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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 19, 2022
For more community news visit SanTanSun.com
To our readers:
The Arizonan has given candidates for Chandler Mayor and City Council the opportunity to write two 500-word opinion pieces explaining their views on any issue of their choice. This is the first round of those columns, which also are at chandlernews.com with the candidates’ questionnaires.
Hartke: I know the city and Jones: Chandler needs a how to get things done non-discrimination law
BY MAYOR KEVIN HARTKE Guest Writer
Our city is prospering. Our taxes and utilities rates are the lowest in the Valley. We are fiscally balanced. Businesses are moving to Chandler, creating more jobs. We are one of the top cities in the nation in regard to prosperity, safety, desirability, education and transparency. Chandler continues to be the recipient of awesome news: the Intel expansion, small businesses flocking to our city, revitalization of the downtown and the relocation of more corporate headquarters. I believe that local politics matter. I am committed to serving you as Chandler’s mayor to make sure that Chandler continues to be a city where all can prosper, live, work, create and recreate safely! As your mayor, I have championed and supported our Chamber of Commerce, businesses, schools, parks, neighborhoods, community programs and residents. After nine years of service on the Chandler City Council, (twice being appointed vice mayor), and on my fourth year as your mayor, I understand our community and how to get things done. I currently serve on the Maricopa Association of Governments (Transportation Policy Committee, Regional Board and Executive Committee), the Regional Public Transportation Author-
ity, Arizona League of Towns and Cities and locally on the Chandler Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors and For Our City – Chandler (a non-profit I started 13 years ago). I partnered with state and federal officials to keep Chandler thriving through Covid. My collaboration also appropriated monies for a future I-10 expansion from Chandler to Casa Grande, for water conservation initiatives and for the county’s regional transportation plan. I will continue to work locally, regionally, statewide and federally to serve you. My commitment as Chandler’s mayor is to create and ensure Chandler’s future and legacy as a world class community where all can thrive and prosper. My priorities are the following: Make sure that our police and fire departments have the manpower and resources necessary to keep our community safe. Ensure great customer service and transparency to our residents. Continue to attract great companies and great jobs. Collaborate with our schools to maximize amenities like pools, libraries and public spaces. Collaborate with our neighboring communities to serve our region. Continue to approach build-out wisely. Promote new and appropriate technology to serve our residents and business community. I am blessed with a family that supports each other. Lynne and I share 40 years of marriage and have four adult children (all graduated from Chandler public schools) and four grandchildren. We also have a rescue dog named Mollie. I have been leading and serving our community for 37 years. Experience matters. I continue to serve as a pastor at Trinity Christian Fellowship in Chandler and volunteer extensively in our community. I have a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from University of Missouri, Columbia; and a master’s degree in theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. Thank you for taking the time to read this article. You can learn more about me and my campaign at kevinhartke.com.
BY RUTH JONES Guest Writer
The state of Arizona just passed a bill that will protect dogs from discrimination. That may be a small thing for most people, but it is huge when you juxtapose it against the City of Chandler. Our mayor refuses to consider an ordinance to protect our own citizens. Our LGBTQ community continues to be marginalized and forgotten. “My advocacy is far better than an NDO” was the feeling of the mayor at a recent election debate. This sentiment has left these members of our community worried and disillusioned. To understand this issue, you need to know the history of the ordinance and its impact on our city. The non-discrimination ordinance was first introduced in Arizona 20 years ago. It has been passed in 11 cities and more are working towards that goal. Chandler is the last of the five largest cities in the state to have refused to act. This ordinance only affects what happens in the public sphere, not in homes or places of worship. It is heavily supported by the Chamber of Commerce, large and small businesses alike, and many faith denominations. It has been shown in cities that have it to increase business retention and expansion. In the 20 years it has existed
in Arizona there has only been one case which was resolved through mediation at no cost or penalty to the business. When we as a city write the ordinance, we have the power to tailor it to the unique needs and wants of our constituency. We must also understand the impact of not having one in Chandler. The greater Phoenix economic council whom our city pays for economic development consulting has recommended the city pass an NDO. These NDOs are critical for attracting large employers and events from across the country. Over the years we have all seen large sporting events and employers refuse to invest in communities that are not protective of their own citizens. Our mayor and several council members have said there is no discrimination in Chandler. Just because one has never felt discrimination does not mean it doesn’t exist for those who have felt it. Local government is our first line of defense, and it is incumbent on our mayor and council to protect all citizens equally under the law. When our federal and state governments refuse to act, local leadership is ever more important. While I appreciate our city working to provide more culturally diverse events which bring awareness of this issue and communities, they fall short of actually protecting them. As your mayor I will ensure all of our citizens are protected equally. While I appreciate the current mayor’s “advocacy,” advocacy does not protect people from discrimination, laws do. We need to take the future of our city and the protection of our citizens seriously and govern for everyone. A nondiscrimination ordinance that protects our LGBTQ community, increases business prospects and protects our residents, will show that Chandler is truly the inclusive community it claims to be.
