Mayor and City or Town Council In Arizona, most cities and towns operate under a council–manager form of government. The Mayor is the city or town’s chief elected official, providing leadership and policy direction. At the same time, a City or Town Manager, appointed by the Council, oversees daily operations and municipal staff. The Mayor typically presides over Council meetings, represents the municipality publicly, and serves as a voting member of the governing body. In most Arizona municipalities, the Mayor does not have independent veto authority; decisions are made collectively by the Council as defined by state law and local charters.The City or Town Council serves as the legislative and policymaking body. Council members adopt ordinances and resolutions, approve the annual budget and capital improvement plans, set local policy priorities, and oversee city operations. They also respond to constituent concerns through public meetings, correspondence, and coordination with city staff. Most Arizona cities and towns hold nonpartisan elections for Mayor and Council, and four-year terms are typical. Why You Should CareThe Mayor and City or Town Council make decisions that directly affect daily life in Arizona communities. They set priorities and allocate spending for essential local services, including police, fire, and emergency medical services; housing and homelessness programs; streets, transportation, water, sewer, and trash services; parks and recreation; zoning and development; and long-term infrastructure planning. These officials also represent their communities in regional planning efforts related to growth, transportation, water resources, and climate resilience. Voting in these local races gives residents a direct voice in how their city or town is governed and how public resources are used.For additional information:https://www.azcleanelections.gov/how-government-works/arizona-mayorhttps://www.azcleanelections.gov/how-government-works/arizona-city-and-town-council-members
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Public Policy Priorities
Complete development of Litchfield Square, new city downtown; complete development of Hilltop Center with Arts Academy, Theater, Library, Heritage Center Museum and park; redesign Camelback Road west of Litchfield Road; promote development which promotes city financial sustainability while protecting unique environments of city neighborhoods.
Qualifications and Experience
University of Notre Dame B.S. and J.D. degrees, decades of practicing civil law and pursuing entrepreneurial business opportunities, and twenty years of leading the city as Mayor.
Memberships & Affiliations
Member Arizona and Indiana State Bars, Member and Past Chair Maricopa Association of Governments, Executive Committee Member Arizona League of Cities and Towns, Member Luke West Valley Council, Member West Valley Partners, Past Board Member Abrazo West Hospital, Founder/Organizer West Valley Mavericks, Past Governing Board Member Litchfield Elementary School District Board, Past Member Arizona School District Redistricting Commission, Past Member Rotary International,
Community Service
see Memberships & Affiliations
Education
B.S. Metallurgical Engineering (cum laude), University of Notre Dame, J.D. (summa cum laude), Notre Dame Law School
We recruit and then negotiate agreements with developers for available parcels in the city. The effort is directed at attracting businesses offering services desired by our residents which align with our unique family centered city neighborhoods. These businesses use reasonable amounts of both water and energy which align with our utilities' long-term sustainability.
Our first budget priority is providing first class, reliable public safety services. After funding this area, we budget staffing and support costs for services directed at our residents including roads, parks and community activities. We then direct excess operating revenues and one-time revenues towards a prioritized capital improvement plan to maintain and improve our infrastructure.
All city meetings, both commissions and council, are conducted in public in accordance with detailed public agendas. We hold public hearings and input sessions for important community issues seeking input before decisions are made. In addition to written minutes which are available to the public, meetings are streamed and then available for review on sites such as YouTube. We have public information staff responsible for maintaining our Website and publishing updates on various social media platforms. Finally we have an app, Engage LP, where residents are encouraged to submit questions and concerns directly to city staff.
I meet regularly with residents and community partners to review issues impacting our community. I am a member of various regional government groups such as Maricopa Association of Governments, Arizona League of Cities and Towns, Luke West Valley Partnership, West Valley Mayors and Managers and West Valley Mayors. I meet regularly with state legislators concerning issues impacting both Litchfield Park and other Arizona cities and towns.
We need to complete development of Litchfield Square, our downtown, complete development of the Hilltop Center, and complete the redesign and construction of Camelback Road. I will continue to be engaged with Council and staff to move these projects to completion.
We also need to work with a major business concerning significant expansion of this business desired by its owner. This expansion has multiple impacts on our community including land utilization, utility service availability, and traffic. Each of these issues has the potential to negatively impact our residents' lifestyle and our unique small-town neighborhoods. These issues will be addressed through public input meetings and hearings as well as discussions with the business owner. We will seek a path to accommodate expansion while protecting our residents' lifestyle and our neighborhoods.
