(Photo courtesy of the city of Mesa)

Fomer Mesa Mayor Scott Smith.

Mesa Mayor Scott Smith waited…and then waited a little more…then on Thursday, he officially jumped into the race to be Arizona’s next governor.

On the Democratic side, Fred Duval may be the lone candidate, but Smith joins a crowded GOP field, one with a lot of well-known names, state Treasurer Doug Ducey, Secretary of State Ken Bennett and disbarred former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas. Former GoDaddy executive Christine Jones and former state lawmaker Al Melvin are also in the mix.

Consultant Barrett Marson of Marson Media knows Republican battles. He was a spokesperson for former Arizona House Speaker Jim Weiers and the state prison system.