Governor Katie Hobbs has appointed former Santa Cruz County District 3 Supervisor Bruce Bracker to the Arizona State Transportation Board to represent Santa Cruz, Cochise and Greenlee counties.
Bracker, who served two terms as District 3 County Supervisor from 2017 through 2024, began a six-year, unpaid term on the seven-member state board last month.
“I’m grateful to the governor,” Bracker said. “It’s a great opportunity to serve not only Santa Cruz, Cochise and Greenlee, but the whole state.”
The board meets once a month, going into communities throughout the state to learn what the local infrastructure needs are for roadways, bridges and airports, hearing from members of the public who are advocating for projects to be funded.
The board also works with state Transportation Dept. staff to create a five-year plan and to prioritize projects. For a project to be included in the five-year plan, it must be funded, much of which is dependent on federal dollars.
“The biggest challenge is funding,” Bracker said. “The state of Arizona has not addressed transportation funding for 33 years.”
Bracker says that his experience working on infrastructure projects as a county supervisor has prepared him for his new position. “This is stuff we worked on in Nogales,” he said. “I’m really excited to be on this board. It’s just a great opportunity.”