34 Oct. 16 - Nov. 5, 2010 Letters to theEditor
Vote yes on Nov. 2 bond We, as individuals, maintain our homes to protect our investment. We, as a community, must protect our investment in our school facilities. Even though our own children are grown up and out of the public schools, we understand the value of building and maintaining good schools. Construction of new classrooms and schools, renovations and upgrades in playground facilities and technology, and buses meeting clean diesel standards and with adequate air-conditioning are all necessary for the best educational environment for CUSD students. The state-funded Students FIRST program provides funding to meet minimum standards. Historically, Chandler has built schools to last – Chandler High School Old Main was built in 1922 – and exceed the minimum. Let’s continue to build the best and keep facilities in tip-top condition by providing the needed funds. Protect our investment in our award-winning schools and facilities. That way, our students will continue to thrive in a positive learning environment.
Max and Barbara Butcher, Chandler
Hartke hard-working, honest I am writing to ask the community to support Kevin Hartke for Chandler City Council. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Kevin and his wife, Lynne, for several years. Kevin has a strong desire to serve the community during these difficult times by working to bring jobs to Chandler; keeping the city financially sound; and a safe place for families to raise their children. Kevin is a man of honesty and integrity and would serve the community well. Please consider him when you vote in the November election. Marla McCall, Chandler
Elect Wallace, restore sanity On Nov. 2 Chandler voters have an opportunity to elect Donna Wallace to the Chandler City Council. As a veteran councilmember, Donna Wallace championed policies that ensured city residents got the value they deserved for local fees and taxes.
In large part due to Donna’s efforts, Chandler residents have the lowest sales tax rate of any Valley cities; one of the lowest employee-to-resident ratio; and the lowest cost of service to residents. Since Donna left the Council, councilmembers voted themselves a 48 percent pay raise while cutting city services and public safety. On top of that, they voted to waste over $8 million to tear up a perfectly good thoroughfare through downtown so the city could widen sidewalks. Councilmembers also voted to spend close to $100 million in cash on a new city hall.
Donna has assured me that she will lead the campaign to repeal the 48 percent pay raise when she is back on the council. Voters have a chance to return
a semblance of sanity to the council when we elect Donna Wallace Nov. 2. Jim Jurnak, Chandler
Vote No on Prop 410 I read Chandler’s Voter Information Pamphlet today and was surprised at all the support for Proposition 410. In fact there were no arguments against Proposition 410. How nice. Everyone is for spending other people’s money. Why would there be an argument against overspending? Who could be against spending $49 million more than allowed by state law for government workers salaries and shiny new buildings? Why should there be opposition by those city employees who put the pamphlet together?
Wake up people! This proposition simply provides a loophole to get around the state constitutional balanced budget limits and to spend more of our money than it should.
Scott Wall, president of the Chandler Firefighters Association urges us to vote for Prop 410. This will allow him and his city buddies to spend more of your money than allowed by state law. Jay Tibshraeny, the incoming mayor, urges us to vote for Prop 410. He calls the state budget limitation “outdated” and says without this the city would have to “make drastic cuts.” Boyd Dunn, outgoing mayor, asks for our support to continue the policy of avoiding balancing the budget. Even Jaime Natividad and Jim Aikin from the Chandler Chamber of Commerce strongly recommend voters to approve 410 to “give the Chandler City Council the authority … to support our community’s way of life.” The City of Chandler is bloated with government workers, expensive departments and pet projects providing hundreds of services that are unnecessary or that can be provided by private companies.
Vote against Proposition 410. It is just another gimmick to get around any type of spending limitation. We don’t need the City of Chandler to take care of us cradle to the grave. We don’t need a nanny state.
Glenn Hamp, Las Casitas Del Sur
Bust voting block on school board
Two incumbents have been on the Chandler School Board for a combined 20 years. They are now running together as a block and already vote as a block. There appears to be little independent judgment on the board, which is critical to good governance. This is especially true for Chandler’s five-member school board. This two-member block accounts for 40 percent of the votes and may decide critical issues.
