Katie Hobbs made her inaugural visit to Mohave County as Arizona’s governor on Tuesday. During her time in Kingman, she engaged with various officials from Mohave County, Kingman, Lake Havasu City, and Bullhead City.
In addition to a visit to Mohave Community College and participation in a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Hobbs expressed her commitment to addressing the challenges faced by rural Arizona, emphasizing the importance of extending attention beyond Phoenix and Tucson to communities like Kingman.
Following the morning ribbon-cutting ceremony, Hobbs shared her agenda, which included meetings with local leaders and discussions on issues pertinent to the region.
She highlighted her early morning meeting with Mohave Community College, expressing particular interest in the college’s workforce training initiatives. Throughout the day, Hobbs planned to participate in a mental health roundtable, a transportation roundtable, and meetings with city and county leaders.
Hobbs conveyed her intention to let local leaders guide the discussions, emphasizing a listening approach. She anticipated recurring themes such as workforce housing and, notably, water-related concerns.
Acknowledging the ongoing groundwater issues in the area, Hobbs revealed her administration’s efforts to collaborate with local leaders and address challenges related to water.
Notably, Hobbs established the Governor’s Water Policy Council in January to delve deeper into water-related issues. She mentioned ongoing conversations with local elected officials, citing Supervisor Holly Irwin’s work on groundwater issues in the La Paz region.
Hobbs recognized the need for local control over groundwater management in currently unregulated rural areas, expressing a commitment to finding state-level solutions that align with the needs of local communities.
While groundwater is a crucial focus for Kingman, Hobbs acknowledged the reliance of Havasu and Bullhead City on the Colorado River, currently affected by drought.
She noted that the Lower Basin states, as a region, had reached an agreement with the federal government, allowing more time for planning beyond 2026 for the river system and its users. Hobbs highlighted the significance of off-river transfers in the region and expressed a willingness to address the concerns raised during her visit.
Regarding the issue of water transfers from river communities to off-river communities, Hobbs clarified that she is in the process of gathering input from stakeholders and has not yet taken a specific stance. She emphasized an ongoing commitment to listening and understanding the perspectives of various stakeholders before formulating a position on the matter.
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