First woman to lead Maricopa Association of Governments

The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) will have a woman leading the organization for the first time. MAG provides a forum for local governments to work together on issues affecting the lives of everyone in the greater Phoenix region.

The new Executive Director, Audra Koester Thomas, has spent the past decade with MAG, most recently serving as Assistant Executive Director and Chief of Staff. After the resignation of Ed Zuercher, who returned to his previous role as Phoenix City Manager, Thomas is assuming a two-year contract with MAG.

Koester Thomas previously helped with various issues affecting Arizonans, including transportation, finding ways to improve air quality, and economic growth.

Audra Koester Thomas, Executive Director of the Maricopa Association of Governments, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss her new role.

“I think this is an unprecedented time in the region’s history,” Koester Thomas said, “…we’re on the precipice of launching our 20-year program known as Proposition 479, which is a 20-year extension of our transportation investments that have really led to a lot of the prosperity we see and growth in the Valley.”

The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) is a regional planning agency that covers central Arizona, including 27 cities/towns, three native nations, and two counties. Their primary area of focus is transportation, environmental planning, and human services planning.

“It works with a lot of participation from our different member agencies engaged in conversation, and willingness to want to find solutions that work for all of us,” Koester Thomas discussed, “…we have a unique legacy here for our mayors to come together, knowing that pulling us together allows for some really great things.”

Koester Thomas highlighted that one of the challenges they face is engagement. She emphasized that the community has done a great job of staying committed to improving Arizona.

“Our job, and our staff at MAG work really hard to find areas of consensus,” Koester Thomas said, “…where can we make sure that we’re finding areas that we can drive solutions forward, that work for everybody.”