Chandler election: Q&A with mayoral and City Council candidates – The Arizona Republic

With a contested mayoral election and six people vying for three at-large seats on City Council, Chandler voters have a lot to consider ahead of the Aug. 2 election.
The landlocked city is facing questions around housing affordability and land use as it approaches build-out. Residents also have raised concerns around safety, sustainability and the preservation of neighborhoods and small businesses as the city grows. 
Chandler voters will decide between Mayor Kevin Hartke, who seeks a second term, and challenger Ruth Jones, who moved to Chandler two years ago from Clearfield, Utah, where she served on the city’s planning commission.
Chandler election: Voters head to the polls for competitive mayoral, City Council races
Council candidates include Angel Encinas, Darla Gonzalez, Jane Poston, Farhana Shifa and write-in candidate Cody Hannah, who filed paperwork to qualify for the election last week. Additionally, incumbent Matt Orlando is running for a sixth term on the council.
At least two of the people elected to the council will be new, as councilmembers Terry Roe and René Lopez could not run again because of term limits.
Elections will take place on Aug. 2. Ballots will be sent starting July 6 to those who have registered to vote by mail.
Those who choose to vote by mail are advised to mail their ballot by July 26 or drop it off at a ballot drop-off location or voting location by 7 p.m. on election day.
The Arizona Republic asked candidates to answer five questions on some of the most pressing issues in Chandler. Here’s how they responded.
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Chandler’s low cost of living has long helped drive businesses to the city, but many longtime residents now say they’re being pushed out by rising rent prices. How will you work to address housing affordability in Chandler?
Hartke: “Housing of all kinds is hard to find in Chandler. While the problem is not new, it is exacerbated by supply chain shortages, build-out in Chandler and the attraction of great companies settling in Chandler, making the demand even greater.
“Steps that I am taking to address the shortage include the following:
Jones: “As we approach build-out, we need to be working with developers to bring a variety of products to the city. With the space left, we need to use the highest and best practices to encourage the right development. Thinking outside the box will help find the options to meet our resident’s needs. Currently, the city has been focusing on more single-family residences, but we need smaller homes, condos and patio homes. By utilizing all these options and more, we can increase our housing supply and thereby increase affordability.
“We also need to be mindful of the difference between affordable housing and low-income housing. There is a need for both, but they will be addressed by different types of development. By utilizing private-public partnerships, we can drive appropriate development to meet both needs.”
Chandler is the largest city in Arizona without local LGBTQ protections on the books, but city leaders last year put off voting on such a measure to allow for further study. With the city’s diversity, equity and inclusion assessment scheduled to wrap up this summer, will you support the implementation of protection?
Hartke: “I have a long track record of helping people who feel marginalized and disenfranchised as a pastor, nonprofit leader, activist, councilmember and mayor. Support of a nondiscrimination ordinance (NDO) is not the measure of supporting human rights, it is only the support of an ordinance.
“Two years ago, I tasked the Chandler Human Relations Commission to survey our community and see how we could better address awareness, bias and discrimination. I also issued a proclamation appreciating our rich diversity, condemning bias behavior and committing to help anyone in Chandler experiencing discrimination. Anyone.
“I do not believe that an NDO in Chandler would accomplish what people hope. Every city in Arizona’s NDO has processes that are cumbersome, lengthy and difficult to navigate and enforce. Arizona courts have never supported NDOs.
“I continue to pledge my personal advocacy and leadership to anyone in Chandler experiencing discriminatory practices.”
Jones: “I support the writing and passing of an NDO. The NDO is supported by the business community and many local churches. Not having one can lead to the loss of new business opportunities and that has been shown in other cities. Indeed, the state legislature has brought bills forward to make this a state law.
“I believe that our local government is far better equipped to write an ordinance that will support our community and help everyone feel included. We should be writing this and doing what is best for our citizens.”
As the Colorado River and Lake Mead are reaching critical water levels, is Chandler doing enough to ensure sustainability? If not, what specifically would you do?
Hartke: “Yes. Chandler has been preparing for shortages like this for decades.
“We have a diversified water portfolio of water that lessens the impact of a Colorado River water shortage.
“We recycle every drop of water that goes down drains. While recycled water currently is used for non-drinking uses, it can be further purified and used as potable water.
“We have the deepest part of the underground aquifer under Chandler and have been responsibly recharging this asset for decades.
