Mesa mayor-elect outlines details of water sustainability plans
Nov 13, 2024, 8:45 AM | Updated: 12:09 pm
Mark Freeman, the next mayor of Mesa, has various plans to ensure the city's water supply is long-lasting. (Campaign Photo, left, Mesa City Council Office/via Facebook, right)
(Campaign Photo, left, Mesa City Council Office/via Facebook, right)
PHOENIX — Mesa Mayor-elect Mark Freeman is committed to nurturing the city’s water future and ensuring its long-term sustainability.
“I’m ready for the challenge. I prepared myself with eight years on the council,” Freeman told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Tuesday. “One of my grandfathers was the founder of Mesa in 1878.”
Freeman has been representing District 1 in northwest Mesa on the City Council since 2017, winning two elections for the seat. Before then, he spent 31 years with the Mesa Fire and Medical Department.
He defeated former Mayor Scott Smith in the 2024 election in Arizona’s third most populous city.
Mesa mayor election 2024 winner outlines top priorities
Freeman is also a small business owner and grows alfalfa and sweet corn. He runs Freeman Corn Patch, a summer farmer’s market at Brown and Center streets.
These diverse experiences will help him be a flexible and multifaceted leader, he said.
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“What I want to do is make sure that we are securing Mesa’s water future,” Freeman said. “One thing I really pride myself, as a farmer, is water is an important feature. I have extensive experience on water policy and what needs to be done to be proactive, to make sure Mesa’s water resources are here for now and in the future.”
Water is his top focus because it’s essential for business, he added.
“Businesses grow where water flows,” he said.
How will Mesa mayor election winner ensure water sustainability?
Drilling more wells to use the city’s underground water storage is one of many ways Freeman will support future generations.
“You will find that Mesa is very resilient in participating with Salt River Project on future water programs. For example, raising Bartlett Dam,” Freeman said.
This reservoir around 50 miles northeast of Phoenix is part of the Verde River.
Raising it by around 100 feet would enable the dam to capture more water in wet winters, according to SRP.
Another concept he plans to deal with is the ability to send water from Roosevelt Lake into the Central Arizona Project.
Additionally, Mesa leaders are participating in forest restoration programs and working to reduce the community’s carbon footprint.
“With all those projects put together, that will help Mesa be resilient today and into the next 100 years at a minimum,” Freeman said.
KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Heidi Hommel contributed to this report.
