Duane Blumberg

Details

Occupation and employer: Retired university faculty member and administrator

Education: Ph.D. in mathematics from University of Wisconsin

Political experience: 3.5 years on Sahuarita Town Council, Mayor for 1.5 years; former Deputy Secretary of Economic Development for another state

How would you use your position on the council to help businesses create jobs in your town? The Town has a sound economic development plan that focuses on attracting additional regional retail businesses in the short term and high wage primary businesses in the long term. The current economy, based on the local retail and construction sectors, is not sustainable and is not a good match for the educational levels and professional experience of the residents. The Town needs to continue to follow this plan over a substantial period.

What is your strategy for smart growth in your town? While growth probably can't be controlled, it can be managed. Sahuarita is already a highly planned municipality with commercial development concentrated along the Sahuarita Road and Duval Mine Road corridors. The Council has recently endorsed a proposal to investigate the potential of annexing land to the east of the present Town boundaries, with emphasis on what living and working in this desert will be like in the future.

What is the most important issue facing your town? Economic development and diversification -- the Town needs to become a more regional retail/service destination and to attract primary businesses (those that sell their products, services, research largely outside the local area, and hence bring wealth into the community and don't require continuing local growth).