Of all the good things the town of Gilbert has going for it, you can add the number of quality candidates for the Town Council to that list. The East Valley Tribune hosted a forum for the six remaining candidates to the Town Council on April 25, and our editorial board found no shortage of expertise and passion among the group.
But only three will be elected when Gilbert goes to the polls on May 17.
Eddie Cook was the lone candidate to garner enough votes during the primary election on March 8 to earn a spot on the seven-member Council. Bidding to join him for the three remaining open seats are an interesting mix of three incumbents (Linda Abbott, Dave Crozier and Les Presmyk), two challengers (Victor Petersen and Jordan Ray) and another incumbent (Ben Cooper) who was appointed to the council in May 2010.
In determining who we would endorse heading into the election, the Tribune editorial board took two main factors into consideration.
First, we looked for candidates with the background and knowledge to move Gilbert forward. In our minds, Gilbert is at a crossroads as a TINO (Town In Name Only): It maintains a lot of its small-town charm and appeal, but with 208,000 residents and growing, it has obviously joined the list of big cities in Arizona.
As a TINO, Gilbert cannot keep relying on rapid growth to sustain itself. As the community matures and nears build-out, it needs leaders who understand that economic development and job growth will be the key factors that keep the town thriving.
Second, we wanted candidates who are consensus-builders - people who can work together with city planners and citizens and fellow council members to get things done in a positive fashion. Gilbert is already one of the least-taxed municipalities in Arizona with one of the most efficient governments. Continuing that tradition will require the right type of leadership.
With that criteria in mind, the Tribune is endorsing Cooper, Ray and Abbott for the three vacant seats.
Cooper, 39, is in the most enviable position among the candidates. He's an incumbent, but he wasn't on the Council when the controversial Zinke land purchase took place - a pricey deal that has many voters calling for the removal of current council members. And, unlike the other incumbents, he was not in favor of Proposition 406 - the quarter-cent sales tax increase that voters rejected last November.
Cooper is the only candidate endorsed by both the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce and the Gilbert Small Business Alliance, and the only candidate endorsed by Mayor John Lewis. It's easy to see why. We think Cooper has the most expertise when it comes to economic development and job growth. He's a business owner with experience in real estate investment, land development and entitlements, and has a long history serving both the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Gilbert Economic Development Advisory Board, and the subcommittee charged with updating the Gilbert General Plan 2011.
Ray, 32, doesn't have the history in Gilbert that the other candidates possess - he moved there a little over a year ago. But we like his cooperative approach and his focus on fiscal discipline and job growth.
Ray, vice president for InData Corp. - a small Gilbert-based legal technology company - stresses the creation of new revenue, not cutting expenses, as a way to battle future budget issues. And he handles himself well, even when being critical of things like the Zinke land deal.
Abbott, more than any other candidate, is completely engaged in Gilbert. She's been a teacher in Gilbert Public Schools for 18 years, a council member from 1991-95 and 2007-11, was instrumental in the creation of the Citizens Outreach Committee and is very involved in the community. Her litany of endorsements from business leaders, citizens and Gilbert town officials is a testament to her work ethic and history of creating a cooperative work environment in Gilbert.
Abbott, 52, is passionate, has a strong sense of what Gilbert is, and is the type of person who rolls up her sleeves and gets things done.
While there are many things we like about the other candidates, we think Cooper, Ray and Abbott are the right candidates to take Gilbert into the future.
gilbertwatchdog posted at 2:09 am on Wed, May 11, 2011.
Abbott and Cooper right for Gilbert's future? Well, let's look at that a bit more subjectively.
First, Ms. Abbott. Yes, it's true that she gets things done, but only the things she wants done, not what's truly good for the average "Joe" in Gilbert.
Her list of "things" getting done would include being instrumental in bringing the SEIU union into Gilbert. You know, the same union that boycotts Arizona over SB1070. The same union that our current President is so fond of as well. The same union that she counts on for political support for her campaign (no double standard there, I'm sure).
