KINGMAN – A young father who manages a family business at the Kingman Airport Industrial Park has been selected for appointment to the Kingman City Council. Mayor Ken Watkins and council members thanked and praised the deep and diverse field of applicants Wednesday before they selected Cengiz Arik.

“I’d like to suggest a new voice, fresh ideas and a passion and commitment to our town that will mirror this bright new era,” Arik said during his council interview. “I envision Kingman growing with innovative, sustainable and lean ideas that will promote tourism to the downtown area, attract businesses to the Airport Industrial Park and create a community where residents of all ages can enjoy and flourish.”

Arik said his management of Import Corner at the Industrial Park has provided experience that illustrates problems he said arise from an incohesive approach and blurred boundaries for county/city oversight of the road network and infrastructure of an important community asset. He said annexation of the property into the city is an option worth reconsidering.

“We as a town have everything we need to work together more effectively, to bridge gaps, to think outside the box and be resourceful to make decisions that affect the entire community in a positive and efficient manner,” said Arik, noting pride in graduating from the Kingman Academy of Learning. “Kingman is not just a place on the map for me. It’s the town where I grew up, where I’m raising my family, where my business thrives.”

Some 17 people applied for the vacancy that occurred through the employment relocation related resignation of former council member Cameron Patt. Three contenders withdrew before Wednesday’s council meeting and 11 of the 14 remaining contenders made presentations to council and fielded questions.

Mayor Ken Watkins and Vice Mayor Cherish Sammeli encouraged unselected council contenders to consider applying to fill local board and commission vacancies.

Arik will be sworn in and seated at the Oct. 17 council meeting. He’ll serve a portion of Cameron’s term through next December and plans to run in next year’s election cycle to earn and serve the remainder of what was Cameron’s four-year term.

KINGMAN – A young father who manages a family business at the Kingman Airport Industrial Park has been selected for appointment to the Kingman City Council. Mayor Ken Watkins and council members thanked and praised the deep and diverse field of applicants Wednesday before they selected Cengiz Arik.

“I’d like to suggest a new voice, fresh ideas and a passion and commitment to our town that will mirror this bright new era,” Arik said during his council interview. “I envision Kingman growing with innovative, sustainable and lean ideas that will promote tourism to the downtown area, attract businesses to the Airport Industrial Park and create a community where residents of all ages can enjoy and flourish.”

Arik said his management of Import Corner at the Industrial Park has provided experience that illustrates problems he said arise from an incohesive approach and blurred boundaries for county/city oversight of the road network and infrastructure of an important community asset. He said annexation of the property into the city is an option worth reconsidering.

“We as a town have everything we need to work together more effectively, to bridge gaps, to think outside the box and be resourceful to make decisions that affect the entire community in a positive and efficient manner,” said Arik, noting pride in graduating from the Kingman Academy of Learning. “Kingman is not just a place on the map for me. It’s the town where I grew up, where I’m raising my family, where my business thrives.”

Some 17 people applied for the vacancy that occurred through the employment relocation related resignation of former council member Cameron Patt. Three contenders withdrew before Wednesday’s council meeting and 11 of the 14 remaining contenders made presentations to council and fielded questions.

Mayor Ken Watkins and Vice Mayor Cherish Sammeli encouraged unselected council contenders to consider applying to fill local board and commission vacancies.

Arik will be sworn in and seated at the Oct. 17 council meeting. He’ll serve a portion of Cameron’s term through next December and plans to run in next year’s election cycle to earn and serve the remainder of what was Cameron’s four-year term.