Tempe's about to elect a new mayor and three city council members. Early ballots go out next week. The primary election is March 13.
For almost eight years Tempe has been run by Mayor Hugh Hallman, who's not seeking re-election. Hallman's fingerprints are all over Tempe City Hall.
According to a Jan. 31 East Valley Tribune story, a meeting of candidates at city hall the night before "provoked a lively debate." The discussion ranged from the Tempe Town Lake to a proposed trolley car system that's been described by some as a financial boon to downtown and others as a $139 million dollar "folly car" to move partiers from bar to bar.
This debate was an opportunity for the candidates to talk about hard issues like Tempe's continually having the highest crime rate in the East Valley, 20 points higher than Mesa's, the presence of the Sinaloa Drug Cartel and the current high cost of operating and living in Tempe. Tempe has more employees per resident than any other East Valley city at approximately 9.9 employees per 1,000 residents. The other East Valley cities average 6.8 employees per 1,000 residents.
Unfortunately, the mayoral portion of the debate reportedly came down to candidate Michael Monti attacking current councilman and candidate Mark Mitchell.
Monti reportedly "accused Mitchell of spending $14,400 of the city's money on travel over the last three years" to help his "political credentials." Monti's inference that the expense was wasteful was obvious.
Mitchell, who serves on the boards of Arizona League of Cities and Towns and National League of Cities and has been recognized as a regional leader, has legitimate reasons to travel on city business.
It's too bad Monti, who touts his business experience and connections to Hallman, didn't speak out on the current city hall regime's wasteful spending of $258,000 to repaint Tempe's entire fleet of police patrol cars black and white purportedly to "help recruiting" and not wait to phase in new colors over time like other cities do. Or what about the $96,000 sole source non-bid contract given to Fiesta Bowl lobbyist Gary Husk by city hall to provide "consulting services" to the police department? When asked, officials were unable to produce any documents showing the work done by Husk other than his exclusive contract and a list of monthly payouts.
Talk about wasteful and suspect spending to the tune of $354,000.
$354,000 would've paid the first year's salary for six new police officers or nine new firefighters or helped keep swimming pools open during the summers that were closed due to budget cuts.
According to the story, "Monti's tiffs with Mitchell ran down the debate clock." Mayoral candidate Linda Spears spoke of her vision for a "robust economy, parks that flourish and a healthy rainy-day fund." I'm glad the former councilwoman and accountant had a chance to talk and not be attacked by Monti.
In today's world of shrinking budgets and economic challenges, our next mayor not only has to see and understand Tempe, but also the world that exists beyond the city limit line. Now more than ever, cities in the East Valley, and Phoenix, need elected leadership that is willing to work together and trust one another in order to benefit the futures of all cities and their residents and business. Tempe has room to grow when it comes to working well with other cities.
Tempe doesn't need another antagonistic mayor.
Tempe needs a mayor who has the trust and respect of not only the community, but also of his or her elected peers in the East Valley, across Arizona and in Washington in order to maximize Tempe's assets and future revenues that are needed to ensure the city's sustainability and quality of life.
Hopefully Tempe's next mayor will take the city where it needs to be and not where it's been.
Retired Mesa master police officer Bill Richardson lives in the East Valley and can be reached at bill.richardson@cox.net.
Suelee posted at 2:50 pm on Thu, Feb 9, 2012.
Bill, you are correct about the bloated employee payroll issue. Does Tempe need a "Diversity Manager" and a "Diversity Specialist"? Police cars should only be repainted when the current coat of paint wears off. The $139 million for the slow motion "folly car" to benefit a handful of merchants along a 2 mile section of Mill Ave would be better spent to preserve the Tempe Dial-a-Ride system and expand the ORBIT system to all of Tempe (not just residents north of the US60). Whomever made the decision to pay a consultant $354,000 needs to be terminated immediately and if an elected official, should face immediate recall. This is just pathetic.
Dale Whiting posted at 3:31 pm on Thu, Feb 9, 2012.
Let's all move to Guadalupe! That town's got character and spirit.
Rich posted at 7:42 pm on Thu, Feb 9, 2012.
Bill, live here too, feel for you, but frankly it's an aristocracy and they found the gravy train. A well-run college town has lower taxes and lower crime, because a ton of new capital comes to town every Fall. They use it to build fake lakes, first time when we were kids, remember? They are lining their pockets, as a part time job the council members make almost as much as school teachers. Mitchell gets a budget to further his career, and the owner of Montes' thinks it's more than he cares to pay. Manager of this, manager of that, and your life doesn't have anything else. Tempe has been off the rails for years, the only reason for a city government is to find out exactly how deep your pockets really are.
TeaParty posted at 7:39 am on Fri, Feb 10, 2012.
This article is somewhat confusing, as it appears to support Mark Mitchell - but the condemnation of the "current City Hall regime" would actually include Councilman Mark Mitchell, would it not?
For years, Mark Mitchell has been part of this City Council and has ONE VOTE, just as the Mayor and other Council-members. Hence, the ridicule of "wasteful spending" as duly noted by the author, would include that of Mark Mitchell, would it not?
Moreover, the authors assertion that "Hopefully Tempe's next Mayor will take the city where it needs to be and not where it's been" ...........would lead one to believe change is needed, would it not?
Mark Mitchell has served on the City Council for many years, is part of the problem, has voted in support of the very issues which the author condemns and Mark Mitchell also has his "finger[prints" all over the "wasteful spending", does he not?
One thing I do agree with, Tempe residents welcome change, and change does not occur with simply having Mark Mitchell move over two seats to his left to take the helm of which great leaders have sat, including his father, the Honorable Harry Mitchell.
Thanks for identifying Mark Michell's political shortcomings and supporting the need for change, and that change would be the Honorable Michael Monti.
hadenough posted at 4:27 pm on Fri, Feb 10, 2012.
Tempe residents need to remember the TeaParty supported and still does support recalled state senator Russell Pearce.