Meet Your Council
Mayor Laura Dorrell
Laura Dorrell has served on Clifton Town Council since 2016, initially filling in a vacant position. Elected to Clifton Town Council in 2018, she served as Vice Mayor in 2021 and 2022, and in 2023 she became the Mayor. Laura is a Registered Nurse with experience in Emergency Nursing and Rural Healthcare. Laura received her bachelor’s degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Arizona and her Nursing Degree from Eastern Arizona College. Most recently, her master’s in nursing from the University of Arizona. Currently, Laura is employed at Gila Health Resources in Morenci, AZ, where is manages the Urgent Care Department and serves as the Chief Nursing Officer.
Laura is involved in many community associations, including chair for the Eastern Arizona Area Health Education Centers EAHEC, Vice President of United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties, Vice-Chair of SEACUS, and is a Flinn-Brown Fellow with the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership.
Laura is a third-generation Arizona resident living in the copper mining region of Morenci. She loves serving her community and has generated a non-profit to address the health needs of the people in Greenlee County.
Laura is dedicated to local issues, rural struggles, and community.
Contact:
Phone: Office (928) 865-4146
Email: dorrell@cliftonaz.gov
Term Expires 2026
Vice-Mayor Anthony James
Mr. Anthony James is an Arizonan Native who has resided in Greenlee County for nearly all his life. He is a third-generation copper miner with 29 years of experience. Throughout his mining career Mr. James has held various positions within Freeport McMoran. He has acquired the experience, knowledge, and responsibility of upholding the title and position of Supervisor since 2009. Mr. James maintains his current position as a supervisor in the Hydrometallurgical Leaching Division.
In March of 2020 Mr. James was elected to the Clifton Town Council where he has been a devoted councilman for the fellow citizens of Clifton, AZ. In 2023 became Vice-Mayor. He is involved with the ARPA, Roads & Streets Committee, and various town projects. Mr. James aspires to fulfill change for the people of Clifton, AZ. He believes in the importance of restoring the livelihood and appearance within the community.
In his spare time Mr. James enjoys spending quality time with his family in the outdoors. His favorite hobbies include traveling, camping, fishing, and hunting. Mr. James is also very involved within his faith and enjoys spending his time as a volunteer and Usher of the Sacred Heart Parish.
Contact:
Phone: Office (928) 865-4146
Term Expires 2024
Luis Montoya
Luis Montoya is currently midway in his third term in the Clifton Town Council. First elected in 2012, he has served as a Council Member, Vice-Mayor, and Mayor from 2018-2022. He plans to finish his term as a Council Member. A retired educator, he previously served as Superintendent of Clifton Unified Schools for 23 years. The Mayor has continually pushed for improvements to Clifton’s infrastructure, particularly with the wastewater treatment plant, flood control, and street and bridge rehabilitation. He is also deeply involved in projects in removing blight in our Town and in the abatement and removal of abandoned homes in our community. Luis has worked with previous Councils to develop the Town’s General Plan and to update and make current Town ordinances, policies, and new financial reporting requirements. As a member of the SouthEastern Arizona Governments Organization and the Arizona League of Cities and Towns, the Mayor is in touch with other city and town leaders to cooperatively arrive at solutions to problems mutually experienced in rural Arizona communities.
Contact:
Phone: Mobile (928) 965-6063
Email: lmluismontoya@cliftonaz.gov
Term Expires 2024
Council Member Ray West
Ray West was first elected to the Clifton Town Council in 2012; and is now serving his third term. He is on the Rates and Fees Committee and the Buildings Committee. An Arizona resident for many years, he currently owns and operates an Antique store on Chase Creek Street. He is a founding member of the Business Association of Chase Creek Arizona and was involved in the creation of the Colors of Copper Art and Wine festival.
Primary Goal: To promote new and existing business in Clifton!
Contact:
Phone: Office (928) 865-4146
Term Expires 2024
Council Member Raymond Lorenzo
Councilmember Ray Lorenzo was born and raised in Sacramento, California. He has 24 years of military service, 10 years in the Navy and 14 years in the Air Force.
Councilmember Lorenzo moved to Arizona in 1979, where he has worked at the mine and local school.
Councilmember Lorenzo has served on the Town Council for 12 years.
Contact:
Phone: Office (928)-865-4146
Term Expires 2026
Council Member Karen Crump-Frye
Karen Crump-Frye joined the Clifton Town Council in May of 2021. Karen and her husband Matt first came to Clifton in 2017 for a weekend getaway and they fell in love with the town and its residents - so much that they purchased and renovated a historical hotel in town, which Karen runs full-time.
Karen is also a member of the Greenlee County Tourism Council and strives to find ways to bring visitors from around the country to come and see this beautiful community. For Karen, serving is an honor and she has seen the care and dedication that the entire Council takes in continuing to build a safe, happy, and thriving community.
Contact:
Phone: Office (928) 865-4146
Email: crump-frye@cliftonaz.gov
Term Expires 2024
Council Member Janeene K. Carrillo
Janeene K. Carrillo got elected to Clifton Town Council in 2022 and is currently serving on the American Rescue Plan Act Committee and the Grants Committee. Janeene’s accomplished experiences are solely within the government sector spanning eleven years beginning with Maricopa County as a Court Operations Deputy under Clerk of Court. Simultaneously, serving as a volunteer to the
Operations Posse Unit in Maricopa County under the Sheriff’s Department. Most recently completed specialized training with the National Society of Leadership and Success, Sigma Alpha Phi.
Janeene earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Management and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration and Security from the University of Phoenix and currently earning her Master of Science in Criminal Justice at Boston University.
Janeene was born in Morenci and raised in Clifton, experiencing the obvious beauty and distinct challenges our towns endured and overcame from the past to the present. As a second generation born in the area, her grandparents arrived here from Zacatecas during and around the time of the Revolution, for that, she is deeply rooted in family history and traces to as early as the 15th century.
Most honored and grateful to serve on the council, she is committing herself to building up Clifton for all age groups and hopes to bring in opportunities for citizens of Clifton and Morenci as all of us are so lucky to call it home at any time and vision the immense potential our town offers.
Janeene is currently the committee chair for the 2023 Founder’s Day celebration, celebrating Clifton’s 150th Anniversary.
Contact:
Phone: Office (928) 865-4146
Email: carrillo@cliftonaz.gov
Term Expires 2026