In recent years, Ora Mae Harn has become one of the most prominent faces and voices of Marana. She moved to the area in 1961 and quickly become involved in the community.
She began volunteering for the Marana Health Center in 1964, eventually gaining paid employment there in the 1970s. She was director of the center for much of the 1990s and still helps with fundraising.
Harn, 77, also joined the Marana Town Council in 1985 and ruled the roost as mayor through most of the 1990s.
Now she serves as the town historian and leads the Marana Heritage Conservancy, which aims to preserve the town's historic past as it moves through modern times.
She paused from planning for the upcoming annual Founders' Day celebration, to be held March 20 at the park which bears her name, to talk to the Star about where the town has been and where it might be headed.
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Q: What are you most proud of about Marana in the last couple years?
A: Marana, the council and administration have continued to follow the plan that was founded from the beginning of the town. They have built on the strong foundation that I think was built by the founders of the community and carried on by other councils over the years. And what they've done is, just raised the bar so that we've put together an outstanding community.
Q: Who do you admire most in the town, and why?
A: I have a lot of people that I admire in the town. I certainly feel that our mayor, Ed Honea, has served the community, and he loves the community, and I think he has really strived to bring out the best in Marana. Because he wants the best for Marana. I think we have had some town managers who have been important to us and … were instrumental in moving the town ahead. (Current Town Manager) Gilbert (Davidson) is doing a wonderful job now working with the town. He has the hardest job of all because he is facing the problems that he didn't create. I'm proud of what's being done by our Marana Health Center. I can't just pinpoint one person there.
Q: What makes this area of Southern Arizona special?
A: I always say the people. Because we have always had people in this community that really cared about the community. I just think the people of this community work well together. The people of Marana have supported the council and the town. There's always people in the community that want to volunteer. Our schools are wonderful here. A lot of people move here because of our great schools.
Q: What's coming up on Marana's horizon that you are most looking forward to?
A: That we work out a budget that continues to serve the community, that makes the necessary hard decisions that are going to have to be made in this community. I am really proud of our town and how they're working with the budget and working to keep the town solvent, making the cuts they have to make and trying to keep as much of the services as we can in the community. That's going to be the most important thing in the next couple years.
Q: What do you wish could have been done better with the town?
A: I'm not really sure what could have been done better. I have no particular gripes about anything. I'm really proud of my town and the parks and rec, the schools and the government we've been able to keep together, and I just think they've done a great job. If they can weather this financial storm, they're making me happy to be a citizen in Marana.
Contact reporter Shelley Shelton at sshelton@azstarnet.com or 807-8464.