“Last year, we made further investments in recharging and water acquisition.
“Our conservation initiatives have effectively incentivized reducing water use and when our home metering system is complete, residents will be able to monitor their own water use in real time, detect leaks and conserve more.
“We will continue to watch our short-term and long-term water supply and use and act appropriately.”
Jones: “Our city has a good plan in place for drought conditions; however, I always believe we can do better. We have done a great job educating our citizens and they have worked hard to bring their consumption down, but we need to be looking at how we can cut down our own water usage. Some of our islands in the streets have more than 100 drips of plants on them.
“We also need to have a seat at the table as new water sources are developed. We need to be working to keep our water treatment plants up-to-date so we can continue to reuse water and keep the water we do have safe. All these measures can help us get through this hard time and keep our water supply safe and available.”
Recently, the City Council has considered planning and land use proposals ranging from allowing backyard chickens to banning data centers. What is your vision for responsible city planning in Chandler, and how would you work to accomplish that?
Hartke: “While backyard chickens and data centers are different planning concerns, both are vision and policy issues of (the) council. Chandler is an innovative community that keeps our neighborhoods safe, provides stability for businesses and enjoys a high quality of life. To continue that, I look for best urban best practices and the needs, desires and requests of our community. We conduct all city planning changes and opportunities with a transparent process that invites citizen input in multiple ways. As you can imagine, not every citizen likes every change, but they certainly have the opportunity to share comments and concerns.
“Every 10 years, our citizens approve a general plan that guides zoning and future developments. This will come up again in soon in my second term as your mayor. I helped guide the previous general plan and will lead it again with lots of community input.”
Jones: “Our city has struggled to bring transparency to these issues. The first thing we need to do is listen. At a recent City Council meeting, there was public comment on an issue. The council and mayor were very happy about the positive comments made. Out of almost half a dozen speakers, only one lived in Chandler. Yet at another meeting, there were more comments than that given against another issue being presented. The people speaking were Chandler residents. Not only were the comments disregarded in the decision, but there was no attempt to explain why to the citizens present.
“Listening to our citizens allows us to focus the direction of our city in such a way as to move forward together. I also know that there are times when we can not do what everybody wants, but communicating the reasons why respects all involved in the process.”
What are the top two most critical issues facing the city and how would you help solve them?
Hartke: “One critical short-term issue is hiring. This affects public safety, customer service and long-term stability. Our recent classification and compensation study will guide (the) council and me to keep us competitive. We have many of our police officers whose service has kept us as one of the safest cities in the nation retiring. We have hired 30 police officers recently and will continue to incentivize hiring. We are in competition with every other agency in the state, but will fill our ranks.
“The top long-term critical issue is water. We live in a desert. Chandler is a leader in water conservation and policy, and we have planned for water shortages for decades. Our water portfolio is diverse and our underground aquifer stable and rising. I have led good policy for years and will continue to make sure that we have the water we need today and tomorrow.”
Jones: “My top priority is public safety. We need to rebuild our police force and give them the staff they need. We need to hire sworn officers to protect us and let them know we stand behind them as they protect our families and city.
“This is not a new problem. Chandler has been understaffed for more than 10 years. The resources to hire are there if we make this a priority.
“Our homeless population is exploding. We saw a 76% increase this year. By comparison, Maricopa County only increased 34%. While we want to be understanding of the challenges the homeless face, we need to also remember the needs of the people who live here. All programs must include a requirement of something to be done by the person involved to help make change. We need metrics and accountability.”
Chandler’s low cost of living has long helped drive businesses to the city, but many longtime residents now say they’re being pushed out by rising rent prices. How will you work to address housing affordability in Chandler?
Encinas: “Affordable housing is a growing concern across the nation right now. Keeping taxes and service costs low, or lowering them for our businesses, and removing burdensome ordinances are the first things I would pursue. Development funds, tax-exempt bonds, housing trusts, impact fees to leverage revenue and increased public-private partnerships are all strategies I would look at while reviewing the best practices of municipalities across the country and here in Arizona. Reinvesting in our traditional neighborhoods as well as utilizing grants while creating programs that create a pathway to home ownership and financial stability.
“I would also work closer with our state representatives to encourage state legislation that removes barriers to affordable housing, such as the ability to collect impact fees, prohibitions on inclusionary zoning and ambiguity in the state ‘gift clause.’ Workforce housing for first responders, healthcare workers and teachers will also be a priority.”