Voters have determined that term limits are good for our state representatives and city council members. Term limits keep elections competitive
DEADLINES:
and discourages voting blocks from dominating decisions. While term limits do not apply for school board, Chandler voters should bust this block by casting one of their votes (if not their only vote) for the only other candidate, M. Craig Schwerdt, who represents independent judgment and the public’s best interests. The Chandler School Board controls a $200 million annual budget and establishes educational policy for 42 schools from elementary through high school. Two of the three incumbents running for office have not earned a basic bachelor’s degree. CUSD would not hire a teacher without a college degree; should we demand less from our school board members? Chandler is a great city with thousands of highly educated citizens. We should be able to find five qualified people to staff our school board that have substantial educational backgrounds. I earned a JD from Loyola University School of Law, MS in Business Administration from UCLA and BA in Economics from UC Irvine. I am a Chartered Financial Analyst, and have passed the CPA exam. I have more than 30 years of investment experience in senior positions with financial institutions. Please vote only for M. Craig Schwerdt for Chandler School Board.
M. Craig Schwerdt, Pinelake Estates
Auxier and Rice deserve CUSD board roles I have served on the budget and growth committees for the Chandler Unified School District for 20 years. I continue to marvel at the dedication of Annette Auxier and Bob Rice, who work tirelessly for students, staff, parents and schools.
Although they are empowered to make important decisions affecting the budget and programs at our schools, I appreciate that they recognize the importance of strong oversight and encourage residents to provide input through the budget and growth committees.
This transparency and oversight has helped CUSD earn a reputation for being the top run school district in the state. This is evidenced by the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting from the International Association of School Business Officials that the district earns regularly and as recent as 2009. Annette and Bob are great stewards of the taxpayers’ money and provide the vision that enables our students and staff to continue to be recognized as the best in Arizona.
John McNelis, Chandler
Police, fire endorse Wallace Chandler is one of the safest communities in Arizona, with the rare distinction of being one of only five cities nationwide whose police and fire departments are both accredited by international organizations. In part, that distinction is due to the efforts of Donna
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Wallace, who served on the Chandler City Council from 1998-2006.
Donna is running for Chandler City Council again, and her past support of Chandler police officers, police supervisors and firefighters has earned her the distinction of being the only candidate endorsed by their service organizations. Donna is the only Council candidate who will lead the campaign to restore city services and public service levels that were cut when the Council voted themselves a 48 percent pay raise. Donna’s opponent in the City Council election does not support repealing the 48 percent pay raise. Voters have a clear choice between a “go with the flow” candidate and a critical and independent thinker who has consistently challenged that mentality on and off the Council. Annette Arnold, Chandler
Elected officials support Hartke
With the election just around the corner, I knew I needed to make a decision on which candidate to support for the open Chandler City Council seat. In making this important decision, I looked at the endorsements for each candidate. Many of the people I know and trust have decided to support Kevin Hartke including our current Mayor Boyd Dunn and Mayor-elect Jay Tibshraeny. Also, all but one of the sitting council members have endorsed Kevin.
Even the other Council candidates who did not advance to the general election have decided to throw their support behind Kevin Hartke.
All of these people have been involved in the City and have experience working with both Kevin and his opponent. I trust their opinions and will also support Kevin Hartke for Chandler City Council. Donna DeVoe, Ocotillo
Good education means good workforce
Chandler Unified School District is consistently rated Number One by independent research firms. This is vital because as both a lifelong Chandler resident and local businessperson, I know that only the most well-educated students are prepared to meet the business, health, educational and civic challenges of our global economy. CUSD must continue to provide these future leaders. Over the past several years, elected state officials have cut approximately $8 million from CUSD’s building renewal funds to help balance the state’s budget. Yet our district continues to grow. While Students FIRST legislation provides financial resources to build schools to minimum standards, it does not adequately fund all that growing districts require to provide equity among schools. We need this bond money for renovation and new schools. Otherwise,
See Letters Page 35
WRITERS Lynda Exley, Editor Susan Henderson, Managing Editor
Sharon Hess K.M. Lang Sharon McCarson Alison Stanton
PHOTOGRAPHER Gordon Murray
CONTRIBUTORS Lisa Shore, Suzanne Incorvaia, Kristen Boyd, Susan Hegarty, Kerry Kester, Jennifer Simmons, Christina Nguyen, Dominica Peterson, Robyn Kelly, Laura Thornburg, Jennifer Sifuentes, Tracy House, Bruce Culver, Peg Newendyke, Kara Danner, Melissa Hartley, Roxanne Williams, Pamela Moya, Becky Sanchez, Angelyn Bayless
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Opinion
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