As early as tomorrow you may be able to cast your vote for Ray.  The Town of Buckeye is mailing out the ballots to residents today and tomorrow folks will have the great privilege to vote for their representative public servant.  Please remind your friends, neighbors, and all eligible voters to vote when they receive their ballot in the mail.  The deadline to vote is March 2nd.

Additionally, tonight, The Town of Buckeye’s Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a forum at Festival Foothills Elementary School.  This is an excellent opportunity for the residents of District 4 to meet and hear from the candidates running for Town Council, District 4.

Hope to see you there!  Ray would love to meet you.

Hope to see you there!

CANDIDATE FORUM
The Buckeye Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Candidate Forum on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 from 6:30 pm until 8:00 pm in the Multi-Purpose Room at the Festival Foothills Elementary School. At this event you will get an opportunity to meet the two candidates for the District Council seat for our District. These two candidates are the incumbent, David Hardesty, and Festival Ranch resident, Ray Strauss.
Interested residents are encouraged to attend.

Festival Foothills Elementary School
26252 W. Desert Vista Blvd.
Buckeye, AZ 85396

From the Town of Buckeye website: (http://www.buckeyeaz.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?CID=1)

District Voters Will Have Races, First All-Mail Election, to Consider in Town Council Primary Election

Town of Buckeye voters in three Town Council districts will have races in each district to consider when they participate in the town’s first all-mail primary election March 9.

In District 4, incumbent David Hardesty, 54, of 23461 W. Hopi St., is running for re-election to a second four-year term against Ray Strauss, 38, of 26107 W. Potter Dr.

Candidates seeking the District 5 Council seat being vacated by Councilman Dr. Robert Doster, who is not running for re-election, are Craig Heustis, 66, of 22879 W. Kalena Ct., and Larry Miller, 69, of 22578 W. Antelope Trail.

Two candidates will square off on the ballot for the District 6 seat, incumbent Dave Rioux, 46, of 23400 W. Galpin, and Eric Orsborn, 38, of 20636 W. Grandview Dr.

All-mail elections are conducted using the same process as early voting, but the major difference is that a voter does not have to request a ballot mailed to them. The Maricopa County Election Department uses the active voter registration list to send a mailer packet to all registered voters in each district.

Voter registration for the primary election March 9 ends Feb. 8. The general election is scheduled for May 18; voter registration for that election ends April 19.

If registered voters have changed their last name or their address since registering previously, they must register with the new name or address to receive the all-mail ballot.

For more elections information, call Town Clerk Lucinda Aja, 623-349-6911, or Deputy Clerk Deb Harrell, 623-349-6914.

Like most candidates, I’ve been experiencing a fair share of requests for interviews.  Two weeks ago I met with WEMAR (West Maricopa County Regional Association of Realtors).  Tomorrow, the West Valley View will be interviewing me followed by the AZ Republic on Wednesday.  I thought I’d share with you some of the question they have been asking and my responses.

1. What is the best piece of political advice you ever received?

Listen to all perspectives objectively before rendering judgment.

2. What character trait best serves a public official?
integrity

3. What character flaw most harms a public official?
dishonesty

4. What is your favorite book (besides a spiritual text)?
Naming the Elephant: Worldview as a Concept, by James W. Sire is simply fascinating at the moment as was Malcom Gladwell’s book, Blink before that. As a bibliophile, my favorite book changes almost weekly.

5. What is your favorite place in Arizona?
Home with my family in Buckeye though we enjoy short get-a-ways to Sedona and the North Rim in the Summer.

6. Which Arizona political figure past or present do you most admire and why?
No one I would claim to admire politically, though I am intrigued by J.D. Hayworth and John McCain’s brewing battle for Senate.

ISSUES

1. What are your qualifications to serve on the City Council?

Much of my experience in the past has been as an organizational leader.  As a pastor, I serve and spend much time with many of the people of the communities in District 4. This allows me to know many of them and their thoughts on issues that affect them. Because of this, I will be able to bring their voice to the table.

2. What makes you a better choice than your opponent or opponents?

Living in Festival Ranch provides a great opportunity to get to meet and connect with a large number of the people in District 4. This is made more so because of our local elementary school, Festival Foothills, where my wife serves as the Assistant Principal. The school, as well as the church where I serve, are tremendous bridges for the communities of Sun City Festival, Festival Foothills, and Tartesso.

3. What do you see as your district’s top 3 issues?

1. The need for economic development.

2. Infrastructure to compete for businesses looking for new opportunities in the Valley.

3. Stronger representation for District 4.

4. What is your vision for your district in five years? In 10?

In five years: Greatly enhanced communication between the residents, businesses, and town. More entry level businesses (gas stations, professional service providers, smaller restaurants, etc.). The infrastructure and residents in place will provide the foundation for the next five years which will be:

In ten years: Builders and developers responding to a stabilized economy and increased demand for people moving to the “next great destination” that Buckeye will be. Wisely responding to the growth while being mindful of our past experiences.

5. What has been the current council’s greatest accomplishment?

Surviving. Growing from 5,000 to 50,000 in ten years required considerable energy and resources. Adjusting to that kind of growth demanded much material and personnel to simply keep up. When the economy came to a halt, the emotion, mindset, and energy shifted and required yet another significant adjustment for all of Buckeye. This shift has been challenging for the residents, leadership, and perhaps most of all, the Town employees. I’d say Buckeye has done a fine job knowing when to press the brake and gas pedals on this trip.

6. What has been the current council’s greatest shortcoming, and how would you address it? The turn over in senior staff, and financial resources incurred as a result, are generally not things tax payers plan to spend money on. Hiring (and electing) people with the integrity, maturity, and leadership skills necessary for a growing Buckeye will prevent that from occurring as often in the future. That’s how I’d address it.  After all, ideas have consequences and everyone we hire or elect will have ideas.

7. How long have you lived in the city? 2 years (if you mean the Town of Buckeye).

8. How long have you lived in the district? 2 years.