Gonzalez: “I empathize with families who feel they can no longer afford to live in Chandler; I also know many homeowners are enjoying the values of their homes increasing. This is a complicated issue to balance which many cities across the nation are facing and looking for solutions. While government can referee the market, it’s not the role of government to intervene with the free market. The only way to make it affordable, without federal assistance (or) subsidizing, is to provide more supply. If we restrict housing supply, home values will increase.
“City Council needs to consider the land available, look at the proposals from investors, developers and businesses, look at their rules and fees, consider input from residents and follow the strategic plan set forth to find viable solutions to workforce housing.”
Poston: “I believe the city should help lead the effort in addressing affordable housing. The lack of affordable housing is not a Chandler-specific issue; it is a complex problem impacting cities throughout the nation. I have met with city staff about this issue and will continue to educate myself on the market forces causing this lack of affordability. We should further develop public-private and nonprofit partnerships and explore best practices that have been successful in other communities.”
Shifa: “Chandler’s high employment rate and low tax rates have driven economic growth and made Chandler a desirable place to live. Inflation, supply chain issues and a city nearing build-out are a few of the factors that have led to a low inventory of housing.
“The city must continue to work with state, federal and private partners to find solutions and increase the availability of housing units. By updating codes and area plans, the city can entice the private sector to build additional housing. This includes the development of multiuse facilities which bring residents and businesses together. In addition, the city can reposition public housing to increase the availability of housing units.”
Hannah: “I am painfully familiar with the impossible costs of housing that have priced an entire generation of Arizonans out of our community and leaves many more of our long-term residents one medical or financial emergency away from homelessness. I believe that we must put the interests of working families, our community and our environment ahead of those of wealthy landlords, real estate companies and corporate developers in our policymaking.
“We need significant investments in new, affordable and high-density public housing options, community land trusts, restrictions on the number of private investment properties allowed in the city, a municipal vacancy tax on uninhabited rental properties and much stronger city programs to prevent gentrification, evictions and homelessness.”
Orlando: “Recently, the council approved a workforce (and) affordable housing plan that includes short- and long-term actions. The plan includes coordinating with the state Legislature to create incentives to encourage the construction of more affordable (and) workforce housing as well as changing some property laws to allow vacant land owned by school districts to be utilized to build affordable housing for teachers and other individuals who work for the school district.
“Other actions include: incentivizing developers to set aside a certain number of affordable (and) workforce housing units during new development, utilize private-public partnerships that stimulate workforce housing, utilizing bond programs like the Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) to encourage more family units (and) update city codes to encourage more housing options, such as building accessory dwelling if lot sizes are large enough, reduce parking ratios and reduce structure setbacks from property line to encourage more homes.”
Chandler is the largest city in Arizona without local LGBTQ protections on the books, but city leaders last year put off voting on such a measure to allow for further study. With the city’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) assessment scheduled to wrap up this summer, will you support the implementation of protection?
Encinas: “While Chandler boasts being one of the most diverse cities in Arizona, it is discouraging and disheartening to know that Chandler is the largest city in the Valley without an NDO. Local government is our first line of defense, and it is incumbent on our city to protect all of its citizens equally when our federal and state governments fail to act. If Chandler wants to talk the talk, they need to walk the walk, and pass an NDO.”
Gonzalez: “I will always stand up for people and their rights. I’ve been an advocate my whole life standing up for people for various reasons. All people should have a fair chance of having success in their life, whatever that success looks like. Once the (DEI) assessment wraps up and reveals results, I will weigh those results carefully before I make any decisions. I will always support positive ways to motivate people to act kind and be welcoming to everyone.”
Poston: “I am in support of implementing protection for our LGBTQ community, which I believe is long overdue. The city put off passing an NDO, and I will work to get it approved. Through my work at the (Chandler Chamber of Commerce) and as a small business owner, I have been an active supporter of an NDO and, unfortunately, Chandler has failed to act on this important issue, despite the strong recommendation from the business community. I feel passing the NDO is not only the right thing to do for our community, but also will place Chandler in a great position to continue to attract high-quality businesses and send a powerful message to both private and public employees. The passing of an NDO would send a strong message to our businesses and community at large that we believe and stand by the notion that every resident is treated fairly and equally.”
Shifa: “If the DEI assessment demonstrates the need for such protection, I look forward to working with the City Council to carefully craft an ordinance that serves the needs of all stakeholders — including Chandler’s businesses and citizens.
