Pledging to support Arizona’s urban and rural counties, Maricopa County Supervisor Clint Hickman took office today as the incoming president of the County Supervisors Association (CSA).

Hickman becomes the CSA’s chief representative for the upcoming Arizona legislative session and with federal and state officials. The CSA Board of Directors has approved several legislative priorities and plans to focus most of their attention at preventing any cost shifts from the state to the counties and securing a greater share of the Highway User Revenue Fund for local governments.

“Your priorities are my priorities,” Hickman told officials from the state’s 15 counties. “We are not just urban counties or rural counties. We are Arizona counties and we need to work together to forge a strong partnership with state lawmakers.”

Hickman, a Goodyear Republican and owner of a prominent West Valley business, Hickman Family Farms, was appointed to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors in 2013 to replace District 4 Max Wilson, who resigned for health reasons. Earlier this month, Hickman was elected to complete the remainder of the term vacated by Wilson. Hickman will serve a one-year term as CSA president.

CSA is a non-partisan research and advocacy organization representing all 61 Arizona county supervisors.