Featured Photo—Pictured back row left to right: Councilmember Smiley Ward, Councilmember Jamie Scott Stehly, Youth Advisory Council Members Logan Walsh and Elias Wilcock, and Councilmembers Shawn Savage and Jim Dykens. Pictured front row left to right: Youth Advisory Council Members June Stehly and Clementine Wilcox, Kingman Mayor Ken Watkins and Youth Advisory Council Member Andi Applewhite.
KINGMAN – Kingman Mayor Ken Watkins, Councilmembers Ward, Stehly, Savage, and Dykens, City staff, and representatives from the City’s Youth Advisory Council joined colleagues from across Arizona at the League of Arizona Cities and Towns (LACT) Annual Conference held August 19–22 in Scottsdale.
The statewide conference brings together elected officials, municipal staff, and youth leaders for several days of collaboration, training, and networking. Sessions focused on a wide range of pressing issues facing Arizona communities, including water management, housing, infrastructure funding, healthcare, and economic development. Kingman’s Youth Advisory Council members proudly participated in the Parade of Flags ceremony, representing the City of Kingman and highlighting the importance of engaging future leaders in statewide conversations.
A central theme of the three-day conference was collaboration. Cities and towns across Arizona are confronting common challenges that often require legislative solutions. By working together, municipalities can amplify their voices and improve the chances of meaningful action at the state level. “When communities speak with one voice, our collective strength increases, and with it, the potential to achieve meaningful progress,” said Mayor Watkins. “This conference allows Kingman to connect with peers across Arizona, exchange ideas, and build partnerships that lead to stronger, more effective solutions for our residents.”