“Despite not having an LGBTQ ordinance, Chandler’s embrace of diversity is evidenced in our slate of City Council candidates and in our downtown businesses. I am committed to ensuring that no one is harassed, discriminated against or bullied.”
Hannah: “I believe we must immediately pass a strong LGBTQIA+ inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance for the city. As a citizen, candidate and a member of our city’s LGBTQIA+ community, this issue is deeply personal to me, and it’s one of the many reasons I felt it was necessary to run for the first time in this election. As we’re seeing both in our state and across the nation, there is a calculated attempt to roll back our civil protections and undo all the progress the LGBTQIA+ community and our allies have made in the past 50 years towards equal rights and protection under the law. Now more than ever, we need our elected leaders who claim to be advocates and allies to our community to turn those empty words into tangible, enforceable policies that protect our rights in housing, healthcare, employment and public life.”
Orlando: “Yes, Chandler has always been a diverse, equitable and inclusive community. An anti-discrimination ordinance would codify our values as a community and enhance our economic vitality. Cities are passing their own version of an NDO because the federal and state governments have failed to enact or strengthen existing laws to enforce discrimination against the LGBTQ community. The NDO is supported by many faith-based organizations as well as many businesses and business organizations including the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, East Valley Partnership, the Phoenix leadership Council and the Chandler Chamber (of Commerce). Not only is passing an NDO the right thing to do in keeping with our value as a people but it enhances Chandler’s ability to compete with other cities that already passed an NDO, (such as) Mesa, Scottsdale, Glendale, Tempe, Tolleson, Phoenix, Tucson, Sedona, Flagstaff and Winslow, for new employers and companies contemplating a move to Arizona.”
 As the Colorado River and Lake Mead are reaching critical water levels, is Chandler doing enough to ensure sustainability? If not, what specifically would you do?
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Encinas: “Chandler is already a leading city in water conservation and has built an infrastructure to both capture and recharge our water supplies very well. I would like to see much more focus and resources put toward sustainability efforts. I also think the city should investigate sensible ordinances and incentives for conservation efforts. We must have a very proactive approach to water conservation. I would also like to see greater outreach into the community and education on measures we can all take to conserve and decrease our water usage. Finally, I would like to see emphasis put on creating development parameters which utilize, incentivize or require sustainable practices.”
Gonzalez: “Thankfully, Chandler has been planning its water infrastructure since the 1980s. Chandler’s current water comes from Salt and Verde rivers and is currently stored at 68% in the SRP reservoir. In addition, Chandler has stored water in underground aquifers. Chandler has planned for growth and planned for drought. The city has a drought management plan which they are implementing to prepare residents, build awareness and offer ways to conserve water while we are experiencing the shortage. In addition, just last week, the (state) Legislature approved $1 billion to allocate towards solving water issues for Arizona.
“I strongly feel between the city of Chandler’s general plan, our legislative budget allocations, along with our residents following the drought management plan, we will get through the shortage in good condition. I highly recommend looking at the city’s drought management plan to get more information.”
Poston: “Chandler manages water incredibly well. Thanks to decades of foresight and planning by city staff and leadership, we are fortunate to have a diversified portfolio that ensures we are not dependent on any one source of water. Chandler is viable and sustainable and will be able to get through this challenging time. The city has a longstanding, well thought out drought management plan to follow during times of critical need. Stage One of this plan has just been implemented, which includes an increased focus on public awareness, water conservation messages and water loss audits.
“Encouraging sustainability in our city, including things like low-water-use vegetation, and residential conservation programs should always be a top priority. Finally, Chandler should continue to work closely with our regional partners to monitor and evaluate both local water supplies and issues that will most certainly affect our state.”
Shifa: “Chandler has done well in planning for the future water needs of our community. The city has a sound drought contingency plan as well as a 100-year water plan. Along with surface water sources, the city has an underground water reserve and places a high priority on properly maintaining these sources.
“The city has worked with local manufacturing firms to reduce the discharge of pollutants into the municipal sewer system. In addition, the city reclaims a great deal of the wastewater produced at its three water reclamation facilities.”
