OPINION

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OPINION Opinion

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.

Hart ke: I know the city and how to get things done Jones: Chandler needs a 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 Authority, 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.

Encinas: I promise greater community engagement

BY ANGEL ENCINAS

Guest Writer

As the only candidate who has grown up and spent his entire life in Chandler, I truly feel I have a unique bond to our community. I have watched our city evolve from an agricultural suburb to a tech hub with a thriving business community. This growth and maturation, however, comes with its own set of challenges.

As your council member, one of my main areas of focus will be community engagement.

We need representation that is more in tune and responsive to the needs of our communities- involving citizens in the decision-making process, utilizing our boards and commissions as resources, and not “rubber stamping,” unilateral decisions by the city is something we need more of.

Our city must do more to inform and educate our citizens of development projects which increase density, public safety concerns, neighborhood, and HOA issues and what is going on in our schools.

Growing up in the early 2000’s, I witnessed crime activity at its heights in my neighborhoods. I watched firsthand the commitment and engagement by the Chandler Police Department to slowly but surely clean up these neighborhoods, making them safer and cleaner.

However, with a complacent view towards public safety, I have seen troubling signs of lost ground on that progress due to a lack of investment in our police department, officers and resources. Relations between our officers and our community are also at an all-

Gonzalez: I will bring value to the community

BY DARLA GONZALEZ

Guest Writer

Chandler is a city I was told 18 years ago would be a great place to raise my family. The person who told me that was 100% correct even though they lived in Scottsdale.

When my family and I moved here in 2004, I was 7 months pregnant. We drove into our new neighborhood sight unseen from Oregon after a long 17-hour drive with a U-Haul, trailer and truck trailing behind. We arrived at 10 p.m. on May 1. and were greeted by all the neighbors in the neighborhood with blankets, pillows, towels and everything we needed for the night. I was very impressed, and we became very close with those neighbors.

We still live in the same house. We became rooted, our kids became rooted, and we learned to love the downtown area, the parks, the swimming pools and all the things offered by the City of Chandler.

We had many opportunities to move, but always chose to stay. We looked at other areas in Maricopa County, but the crime rates were too high, or the schools were poorly rated, or the taxes were too high. Chandler offers lower taxes, good schools, nice parks, low water rates and we have always felt safe. According to the FBI crime stats, Chandler is one of the safest cities in the nation. I love that our city council is aggressively recruiting new police officers to replace retirees and adding new divisions such as a mental health unit. If crime is low, people will move here. If schools are perform-

Orlando: Keep a trusted leader who serves you

BY MATT ORLANDO

Guest Writer

Patricia, my wife, and I started our family in Chandler after I left the Air Force. We have lived in Chandler for 38 years. My three children were raised in Chandler, attended Chandler Public Schools, and are graduates of Arizona’s public universities. Now my grandkids are being raised in Chandler.

After active duty, I served in the Arizona Air National Guard and retired as a Colonel after proudly serving our nation and state for 30 years. Concurrently, I contributed to our national security by working in the aerospace and defense industry at several high tech companies in the valley.

Finally, I have the honor of serving 20 years as your city councilmember. Over the years, four tenets have guided me as I made decisions for our community: work to build a better quality of life for all; be a strong advocate for safe and clean neighborhoods; foster smart growth policies; and provide open and transparent communication that you have come to expect and is critical for maintaining trust in local government.

I want to utilize my experience, leadership, and knowledge to ensure Chandler remains a world-class community. We do this by ensuring we have top-notch public safety personnel, an educated workforce, lots of green spaces and cultural attractions, vibrant and sustainable downtown/ entertainment districts, and a high-capacity transportation

Poston: Committed to transparency, communication Shifa: I will back public safety needs in Chandler

BY JANE POSTON

Guest Writer

As a professional communicator, I understand the power of the tools we use to inform and educate the public. And how they can be implemented in a way that discourages public input.

For example, holding meetings on important issues at inconvenient locations or at a time of day when most residents are at work. Or failing to use the tools easily available, like streaming video, or proactively communicating through social media.

Chandler historically has been a leader in garnering public input, for instance taking budget issues out to the community rather than requiring residents to come to us. When Council is making some of its most important decisions around the annual budget, at the very least, those hearings should be streamed online. City staff and facilities are already in place to make that happen. There’s no reason that we aren’t making that information easily available to the public online.

None of this is nefarious. It’s just disappointing. Especially as someone who thinks residents’ opinions are the most important ones.

As a former city employee, it was my job to ensure that our residents received honest, open and truthful communications in a timely manner. Throughout my tenure with the city, I was an advocate for government transparency and communication. I also understood the importance and witnessed the

BY FARHANA SHIFA

Guest Speaker

Chandler citizens often share with me the importance of public and school safety. And many residents are attracted to our city because it is among the safest cities in the country (by wallethub.com).

Unfortunately; some neighborhoods are experiencing an increase in property crimes; e.g., catalytic converter theft. This, combined with Chandler’s population growth, means the city must hire additional police officers and retain current officers on the force.