Her fondness for union's doesn't stop there. She was also a big supporter of starting Gilbert's own unionized Fire Department, pushing a private fire fighting business out of Gilbert, and just by happen-stance, her husband is heavily involved in the unionized Gilbert Fire Department (surprise, surprise).
Ms. Abbott also has an apparently never balanced a checkbook either, since she voted to support spending millions for the Big League Dreams park (while we were entering a recession), and millions more for the Zinke Dairy fiasco (while we were smack dab in the middle of the recession).
In each case, she has claimed over and over again that these reckless financial decisions were great for her vision of Gilbert, never mind that the taxpayers are always stuck writing ever larger checks to help "her" vision become a reality.
It seems curious (again just a lucky break) that Ms. Abbott seems to be spending a considerable amount of her campaign money on web site ads in certain local newspapers, newspapers that seem to have missed why spending $90 million plus (for just these two projects alone) has caused the Gilbert town budget to go into the red.
To be sure, Ms. Abbott was not the only town council member to vote for these two fiscal fiasco's (and that are running for re-election, the others being Crozier and Presmyk) but she certainly has stated over and over that she still thinks these two projects are great for Gilbert.
If Ms. Abbott had any flair for history, when hearing of the complaints from the taxpayers, she might utter "let them eat cake", for her attitude toward the average taxpaying citizen in Gilbert surely must be very similar indeed.
As for Mr. Cooper, it's true that he did not vote for either Big League Dreams or the Zinke Dairy fiasco's (as he was not on the council at that time), but he was hand picked by the current council members (Abbott, Crozier and Presmyk) so one can assume that they viewed his fiscal and political thinking as similar to their own.
Indeed, Mr. Cooper has not gone out of his way to distance himself from these spending disasters, nor has he publically called for the release of ALL Gilbert documents (including any and all executive meetings and minutes) related to the Zinke land deal.
He may be a fine man, but when you're hand picked to join a club with members of questionable fiscal ethics, you need to establish yourself as above reproach to the average taxpayer and citizen, and his campaign has largely been silent on these matters. Perhaps he doesn't understand the need to distance himself from "the good old boys" politically, or perhaps he feels right at home there, but we may never know and his silence could cost him the election.
That leaves Victor Petersen and Jordan Ray as the only two "unknowns" still in the mix. I don't know either man (or his family) personally, but them being outsiders made be their single biggest plus in this upcoming election.
Politically, they may be newcomers, and yes they may make mistakes (if elected) at some point in the future, but can you imagine they would do as poor a job representing the average Gilbert taxpayer as Abbott, Crozier, or Presmyk have during the past several years? I can't.
ivotetoo posted at 9:57 am on Wed, May 11, 2011.
Gilbert Watch AKA Anita Christy - Your information is incorrect but that never keeps you from having an opinion. Your failure as a pool cleaning owner is perhaps tied to all of the time that you spend on your computer blogging and lying. Ms. Abbott was not on the council and had no vote in the Big League Dreams. Yes, she supports parks and open spaces for families to recreate. Yes, she is an excellent teacher who values education. You are well over 60, did not raise your children in Gilbert and do not care about the quality of life that we all care about here! You have lived in our town less than 5 years and think you know it all.Yes! Ms. Abbott supports police and fire and all aspects of public safety! You are a coward as you do not put yourself forward as a candidate so people can tell you they don't agree with you like all of your other failed candidates like ; Jeff Smith for Congress, Dave Petersen for Mayor, and soon to be others ALL of these losers the Gilbert citizens have voted DOWN! You do not have the courage to allow us to examine your decisions personally. I appreciate Ms. Abbotts willingness to allow my family to have a representative who shares our values! Family and Safety! Ms. Abbott has a long history of community involvement and and will not quit working for our citizens whether on the council or not. Those of us who support her will continue to value her efforts and look forward to continuing to dispute YOUR LIES! Now get off the computer, GO CLEAN SOME POOLS , and quit whining!!
