Town of Paradise Valley Independent Responses: June 2, 2016

*Give me a little bio of yourself? (No more than a few hundred words here, please) 

I’m a native Arizonian, and my current home in Paradise Valley is just a couple miles away from where I grew up. I have raised my three children here and experienced our tremendous growth first-hand. My career in planning and municipal development for the past thirty years has provided me with a vast amount of experience of how Towns and Cities operate and maintain infrastructure.

I have served the town over the past several years in a few different capacities. I am currently serving on the Town of Paradise Valley Planning Commission and have been honored to be involved with the review and approval process for the Ritz-Carlton resort, the Mountain Shadows Resort and the redevelopment plan for the Cottonwoods Resort and the Hermosa Inn.

As a former member of the Paradise Valley Board of Adjustments and as a current rotating member on the Hillside Committee, I have a strong record on making responsible decisions that protect our residents, preserve our beautiful mountains, support our values and adhere to our Town’s General Plan and vision that make Paradise Valley so unique.

*Why are you running for Paradise Valley Town Council?

I enjoy what I do and wanted to be of service to the Town of Paradise Valley and give back to the place where I call home. I have several key priorities that define why I’m running for Town Council and what I would like to accomplish serving the residents of Paradise Valley.

• I will focus on public safety and the sustainability of our pension plans for our police officers, to make sure our residents are safe and to ensure the Town’s fiscal stability moving forward.
• I will uphold fiscal responsibility for capital improvement projects and work to ensure a sustainable, balanced budget for the Town.
• I will promote responsible growth throughout the Town, including our hillside developments, to ensure we preserve the unique residential character of our community.
• And I will oppose ANY local property tax and work to ensure we never have a property tax in the future.

*What do you think separates you from the pack of candidates?

My extensive experience in planning and development provides me with a valuable perspective on some of the most important issues Paradise Valley faces on an ongoing basis. I understand the challenge and balance between responsible development and preserving the unique residential character of our community. My experience in serving the Town has provided me with insight into how we can most effectively operate our Town’s government and be a responsible steward of tax dollars. And I am pleased to have the support of Mayor Michael Collins, former Mayors Scott LeMarr and Vernon Parker, Vice Mayor David Sherf and Councilmember Jerry Bien-Willner, as well as other residents and community leaders.