KINGMAN, Ariz. – “I want to finish what we’ve started like Flying Fortress, industry, retail, and keeping police and fire commensurate with our surrounding areas,” Councilor Ward said.
“I got involved because I didn’t like the way things were going.”
He said the city has to keep a balanced budget or there’s no other choice but to either cut spending or raise taxes, but I don’t see any tax raise beyond the 1/2% sales tax we just did.”
Councilor Ward sees some kind of transportation in the city but said he’s not sure if it will be buses or smaller, door-to-door vans.
“The college wants busses to run out to the Advanced Manufacturing Training Center (AMTC) at the airport, ” Councilor Ward stated, “but the (Yellow) bus has low ridership, only about six every hour.”
To conserve water, Councilor Ward said more accurate water meters are being installed by Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA).
“These meters can detect a leak and automatically send a signal to the city,” Councilor Ward said. He said with the old meters, residents were using water they’re not paying for.
The city will be drilling a deeper well than existing wells inside the Hualapai Aquifer.
Additionally, he said the city and county were working together to get more control of our aquifer. Right now, state has complete control.
To move the city forward, he said he would vote on bringing in new businesses and jobs and to keep police and fire funded.
The Innovating Commerce Serving Communities (ICSC) wants to come to Kingman, Councilor Ward said. An RFP will probably go out for Kingman Crossing at the next city council meeting, opening up 300 acres of commercial and retail property.
“I want to see Kingman moving forward,” Councilor Ward stated and added, “this council is more strong to keep it moving forward. This is the most business-oriented council since I’ve been here.”
“I see Kingman growing as a city, but with a smalltown feel.”
He said for First Friday of every month on West Beale Street, they have 7,000 to 10,000 people.
“If you bring in that many,” he said, “we must be doing something right.”
His concerns, he said, is water, aging infrastructure and getting enough grants for revenue to keep the pressure off rate payers.
Councilor Ward said, “I want the city to keep growing in an orderly manner and not lose out on businesses we should naturally gain.”
“For people who say out of control building,” Councilor Ward said, “in 2024 the city issued 225 new housing permits; in 2025, there were 223 and in 2026, 160.”
“I want re-elected because I care about this city.”
“I’ll do anything I can to get people out to vote in this election because there are forces that want to stop building and are asking for a moratorium. That will stop progress,” Councilor Marion “Smiley” Ward said.
Connie “Ceejay” Jones
cjstandardnews@gmail.com
