With twelve years as mayor of Douglas and half his life spent in public service, Ray Borane said he is now ready to return to his private life and his personal interests.

Mayor Ray Borane contemplates his future outside his public life.

“After a while, public service begins to wear on you a bit,” he said jokingly.

In truth, though, public service has been good to Borane and he, in return, has made an effort to give back throughout his career.

“I hope that I’ve been able to use my background and expertise in making sound decisions for the enhancement of this community,” Borane said.

Looking back at his administration, he is grateful that the Douglas community gave him the opportunity to serve as its mayor.

Politics is Local

One thing he’s learned in his 12 years as mayor of Douglas is that the job also involves cultivating a positive relationship with Mexico. Borane considers that relationship a vital and essential facet to the well being of not only Douglas but also Agua Prieta, the sister border town. That relationship goes a long way in fostering the economic and social connections of both communities, Borane said.

The quality of that relationship becomes even more evident when the mayor is called upon by some distraught parent whose teenage son finds himself in a Mexican jail or some other unpleasant circumstance. More than once Borane has had to make urgent phone calls and even make personal visits in Agua Prieta in order to bring some kid back home from jail.

“Having a good relationship with the mayor and other authorities in Agua Prieta has helped facilitate these matters,” Borane said. “But in essence, I’ve also been fortunate to have a good administration and council here that has been supportive of me.”

As a result of the outstanding relationship with Agua Prieta, the city government there named a district neighborhood after him, La Colonia Ray Borane.

Borane came to national prominence with his immigration op-ed articles to national newspapers. As Douglas became the hotspot for migrants crossing the border illegally into the United States, Borane was at the forefront of the immigration debate, the guest-worker program and the humane treatment of migrants.

The Republic of Mexico was so impressed with Borane that in 2004 he was presented with the Ohtli Award, one of Mexico’s highest recognitions given to a person living outside of Mexico.

Arizona politicians have also noted his accomplishments. He has been recognized by four governors and has been appointed to a variety of commissions, boards and committees, including the Arizona State Board of Education and the National Education Commission of the States.

In 2006 Napolitano presented Borane with the Governor’s Chair Award.

Making Douglas a Better Place

One of the main roles of a mayor of any city is to enhance the quality of life for his or her community.

In Douglas one of the missing elements in quality of life was an institution of higher education. Because Borane had a background in lobbying, he tapped into his skills and contacts and brought an extension of the University of Arizona campus to town.

Now, the community can enjoy the option of getting a post secondary degree without having to leave Douglas.

“It was a hardship for many students who wanted to study but couldn’t afford to move away,” he said. “Today, the opportunities to learn and grow and get a higher education are available in Douglas.”

By June of 2008, Borane will no longer be mayor of Douglas and if he has one regret about leaving, it’s that he will not be part of the administration that sees the completion of the new Douglas Port of Entry.

What the Future Holds

One can’t appreciate the future without looking to the past.

Borane looks to the past and, although he appreciates the trajectory of his career, he is most fond of his coaching and classroom teaching.

“When you’re an administrator, you become far removed from students,” Borane said. “But when you’re in the classroom, you have immediate interaction with students and in helping shape future leaders and citizens.

When his term is up, Borane will devote his time to one of his passions–world travel.

Borane has traveled to many countries, but now that he’ll no longer be tied to his obligation as mayor, he plans to visit the countries and cities he has yet to experience.

“Although I’m done with public life, you never know. Public life can have a pull on people,” Borane said. “If something comes along the horizon that appeals to me, I may reconsider my options.”