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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Campaign Phone
3107229034
Campaign YouTube
Public Policy Priorities
Campaign financing reform, end ICE 287g agreement with Mesa PD, Invest in affordable housing, stop wasteful data centers
Qualifications and Experience
Worked his way through University of Arizona and UCLA Law School. Civil and Business Trial lawyer for 39 years, helping working-class people navigate the legal system. Volunteer Judge and Mediator.
Endorsements
Equality Arizona, Indivisible Mesa
Community Service
Mesa Public Schools Substitute Teacher
Education
University of Arizona, BA in Social Sciences “with distinction” 1978, UCLA School of Law Juris Doctor Degree 1981.
All economic opportunities should be fully investigated to objectively balance the positive and negative impacts they could have on the overall community.
I will prioritize opportunities that help the working class, the historically excluded, and the most marginalized individuals over corporate interests or billionaires.
I’ll support affordable housing initiatives, clean energy initiatives, and inclusive policies.
There are fundamental basic services that must be provided no matter what. Including, safe and operating roads, good public schools, electric and water utilities, and trash removal and sewer services, as well as public libraries, museums and parks.
We should also look to the future and explore ways to make Mesa an even better place to live and raise families. With the increase in inflation and incomes not matching that increase, eviction rates have skyrocketed. I would support transitional housing like the recently canceled Sunaire project.
Expand the transit system to better serve the community.
Provide inexpensive alternatives for child care services for working families.
I would work closely with outside nonprofits and other community groups to develop creative solutions to the systemic problems that cause homelessness, drug abuse, and crime in our community, rather than just providing more funding for police and jails.
We need to hold people in public office to higher standards and ensure accountability for any abuses of power. People have become jaded with our system, resulting in low voter turnout. I’d encourage residents to get involved, vote, and educate themselves.
I’d require candidates to fully disclose any potential conflicts of interest concerning money they personally receive or donations, in relation to the policies they’re voting on.
I’d increase the opportunity for public speakers at the city council meetings. Currently, only three speakers are allowed to talk at the end of each meeting for items not on the agenda. I would increase that number.
I’d make the entire process more transparent so that constituents know when they should be paying attention to potentially harmful or controversial issues. Right now, navigating our local political system isn’t clear or intuitive for most.
I’ll speak out if I notice any indication of corruption and serve the people over profit.
I would frequently hold my own personal town hall events to hear from residents throughout Mesa and my district. I will make myself as accessible as humanly possible to hear what my community needs and wants. I will prioritize listening to the people and regional partners and taking action to address challenges facing the community.
Stop Federal overreach into local law enforcement by ending Mesa’s optional 287(g) cooperation agreement with ICE. It is a greater danger to Mesa than undocumented immigrants and results in racial profiling, due process violations, and distrust in police.
Cease data centers which drive up utility rates for residents and hurt the environment. They come with a false promise of more local jobs; but the majority of the jobs they create are temporary and end after construction. They consume extreme amounts of water and electricity, all so that Big Tech and billionaires can make more profit.
Prioritize investment in affordable and transitional housing over more luxury housing, which does nothing to help working-class residents purchase a home. Ultimately, I want to make living in Mesa affordable by keeping a close eye on the city's spending of our tax dollars.
I’ll do my best to make sure there is no abuse, waste, or overpaying, so that we can stop increasing residents' cost of living.
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