KINGMAN – Governor Katie Hobbs has chosen Sam Elters for appointment to serve on the Arizona State Transportation Board. The Governor’s Office advised the Kingman resident and Mohave County Manager of his selection and nomination to the post on Tuesday, April 9.

“I’m very thrilled and I’m honored. There are only seven members that represent the state,” Elters said. “I’m grateful to be one of them. I believe I’m equipped to participate in a meaningful way and I look forward to serve the state 

Board for the next six years.”

Elters’ nomination is subject to confirmation by the Arizona State Senate. He sailed through a previous confirmation proceeding with unanimous senate approval of his appointment to represent Maricopa County in 2018. 

A residency requirement dictated Elters’ resignation from the Board in 2020 when he relocated to Kingman to serve as county manager. He is confident he’ll be able to handle and balance his county manager and state Board duties.

“I know what it takes. It requires some weekend and evening preparation time. I’m prepared to do so. It will be worth it. It’s really for a good cause,” Elters said.

Hobbs’ decision comes after Elters interviewed for the position in January. Separate interviews were conducted with former Bullhead City Mayor Tom Brady and Lake Havasu City Council member Nancy Campbell.

Elters has some two decades of involvement with ADOT as a staff engineer, District Engineer, State engineer and the Transportation Board as well. He’s ready to roll up his sleeves to represent Mohave, La Paz, Yuma and Yavapai Counties while keeping the entire state in focus.

“We continue to really face challenges. the state continues to grow,” Elters said. “The need for added capacity on one hand, and to preserve the existing state transportation network, which is the backbone of the economy on the other hand- the needs, the costs and expenses continue to outpace revenue, so the challenge is as big or bigger than ever before.”

Elters would represent District 6 on the Board, pending confirmation. The Board generally meets monthly, with its next meeting scheduled April 19 in Buckeye.

Dave Hawkins