Hannah: “While I give the city its due credit for the few water conservation education programs and incentives that do currently exist, I do not believe that Chandler is doing enough to innovate and ensure the long-term sustainability of the city, especially in regards to our water supply. I believe that our dependence on Colorado River water and the burning of fossil fuels used to pump that water hundreds of miles away and 2,000 feet uphill is unsustainable and is leading us into ecological and societal collapse. While we are lucky to have water stored for times of drought, that cannot and will not last forever. We need to retrofit our city with as much renewable energy and rainwater harvesting infrastructure as possible through a municipal level Green New Deal that creates high-paying city jobs and reinvigorates our economy, ecology and energy systems.”
Orlando: “Since 1986, Chandler has been planning and investing hundreds of millions (of) dollars to build a robust water supply system. Our city is positioned to deliver water to our community if we experience some shortages of water. Our water supply is from three sources: surface (from) SRP and CAP, well and treated, reclaimed water. Today, about 57% of our water comes from the SRP system, 37% from CAP and 6% from our groundwater. As reported, CAP water (is) shared by seven states (and) supply is at risk and we need to be vigilant to ensure Arizona continues to receive our allocations. If we start to see a shortage from the CAP supply, our SRP, underground water supply, combined with our innovative reclaimed water system, (which is) used for landscaping, golf courses (and) parks, will be more than adequate to meet our needs as a community. Finally, Chandler has an aggressive water conservation program.”
Recently, the City Council has considered planning and land use proposals ranging from allowing backyard chickens to banning data centers. What is your vision for responsible city planning in Chandler, and how would you work to accomplish that?
Encinas: “Responsible planning as the city reaches build-out is critical to the continued development and economic health of our city. The most important thing our city can do at this point is increase transparency in the zoning and approval process for development by including our citizens and educating them on the process. It is important that all stakeholders be included in the decision-making process when development will affect their quality of life, particularly as development means increased density.”
Gonzalez: “My vision for responsible city planning would be to continue to collaborate and keep sustainability in mind for the future Chandler. We would need to look at all opportunities and weigh against potential outcomes, both good and bad. I would suggest we equip and empower our city planners, working closely with them being available to strategize and collaborate. Chandler needs to be picky and take careful thought and we must take into consideration the drought situation, inflation, economic development, property rights and always have the future in mind.”
Poston: “As a city that is nearly built out, it is critical that any development, redevelopment and land use proposals made for Chandler are thoroughly vetted. I want to make sure the city receives resident and business input prior to making recommendations. I would work to ensure that we continue to provide open communications to our residents and encourage and promote stakeholder involvement and engagement on important issues such as the city’s land use and development and redevelopment efforts.
“While much of this is the responsibility of the private sector and will be subject to market forces, the city should work in partnership with the private sector and remain agile and open to innovative ideas.”
Shifa: “Over the years, Chandler has experienced a culture shift away from its agricultural roots to a business (and) manufacturing-based economy. This shift has been accompanied by increased population density. Our zoning and city codes must adjust for these changes to maximize the use of our land for the comfort of our residents. Preexisting neighborhoods must be safeguarded from new development that affects land values and quality of life.
“Some areas of the city, such as the (southwest) corner of Kyrene Road and Chandler Boulevard, will require revitalization. These areas must be replanned and the city must work with private partners to improve the area and ensure adequate traffic flow and parking accommodations.”
Hannah: “Responsible city planning should prioritize the needs of families, small local businesses and our ecosystem rather than satisfying the greed of billion-dollar corporations and the wealthiest members of our community. I believe we also need to ensure that there is active input and democratic participation from the communities affected by these policies during their creation and implementation. We should be ensuring that our city streets are safe and walkable and cyclable, our public transit systems are reliable and accessible and our communities are designed with the needs of the most vulnerable members of our city in mind. We must also make all efforts to ensure that the city’s land is being used in a sustainable and environmentally conscious way.”
Orlando: “Chandlers’ success is a reflection of its smart growth strategies that I and others have put in place over the years. Chandler devoted much of its largest remaining land parcels, along freeway corridors, airport, West Chandler and other areas, to economic and retail development. I will continue to remain firm on our city’s commitment to reserve those parcels for key employment and businesses. We laid the foundation for a strong parks system and worked with the residents on numerous neighborhood enhancement programs. I will continue our strategy to encourage more diverse and affordable workforce housing. I look forward to expanding our outreach to preserve and revitalize our traditional neighborhoods and putting additional resources into our parks and recreational programs. We must continue to revive or redevelop vacant and struggling retail centers to include working with developers to replace these retail properties for new housing and other uses.”
