D’oh!

Have you seen the live-action Simpsons video yet?  I’m not a big Simpsons fan, but this is great!

Chandler AZ Mayoral Election Endorsement

In my previous post on endorsements for the 3 city council openings, I listed my primary concerns for choosing elected officials:

Chandler City Council Endorsements

I sent in my mail ballot earlier this week.  Before getting into who I voted for and why, let me explain what I’m looking for in a candidate.

I expect elected city officials to be aproachable, responsive to community concerns, and unafraid to take a stand on an issue that may not be popular.  Taking a position on an issue without knowing how the electorate will respond is the mark of a leader – I set the agenda, and this is why you should support that agenda.

The issues I care about at the local level are: protection of private property rights (a man’s home is his castle, after all), low property and sales taxes, policies that promote economic expansion and job creation, road policies that promote low traffic congestion, and public safety in the form of adequate police and fire protection.

The quick-witted reader might notice that I listed character traits ahead of policy positions.  That wasn’t an accident.

Response from Jeff Weninger

Council candidate Jeff Weninger responded yesterday to the Amazing Jake’s campaign commentary, and was a good sport about the criticism he’s received here. 

Just a couple of points.  I agree with most of what he said in his comments. 

I have also said that I believe the best places for big box stores is in the freeway corridors. I am just not willing to say that under NO circumstance could a big box go anywhere else.

Well, we’re in agreement that they belong near freeways.  Not so much on whether they could go somewhere else.  Chandler approved a general plan a few years back that identified appropriate locations for various zoning categories.  It’s not too much to expect that when citizens make the largest purchase of their lives knowing what the development plans are for the area they will live in, that the City honor the plan that they developed, and not allow prohibited development in inappropriate locations.  I expect the leaders of my community to take stands on such matters.

How many trees must die?

I got more mail from the candidates today.  How many trees must die before they just put everything on a website for easy review?

As usual, two pieces from Boyd Dunn on the same day, one positive (smiley-happy, nice colors) talking about transportation issues, and one negative against Phill Westbrooks.  Apparently, Phill recklessly voted to spend a portion of Chandler’s rainy day fund, and was a key vote against a decrease in our property taxes.  I wish that the Mayor had more information to offer on these charges on his website, so that interested and concerned constituents could research and put those charges into proper context, but alas, it’s not available.

Phill Westbrooks’ piece touts safer neighborhoods (via his push to hire more police officers), improved traffic flow, and a pledge to not support future tax increases.  Also a promise to “never compromise our future for special interests or campaign contributions.”

What were they thinking?

American Idol voters, that is. 

My five- and six-year old girls love American Idol, and we usually watch it as a family.  Dangling Idol in front of the kids usually serves to get the bedrooms cleaned up earlier and the homework done earlier (I don’t remember getting homework when I was in kindergarten…).

So, we were all a little surprised tonight when American Idol voters kept the talentless Bucky and the cute but overmatched Kevin in the top twelve, and booted Gedion and Will.  While Gedion and Will probably wouldn’t have lasted much longer anyway, they certainly deserved to stay a few weeks longer.

And getting rid of Ayla instead of Melissa?  What were they thinking?  The only one they got right was Kinnick (spelling? not sure). 

This break from Chandler political stories brought to you by the letter Q.

Chandler AZ City Council Endorsements Coming Soon

Yawn.  It’s been a looong 3 days at work, and I’m all written out tonight.  I haven’t even watched The Shield yet that I TiVo’d last night, and I can’t stay awake any longer.

For those who have been breathlessly awaiting Amazing Jake’s city council and mayor endorsements, you’ll have to wait one more day.  Stop your whining – I do have a job you know.  And a family that needs my attention when I get home.  And I don’t get paid for this public service, so it will have to be on my schedule.  I’d give you a link to someone else that is blogging about the elections, but, there IS no one else.  It can be nice to have a captive audience, but there is a certain amount of pressure involved to give smart commentary with just the right amount of sarcasm. 

Anyway, too tired to continue tonight.  You should go to bed too.  It’s late.

Chandler AZ Council Race – Direct Mail Week of March 6th

In this last full week of the race, the mail is coming fast and furious.  Actually, before I get into this week’s mail, I neglected to post one piece I received a week ago last Saturday.  I got a door hanger from Phill Westbrooks that was targeted directly at my neighborhood.  It mentioned under no uncertain terms:

I will not ever support Wal-Mart on Arizona Ave. and Riggs Rd.  Vice Mayor Phill Westbrooks

It also takes a shot at the Mayor:

Mayor Dunn has failed to manage Chandler’s growth – our streets, parks, and police services are lagging far behind in Southeast Chandler.

So, back to this week.

Chris Stage sent two pieces.  One focused on Ms. Stage’s “commitment to Chandler’s public safety.”  The second highlighted endorsements from Matt Orlando, Patti Bruno, and Martin Sepulveda.

Party Affiliation in Chandler Mayoral and Council Race

The last Chandler City Council meeting before Tuesday’s election was a showcase of political sniping.

It started when Councilman Martin Sepulveda questioned Mayor Boyd Dunn’s public appearances with Republican congressmen and called for an elected officials’ “code of conduct.”

Sepulveda, who is backing Dunn challenger Phill Westbrooks, said, “It’s not my intent to browbeat,” but challenged Dunn’s Feb. 20 appearance with U.S. Sen. John McCain on the city’s cable channel and mailing, at city expense, invitations to a public session with U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake in November.

Today’s story in the Arizona Republic by Edythe Jensen highlights the tension on the current council. 

It also helps answer a question that I, and several people looking for information on this site, have been trying to find out:

Search term:  “Westbrooks what political party is he” – 7 hits

Search term:  “Boyd Dunn Chandler, AZ Republican” – 13 hits

Chandler Mayor Campaign Update

Ah, spring…  It must be the smell of mud being slung through the air that makes the Amazing Jake go all tingly inside.  Things are getting nasty between Dunn and Westbrooks, but more about that later.

I’m going to follow the basic outline I used in summarizing the council races, but in the interest of getting to the good stuff, I won’t go into as much detail. 

For information on the candidates’ responses to a questionnaire from Riggs Residents for Retail Diversity, click here.