Letters to the Editor

A few months ago, during the Education Demonstration, I wrote an Op Ed piece talking about funding schools with a real testimony from the perspective of an educator, the spouse of an educator and the son of an educator. After much has settled and a 10% "raise" was issued, I think its important to expand on this testimony.

Due to recent events in the media I feel compelled to share a few thoughts about a point that continues to be overlooked due to partisan politics. I am not looking to be judge or jury, nor am I looking for comments about Kavenaugh vs Ford, rather I am hoping my singular point is thought provoking and enlightening.

During County Sheriff Paul Babeu’s administration this member of the public frequently raised questions about the Sheriff’s exploitation of Pinal County taxpayers and our county’s public resources.

The vote for Justice Precinct 6 (Apache Junction/Gold Canyon/STV) indicates a 13 vote separation between myself and Mr. Doug Coleman. The problem isn't the votes that have been cast and count - rather, it's the votes which were not. Both Early Mail-In ballots and Provisional Ballots cast at the polling place (for voters whose names, addresses, or polling places differ to any degree from the records) are subject to verification and may be rejected. These ballots can be restored by contacting the voters and having affidavits signed.

Recent developments have revealed the Town of Queen Creek and Town of Florence entering into an intergovernmental agreement to apply for the interim manager position for Johnson Utilities. We, as San Tan Valley residents, have serious concerns about such an appointment coming to fruition.

Town of QC Council approved an IGA (intergovernmental agreement) with Florence to "act as regional partners" and will be requesting that the ACC designate them as the interim manager for JU. Florence voted and approved the agreement this past Friday and the request was submitted to the ACC.

Now is the time to contact the Arizona Corporation Commission and voice your opinion in support of the appointment of an interim manager for Johnson Utilities. Tell the commissioners to vote FOR the appointment of an interim manager.

BETRAYED... By the town of Queen Creek for overriding the will and ignoring the desires of the people of the truly rural areas. Their current land grab mentality is truly distressing.

Does Johnson Utilities need a lot of improvement? Yes, beyond any doubt. Is an “Interim” Manager needed? Could well be the determination, but EXTREME CAUTION is vital as an ACC determination of a need for imposed outside management will have consequences. Such a determination would demonstrate the ACCs conviction that Johnson Utilities is too influential, too entrenched, too well connected, and too incompetent and or corrupt for ACC regulation to do what they exist to do, insure that all utility monopolies provide all customers within the monopoly’s prescribed boundaries with equal access to adequate utilities at an extensively vetted and justified fair rate.

The folks living in the unincorporated San Tan Foothills Rural Community (STFRC) are in the unenviable position of sharing an extended border with the Town of Queen Creek and therefore our two communities must interact on a variety of issues. The idea of working together for the greater good died a bitter death long ago when QC abandoned a good neighbor policy for one of self-promotion at all cost. Recent projects like the Box Canyon development and the annexation of the Ellsworth Curve demonstrate that QC is no longer interested in that “small town feel”, nor does it support the rural lifestyle. Yes, the mayor and town council carry out a charade, but when we in the rural areas now hear “Let’s cooperate” from QC, it is only in the context of what is good for QC. Its goal is to grow into the new “South Gilbert” at the expense of everyone else in the immediate vicinity.

Candor compels this County resident to observe that a detectable whiff of corruption in the air is not just an odoriferous current drifting across the country and into our pristine locality from the Trump-infused Washington swamp.

San Tan Valley is a rapidly growing community currently over 100,00 residents. For over a decade now its future has been decided by other communities smaller than itself. STV is once again immersed in a battle by a small subset of folks making decisions for the entire San Tan Valley area.

I met a woman at the store the other day and we started chatting. During conversation I asked what she had planned this weekend. She told me that every year her family gets together (on Memorial Day) for a BBQ, swimming and talks about her grandmother. I asked if her grandmother was in the military and from the expression on her face you would have thought I asked her if her grandmother was a goat.

I've forwarded a response provided by the Arizona Department of Transportation (AZDOT) to my Pinal County Board of Supervisor and his Administration. Looking forward from hearing from my elected officials.

I am a resident in unincorporated San Tan Valley but my mailing address is Queen Creek 85142 and not considered a “QC” resident. I was raised here in the San Tan mountains and have been a home owner in San Tan for 2.5 years.