In a move to boost Arizona's efforts in water conservation and infrastructure, Governor Katie Hobbs has named Coconino County Supervisor Patrice Horstman to join the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona (WIFA) Board of Directors. A seasoned lawyer with more than four decades of practice under her belt, Horstman brings to the table a well-documented track record in Indian law and natural resource-related law.
Having carved a niche as an advocate for rural Arizona, Supervisor Horstman's experience with issues of public lands and water management echos through her various leadership roles, including being appointed by the Secretary of Interior to the Bureau of Land Management's Arizona Resource Advisory Council. Alongside this, serving on the Western Interstate Region Board and the Public Lands Steering Committee through the National Association of Counties (NACo) speaks to some volume.
Appreciating the depth and breadth of Horstman's experience, Governor Hobbs stated, "Patrice Horstman has demonstrated a career of service to Arizona, and has been a tireless advocate for rural communities and responsible water management." The Governor continued, expressing confidence in the value that Horstman's "expertise and perspective will be of great value to the WIFA Board of Directors as they continue to pursue WIFAs critical mission of funding water conservation, reuse, augmentation, and infrastructure needs throughout Arizona," according to an announcement by the Office of the Arizona Governor.
Expressing gratitude for the appointment, Supervisor Horstman commits to contributing innovative strategies for the state, saying to the Office of the Arizona Governor, "I am truly honored by the Governor’s appointment to the WIFA Board, and I look forward to working on innovative and creative opportunities for Arizona’s water needs." Her appointment is seen by many as a strategic move, connecting a legal mind steeped in resource management to a board responsible for administering key state and federal programs targeting water issues.
The WIFA, that Horstman will now be helping steer, is governed by a body consisting of nine voting members. These members, including Horstman, are appointed by the Governor and Legislature, working closely alongside nine non-voting ex-officio members who represent legislative leadership and state agency heads. They together administer several programs aimed at conservation, improving water quality, supplementing existing resources, and funding water infrastructure throughout Arizona.