The Chandler City Council recently adopted a tentative budget which includes $90 million for the Chandler Police Department, an increase of $3.5 million over our current budget. In addition, Chandler has increased the hiring incentives paid to law enforcement applicants to keep Chandler competitive with other valley cities. These are steps in the right direction. Our Chandler police officers deserve our appreciation and I have been gratified to learn from on-duty officers that our community is generally grateful and supportive. Let’s build on this by offering rewards to officers and their families. For example, through a privatepublic partnership, we can establish a program to award officers with vacation packages - at almost no cost to the city.

Additionally, we must also do everything in our power to keep our children and our schools safe. Retaining and increasing the number of School

time low. This is where I know I can be a conduit for positive change! Working together with our community to find common ground with our law enforcement to ensure both communities are represented and heard, is a top priority. I am from these traditional neighborhoods, and I am confident I can create a bridge of opportunity and understanding for all. Chandler has come far, but as a candidate it’s important that our council asserts a pro-active, rather than re-active, mentality to stay at the forefront of the challenges that come with the rapid growth and build out that Chandler is experiencing. Engaging our community when exploring answers to difficult questions fosters trust and transparency in government. By working together, we are stronger and capable of making better decisions which keep all our residents safe, happy, and healthy.

Enhancing and ensuring greater community engagement in the decision-making process is central to my campaign and it establishes trust and transparency in our local government. That is what I will bring to you as your council member.

GONZALEZ from page 29

ing, people will move here. If we have a lively downtown area and places to shop locally, people will move here. We have so many great opportunities for work in Chandler, both big and small companies. People thrive in Chandler. As I talked to thousands of residents while gathering my 1,700+ signatures to qualify for the ballot, I learned something important about Chandler residents. Like me, they love the city. They want “more of the same.” Like me, they love the parks; they want to enjoy their lives with their families and create long lasting memories. Like my family, they want to feel safe. They want to connect with their neighbors. Chandler residents are very diverse coming from all parts of the world. I love the diversity and the fact that people are friendly towards one another and work together to make Chandler the great city it is. My “agenda” when on Chandler City Council, is to listen to the Chandler residents. I will support our police and staff in all the ways necessary so they can fulfill their role in keeping us safe. I will SERVE the residents. I will support local businesses and want to keep as much tax money in our pockets as possible. Chandler has been good to my family, and I want to pay it forward. My experience in leadership and government along with my experience as a small business owner in Chandler, gives me the common sense to put people over politics, make good decisions which impact Chandler residents. My priority is to bring value to the city contributing to a high quality of life for all Chandler residents, while promoting businesses and making sure Chandler stays one of the safest cities in the country. See darlaforchandler.com.

ORLANDO from page 29

system that connects employees and customers to business nodes. My continued priorities are: Public safety & schools: I made public safety a top priority, again. Last year, I led the effort to hire 25 additional police officers. This year we will hire additional eight police personnel, five of which will be assigned full time to a behavior heath unit to better integrate into the community and help those in need and prevent crime before it happens. I will continue to work with our schools to expand programs and to hire additional public safety resources. Neighborhoods & quality of life: Recently we completed a strategy to encourage more affordable/work force housing and I look forward to implementing our plan. We worked with the business community to redevelop several failed/vacant retail corners for more housing and other uses. We’ve expanded our outreach to preserve and revitalize existing neighborhoods and I will continue to work with residents to solve issues that affect them. We put additional resources to expand our parks and recreational programs. Economic development: I will continue to diversify Chandler’s economic base while supporting existing local businesses in their expansion efforts. In the past 3 years, our economic policies created over 11,000 office and industrial jobs. I will continue to refine the sound economic policies that I helped implement years ago. We’ve accomplished a lot during my first term, but we still have a lot more to do and I am just getting started. Over the years I have relentlessly sought to earn your trust. Please vote to return me to the council so I can continue working for you and make Chandler an even better place to live. For more information: MattOrlando.com.

POSTON from page 29

value of two-way communication. I truly believe that an informed citizenry is a major benefit for our community. It encourages and promotes resident involvement on important issues. The city can tap the expertise and knowledge of our residents and invite those who have the time and desire to serve their community by volunteering for the many citizen boards and commissions that provide feedback to the elected officials. In addition, I believe sincerely in the importance of local government. I think it’s the form of government with the greatest impact on the daily lives of Chandler residents. When City government is working well, it is seamless; the water flows from your sink, trash is picked up on time, and the streets are well maintained. And on the occasion when it’s not working so well, you can call or send an email, and a real person – often one of your own neighbors – is there to help you. You can even voice your opinions in person to your elected officials during City Council meetings. More importantly, city government should listen to what you have to say. In fact, a quick glance at a City organizational chart is a good reminder of who is in charge – that’s you, the residents of Chandler. I›m committed to ensuring that residents are heard through open and transparent communication, and a process that meets the needs of the residents, not just what is convenient for elected officials. If I am fortunate to serve you on the Chandler City Council, I will work with my colleagues to not only continue to open up the lines of communication but to make our good city better. Meanwhile, please feel free to contact me anytime at www.janeposton.com.

SHIFA from page 29

plan. Our City Council can help accomplish this by working with local school boards and administrators. As I travel around Chandler, I enjoy meeting our police officers, learning about their profession, and listening to their concerns. I am committed to addressing their needs when I am elected to the city council and I will work diligently to implement the plans I’ve outlined here. Thank you for your support of our Chandler Police Department.