Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs Recognized As One Of Valley’s Most Influential Business Leaders

Glendale Mayor Elaine M. Scruggs was recognized in 2001 as one of the Valley's most influential business leaders.

Scruggs joins a prestigious group of business executives that includes Arizona Public Service President/CEO Bill Post, Phoenix Suns/Arizona Diamondbacks owner Jerry Colangelo and Bank One-Arizona President/CEO Kristine Garrett.

The selection was part of an annual poll conducted by The Business Journal, a weekly business publication based in Phoenix. Ballots were published in the newspaper and on the publication’s Website, as well as distributed to Valley business groups during the summer.

As Glendale’s chief executive since 1993, The Business Journal listed Scruggs’ most recent achievements of luring the NHL Coyotes and the Bechtel Corp., one of the world’s largest engineering and construction companies, to Glendale.

Earlier this year, Scruggs received the prestigious YWCA Tribute to Women 2001 Award for her outstanding leadership qualities and for touching the lives of many through her public service work. In 1998, she was also honored as one of the Top 100 Arizona Women.

Scruggs is an active participant in regional and statewide issues and was most recently elected vice president of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns. In 1997, she was appointed by Governor Jane Hull to serve on the Arizona Municipal Tax Code Commission and was elected its chairman in 1999.

A strong advocate of the military mission of Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Scruggs also serves on both the Arizona Military Airport Preservation Committee and the Governor’s Military Facilities Task Force.

Fostering leadership has also been a priority of Scruggs while in public office. Her desire for a program that would reinvigorate residents’ civic participation and their sense of ownership of local government led to the creation of Glendale University in 1997. As a result, more than 300 residents have graduated from Glendale University and become community leaders through service to non-profit organizations, appointment to municipal commissions and election to the City Council.