Governor Ducey appoints Gary Knight to State Transportation Board

PHOENIX – Governor Doug Ducey has appointed Gary Knight, a Yuma City Council member who has served on that metropolitan area’s transportation-planning organization, to join the Arizona State Transportation Board.

Knight, who in January began a second four-year term on the City Council and currently is Yuma’s deputy mayor, will serve on the seven-member panel upon confirmation by the state Senate.

State Transportation Board members prioritize transportation needs, projects and funding on behalf of communities throughout Arizona. Each member serves a six-year term.

Knight will represent District 6, which includes Yuma, La Paz, Yavapai and Mohave counties. He will succeed Deanna Beaver, who completed her term and was the board’s chairwoman during her last year.

“Transportation infrastructure is vital to economic development in the state and is of particular importance in the rural, less-populated counties,” Knight said. “I look forward to working with ADOT and the rest of the Transportation Board members to improve transportation infrastructure throughout District 6 and the state.”

A Yuma native and Navy veteran who owned a boat dealership before retiring, Knight served for four years as a member of the Yuma Metropolitan Planning Organization Executive Board, including one year as chairman and two years representing the organization to the Arizona State Transportation Board and the Rural Transportation Advocacy Council. 

Knight also has served on the board of the Greater Yuma Port Authority and represented Yuma on the transportation and legislative affairs committees of the local Chamber of Commerce.

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About the State Transportation Board

The seven-member State Transportation Board has policy powers and duties, in addition to advising the director of the Arizona Department of Transportation. Board members, who are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate, serve six-year terms. The board has broad authority to plan and develop Arizona’s highways, airports and other state transportation facilities. In addition to these general policy duties, the board is responsible for development and oversight of the state’s Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program. More information on the State Transportation Board is available at aztransportationboard.gov.