Leon Ceniceros posted at 10:54 am on Wed, May 11, 2011.
Looks like the Gilbert voters have a choice........pro-union, pro-labor stoppage (aka strike) public service sector advocates who believe in ......."tax-and-spend"... Gilbert Government.............or...........pro-American Values of less local Gilbert Government...ending Public Service Sector "Golden Parachute Retirement Benefits and Freedom to Strike Rules".....and putting an end to ....Gilbert City Deficits.
Boy that's sure a hard decision....Gilbert going Bankrupt with Pro-Labor City Council members.........or.....voting for candidates who want to ..."cut" wasteful Gilbert City spending on "Cadillac Public Service Sector Benefits and $100,000 Retirement Packages and "pie in the sky" Public Building ...."boon-doggles".......choices, choices, choices....Liberal/Democrat Socialism or the American Way ????
gilbertwatchdog posted at 11:02 pm on Thu, May 12, 2011.
For those that haven't seen the AZ Republic's reporting on this breaking news story regarding Bobbi Smith (one of Linda Abbott's main backers, she's also quoted on Linda's web site), here you go ....
I think it's a good bet that Ms. Roberta "Bobbi" Smith will never receive the same level of punishment for her illegal actions that any one of Linda Abbott's detractors would if they were caught doing the same thing, as Linda has many contacts within town government that will, in all likelyhood, take great care that Bobbi Smith will receive every possible legal break.
Consider this, here's a woman (Bobbi Smith) that's caught red-handed by Gilbert Police committing the crime (and admits to it) and a former Gilbert Town Councilmen (Don Skousen) rushes to:
a) talk with her (Bobbi Smith), and
b) manage to issue what amounts to a press release that tries to justify her illegal actions at the same time.
I imagine that if a "normal" citizen were being interviewed by Gilbert Police (before being arrested) and a "normal" bystander (in place of a former Gilbert Council member) decided to intervene into the situation that Gilbert PD might have ended up putting two of them in the back of the car, but perhaps I'm reading too much into the situation.
Skousen also told the AZ Republic that "he (Skousen) feels the negative signs are slanderous and that Smith made "a mistake in judgment because she (Bobbi Smith) was infuriated with these idiots."
First, Mr. Skousen is entitled to his opinion. Unfortunately, neither he nor Bobbi Smith understand that basic constitutional right of free speech. Ms. Abbott's detractors, and there are many to be sure, have absolutely every constitutional right to their opinions regarding Ms. Abbott's qualifications (or lack thereof) for any public office.
Mr. Skousen should also be keenly aware that claiming that the detractors (to Ms. Abbott's campaign) are "idiots" is quite possibly both slanderous and libelous as well (since he was aware that his statement would be quoted and printed), and since the Gilbert Police Department on scene had no trouble contacting the owner of the politcal signs in question (meaning that they were legal political signs). Thus the only reason Ms. Bobbi Smith actually had (in illegally removing the signs) was that she didn't like the political message contained on the signs. Fortunately for the rest of Gilbert, Ms. Bobbi Smith is not in charge of Gilbert's Sign Police.
Second, Linda Abbott's defenders rail against those that point out undisputed facts about her town council record, ignoring that Ms. Abbott's record is out there for all to see (if only they wish to look). I have not seen (or heard) anyone that's made fun of Ms. Abbott personally, or watch she looks like, or what clothes she wears, etc., etc. - no, every issue has been about her voting record, which is how it should be during an election.
Ms. Bobbi Smith may think Linda Abbott walks on water (and that's her right to have that opinion), but others also have the same right to believe that she doesn't, and the right to point out what they consider many past costly mistakes within her voting and spending record, plus political statements that simply weren't true (like laying off dozens of Gilbert Fire and Police if Prop 406's tax increase wasn't passed).