What are the top 2 most critical issues facing the city and how would you help solve them?
Encinas: “I don’t like to place a scale of importance on one issue being the most important. We live in a diverse community with diverse needs. What is the most important issue for someone in North Chandler will generally be different than the most important issue for someone in West or South Chandler.
“Currently, the biggest issues facing Chandler, I believe, are the sharp increase in homelessness, the nondiscrimination ordinance, the underfunding of our public safety and a lack of neighborhood investment in traditional neighborhoods. Build-out will affect all of these. As your council member, I will involve our community in a much greater manner while guiding these decisions. Bringing the public into the decision-making process increases trust in our government and leads to higher levels of consensus and community building.”
Gonzalez: “My top two priorities:
“My highest priority is building trusting partnerships and listening closely with our city police officers (and) leaders and business leaders (and) owners. They have a unique perspective we need to hear.
“Chandler police need to have the staffing and resources needed to provide excellent service to our residents. They do an outstanding job right now, but we don’t want to take our bravest for granted. People move out of cities where they don’t feel safe. We need to make sure our police officers have all they need to keep themselves and our communities safe.
“As a business owner and someone who has worked legislatively to roll back burdensome regulations and taxes, I have witnessed the less government interference, the better the economic environment for businesses. I want to continue the trend of being a pro-business council member always looking for ways to support our entrepreneurs.”
Poston: “The two most critical issues facing the city are public safety hiring and maintaining the high quality-of-life services that the city is known for providing, (such as) water, transportation, parks and recreation facilities. While Chandler is a safe city, we must ensure that public safety has the staffing, training and resources they need. The staffing shortages didn’t happen overnight, and the solution won’t either. Chandler needs a well-considered plan for the future to attract qualified, professional staff. Recruitment and retention efforts are a priority.
“Chandler needs to continue to be a fiscally responsible steward of taxpayer dollars when it comes to maintaining the quality-of-life services that attract businesses and residents alike. I will work closely with my colleagues on the council, our residents and the city’s department and division staff to outline goals and objectives to address these issues.”
Shifa: “Chandler is consistently ranked among the safest cities in the country. Unfortunately, some neighborhoods are experiencing an increase in property crimes, (for example), catalytic converter theft. This, combined with Chandler’s population growth, means the city must hire additional police officers. The city has addressed this in its new budget and has increased hiring incentives for law enforcement applicants. I will continue to pursue improvements in this area. In addition, we must work with our local school districts to provide school resource officers on every school campus in the city.
“At a time when many Chandler residents are struggling to afford gas and food, Chandler must continue to be a careful steward of the tax dollars entrusted to us. We must seek opportunities to save and, whenever possible, look to no-cost solutions rather than ‘throwing money’ at a problem in hopes it will disappear.”
Hannah: “The first of the two most critical issues facing the city of Chandler is the rising cost (and) dwindling supply of housing, which could be helped with public investments in community land trusts, low (and) mixed-income public housing and placing municipal level restrictions on private investors’ ability to control our housing and rental market.
“The second of the two most critical issues facing the city of Chandler is the climate crisis, which affects all of humanity. I believe we must develop and commit to a 10-year citywide plan to drastically reduce our collective emissions, increase our energy independence with renewables, expand our water conservation and harvesting infrastructure and fight the urban heat island effect that raised the average nighttime land surface temperatures in Chandler up nine degrees Fahrenheit from 2000 (to) 2014 according to a study published in February 2016 by (Arizona State University) researcher Chuyuan Wang.”
Orlando: “I would continue to enhance our quality of life and ensure Chandler is an enviable place to live and work. We accomplish this by continuing to have top-notch public safety, an educated workforce, more green spaces and cultural attractions, vibrant and sustainable downtown (and) entertainment districts and high capacity transportation system that connect employees and goods to other business nodes. I will continue developing solutions that allow hardworking families to afford a home, ensure development projects align with our neighborhoods’ concerns and find lasting solutions for homelessness, drug addiction and mental health issues. Together, we can accomplish this challenge by continuing to have sound fiscal policies, enhanced private-public partnerships and open communication with residents. I like to utilize my experience, leadership, and knowledge gained from 20 years of service as your councilmember, 30 years of military service and 35 years of working at high-tech companies to ensure a better Chandler.”
Reach reporter Sasha Hupka at sasha.hupka@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter: @SashaHupka.
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