Diane Murphy

More Photos (3):

Other articles by Ernesto Portillo:

Ernesto Portillo Jr.: Art gives young muralists new hope Community notes Community notes A life story that is worth sharing Neto's Tucson : Oft-deployed parents manage to hold down fort Community notes Taxpayer Watch: East Side property deserves eyesore award They hope food will roll in Ernesto Portillo Jr.: Area's media pioneers still connect over coffeeHorses helped heal the rider

Mechanical
Komatsu Equipment Co
Resident Field Mechanic Trades/Construction
RANCHO RESORT
MAINTANANCE POSITION Sales and Marketing
Everready Glass
Sales Reps Administrative & Professional
Tucson Urban League
CEO/President Finance and Accounting
Charles E. Gillman Company
Accounting Specialist Administrative & Professional
Jorgensen Brooks Group
Counselor

When Diane Murphy moved to Sahuarita from Denver in June, she didn't know a soul.

Self-employed as a business consultant and with two sons, she needed to meet her new town and neighbors. So Murphy went to the academy.

The Sahuarita Citizen's Leadership Academy, that is.

"It felt like a good way to get connected and know where the town is going strategically," said Murphy, who lives in Rancho Sahuarita.

Murphy was one of 16 Sahuarita residents who completed the 11-week maiden program sponsored by the town. The academy's intent is to give residents an inside look at how town government functions.

According to Murphy and three other participants, the program delivered a close-up view of town government.

"I became much more confident after listening to town officials," said Vern Butler, a retired civil engineer who spent more than 20 years working in local and state governments in Colorado.

Butler, who lives in Rancho Resort west of the freeway, gave the program's speakers good marks for their professionalism and openness. He didn't come away from the academy feeling town officials sugar-coated the issues and challenges facing Sahuarita.

"I learned more about growth and how the town is trying to solve the problems," said Butler, whose expertise includes hydrology.

The academy, patterned after similar programs offered by other communities in the county and state, brought together department directors, other town officials and outside individuals who deal with local governments.

Town Manager Jim Stahle said the program earned praise.

"It was received well by the participants," he said.

Linda Hilliard, a Raytheon employee, worked in community relations in the state of Washington, where she participated in similar leadership programs. She said the Sahuarita academy was as thorough as any she attended.

"It was very impressive," she said. She added the problems facing Sahuarita are not much different than those facing communities in the Pacific Northwest.

"The problems here are just smaller," Hilliard said.

When she moved to Sahuarita less than two years ago, Hilliard decided to continue learning about local government.

"I know how important it is to have community involvement in government," said Hilliard.

That's one of the reasons Jorge Luis Torres joined the leadership academy. Another reason was to learn how town officials are dealing with Sahuarita's growth.

"I wanted to learn more about what the town is planning for the future and what it is doing now," said the retired Navy lieutenant employed by the Sahuarita Unified School District as an information technician.

The academy was open to town residents and city staff. No one was turned down. The program is expected to be offered again next year, Stahle said.

Another goal of the academy was to encourage its participants to become members of town commissions, advisory boards and maybe even run for town council.

The four academy graduates said they are interested in serving in various capacities.

Hilliard said she's interested in economic development issues and Murphy is leaning toward planning and zoning. Torres and Butler are open to serve, too, they said.

Torres said he enjoyed the program enough that he's encouraging friends to sign up.

"It was an eye opener," he said.