excited about the prospect of utilizing autonomous technology.

It wasn’t a case of jumping a sinking ship when two of Gov. Doug Ducey’s key aides decided to return to the private sector as the governor was gearing up for his re-election campaign.

Housed just two floors from the Secretary of State’s Office and four from the governor, the Arizona Commission on African American Affairs is close to the power structure at the state Capitol.

Former Gov. Rose Mofford was buried after a private service September 28 at St. Francis Cemetery in Phoenix, but not before her remains had been taken on an emotional drive-by to local places bearing her name.

Throughout the 16 years that John Hays served in the Arizona Legislature, it was a kinder, gentler place – and he was one of the main reasons. Hays, a rural Republican died June 10 in Prescott at the age of 88.

Jim Skelly was a staunch conservative and ardent opponent of abortion who served in the Arizona House of Representatives for 20 years. He died on Nov. 3 at the age of 81.

Burton Barr had a hand in virtually every major piece of legislation that passed through the Arizona House of Representatives during the 20 years he held sway as the indomitable, tireless majority leader.

Massive projects designed to improve the flow of traffic in the Phoenix metro area have the potential to boost economic development at opposite ends of the Valley.