That's called democracy folks, and if your candidate can't take it, both she and her husband (if the allegations of him being photographed outside Town Hall also illegally removing campaign signs are true), should get out of the race.
Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/2011/05/12/20110512gilbert-community-activist-accused-stealing-campaign-signs.html#ixzz1MClawRMn
gilbertwatchdog posted at 11:05 pm on Thu, May 12, 2011.
For those that haven't seen the AZ Republic's reporting on this breaking news story regarding Bobbi Smith (one of Linda Abbott's main backers, she's also quoted on Linda's web site), here you go ....
I think it's a good bet that Ms. Roberta "Bobbi" Smith will never receive the same level of punishment for her illegal actions that any one of Linda Abbott's detractors would if they were caught doing the same thing, as Linda has many contacts within town government that will, in all likelyhood, take great care that Bobbi Smith will receive every possible legal break.
Consider this, here's a woman (Bobbi Smith) that's caught red-handed by Gilbert Police committing the crime (and admits to it) and a former Gilbert Town Councilmen (Don Skousen) rushes to:
a) talk with her (Bobbi Smith), and
b) manage to issue what amounts to a press release that tries to justify her illegal actions at the same time.
I imagine that if a "normal" citizen were being interviewed by Gilbert Police (before being arrested) and a "normal" bystander (in place of a former Gilbert Council member) decided to intervene into the situation that Gilbert PD might have ended up putting two of them in the back of the car, but perhaps I'm reading too much into the situation.
Skousen also told the AZ Republic that "he (Skousen) feels the negative signs are slanderous and that Smith made "a mistake in judgment because she (Bobbi Smith) was infuriated with these idiots."
First, Mr. Skousen is entitled to his opinion. Unfortunately, neither he nor Bobbi Smith understand that basic constitutional right of free speech. Ms. Abbott's detractors, and there are many to be sure, have absolutely every constitutional right to their opinions regarding Ms. Abbott's qualifications (or lack thereof) for any public office.
Mr. Skousen should also be keenly aware that claiming that the detractors (to Ms. Abbott's campaign) are "idiots" is quite possibly both slanderous and libelous as well (since he was aware that his statement would be quoted and printed), and since the Gilbert Police Department on scene had no trouble contacting the owner of the politcal signs in question (meaning that they were legal political signs). Thus the only reason Ms. Bobbi Smith actually had (in illegally removing the signs) was that she didn't like the political message contained on the signs. Fortunately for the rest of Gilbert, Ms. Bobbi Smith is not in charge of Gilbert's Sign Police.
Second, Linda Abbott's defenders rail against those that point out undisputed facts about her town council record, ignoring that Ms. Abbott's record is out there for all to see (if only they wish to look). I have not seen (or heard) anyone that's made fun of Ms. Abbott personally, or watch she looks like, or what clothes she wears, etc., etc. - no, every issue has been about her voting record, which is how it should be during an election.
Ms. Bobbi Smith may think Linda Abbott walks on water (and that's her right to have that opinion), but others also have the same right to believe that she doesn't, and the right to point out what they consider many past costly mistakes within her voting and spending record, plus political statements that simply weren't true (like laying off dozens of Gilbert Fire and Police if Prop 406's tax increase wasn't passed).
That's called democracy folks, and if your candidate can't take it, both she and her husband (if the allegations of him being photographed outside Town Hall also illegally removing campaign signs are true), should get out of the race.
Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/2011/05/12/20110512gilbert-community-activist-accused-stealing-campaign-signs.html#ixzz1MClawRMn
exit526 posted at 9:53 am on Fri, May 13, 2011.
Channel 15 has a nice piece on the campaign sign issue.
http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_southeast_valley/gilbert/woman-caught-stealing-campaign-signs
Watch the segment quickly before Tom Abbott tries to unplug your TV because he thinks the news story is not political enough.