Contributed Photo: Richard Lunt, Greenlee County Supervisor – District 3, was named Supervisor of the Year by the Eastern Arizona Counties Organization.
Is also well known statewide and nationally
By Walt Mares
It has been a long road for Richard Lunt. It has had its unexpected curves and in stretches, there have been some steep hills to negotiate. Not a problem, as a Greenlee County supervisor he keeps moving forward in his efforts on Greenlee’s behalf.
In fact, it is not only Greenlee is not the only county that has benefited from Lunt’s efforts. That is the way many of his fellow county supervisors feel about what he has done and what he is doing.
They expressed what they feel about Lunt’s efforts by bestowing a major honor on him. He has been named Supervisor of the Year by the Eastern Arizona Counties Organization (ECO).
Lunt represents Greenlee County’s District 3, which includes the Town of Duncan and all other areas in southern Greenlee.
The award was presented during a Greenlee County Board of Supervisors meeting on Sept. 16, via Zoom, by Pascal Berlioux, executive director of the Eastern Arizona Counties Organization. Six counties comprise the organization: Graham, Apache, Greenlee, Navajo, Cochise, and Gila.
Lunt is serving his in his 12th year as supervisor, that’s three, four-year terms.
He has made his mark not only locally and regionally but also nationally. He is a member of the National Lands Committee, National Association of County Officials Steering Committee, and represents Arizona on the Western Interstate Region for the National Counties Association.
“He is a fixture on every level,” said fellow Greenlee Supervisor David Gomez, who represents District 1-Clifton. He said there are about 60 members on the Public Lands Committee and there are six who set the pace for that committee and Lunt is among those leaders. People in Washington D.C. know who Lunt is, Gomez added.
“I have heard it said by many other county supervisors in Arizona and I agree with them that Richard is the hardest working supervisor I’ve ever known,” Gomez said.
“Naturally I’m humbled (by the award). There are a lot of good people who I am fortunate to know and work with,” Lunt said.
He is known for his cool, calm, and collected approach to politics as well as to life overall. To him, participation is key. “I believe if you want to do good for people you have to show up,” Lunt said. “The world is run by people who show up. The real movers and shakers who make things happen are people who show up and try to do their best.”
Lunt, 66, can very well be described as being completely ‘down home.’
He was born and raised in Duncan and has worked throughout his life in the family’s farming and ranching business. That included a dairy farm, Lunt Dairy, that was sold in January.
Lunt graduated from high school in Duncan and married his high school sweetheart, Colleen. They have been married for 44 years and have six children and 16 grandchildren.
He said his attitude about life and politics is quite basic. Put anger and resentments aside and respect one another, he says.
“We’re all neighbors and we need to get along,” Lunt said.
