Arizona's governor, Katie Hobbs, has shaken up the State Transportation Board with a new appointment. Hobbs has handpicked Sam Elters, a transportation engineer with an extensive resume, spanning public and private ventures. Pending the nod from the state Senate, Elters, who currently serves as the Mohave County Manager, will be stepping into big shoes to represent the district encompassing La Paz, Mohave, Yavapai, and Yuma counties, a statement read on azdot.gov.

Coming off an esteemed tenure as Mohave County Manager since 2020, Elters slides into the seat left vacant by the late Gary Knight. The far-reaching influence of the board, which prioritizes transportation needs and handles funding allocations across the Grand Canyon State, will now partly rest in Elters' capable hands until January 21, 2030. Having a background that includes a stint as the Arizona Department of Transportation’s State Engineer, Elters is no stranger to the intricacies of state-level transportation debates and infrastructure priorities.

The seven-member State Transportation Board might not make the papers every day, but it’s a powerhouse behind Arizona’s highways, airports, and transit facilities development. Each member, after facing the Senate hurdle, commits to a six-year term of shaping policy and guiding the statewide Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program.

Elters' nomination doesn't mark his first board rodeo; previously, in his illustrious career, Elters has also represented Maricopa County on this very board. With his feet already wet, serving in senior roles like the chief engineer for Transportation Corridor Agencies in California is widely recognized as toll roads, Elters is expected to drive forward Arizona’s transport agenda with seasoned expertise. Information regarding the board’s duties and the upcoming construction program developments can be scouted on their official website, which the board is responsible for overseeing and planning.