BISBEE — The race for the District 2 seat on the Board of Supervisors has five candidates wanting the job.
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The list is extensive since the board serves as a legislative body and the executive branch of county government.
According to the state Statute 11-25, “The board of supervisors, under such limitations and restrictions as are prescribed by law, may: Supervise the official conduct of all county officers and officers of all districts and other subdivisions of the county charged with assessing, collecting, safekeeping, managing or disbursing the public revenues, see that such officers faithfully perform their duties and direct prosecutions for delinquencies, and, when necessary, require the officers to renew their official bonds, make reports and present their books and accounts for inspection.”
And that’s just one of the 65 duties prescribed by the law. From developing and enforcing ordinances and building codes to being sure public safety is maintained, a supervisor must have the ability to deal with detail, the credibility to devise fair standards, and the patience to see, hear and give voice to the many sides of the character of the county.
Republican candidate Harvey Allen, Democratic candidates Ann English, Charles Flanagan and Joe Green (Jose Verde) and non-partisan candidate Matt Cook all believe they are up to the job of handling the county’s multi-million dollar budget, hundreds of employees and tens of thousands of residents.
But what lies at the heart of their campaigns? Why do they want to serve?
“I want to represent the people in District 2 to the best of my ability so people in District 2 will have a supervisor in their district they can call when they have a concern and know they will have their calls returned,” Allen said. “When talking to the residents, the planning and zoning department and the commission are the biggest concern to them. When elected, I will work to restore common sense to this department.”
For Cook, the answer is “the morale of county employees and their interaction with the public and the business community is the key to the future of Cochise County.
“I’ve seen us lose and throw out so many good employees the past 14 years, push away so many sincere citizens, and spin our fiscal and administrative wheels so often, that I decided to run to help the county as a governing entity and its citizens learn how to communicate with each other, work together, and make this a government of the people of Cochise County, for the people of Cochise and by the people of Cochise County,” Cook said.
English says she’d like to see more money budgeted for local resident concerns instead of handing over resources to meet unfunded or inadequately funded mandates.
“The state government is always trying to balance it’s budget on the backs of the schools and the counties. The federal government is also in the habit of passing unfunded mandates and expecting us to fund their wishes. The county is bound by a budget limit and cannot (even if we wanted to) bring in the money to properly address all the mandates from the state, the federal government and the public.”
She said the county spent $1.7 million in 2006 on law enforcement, and court-related expenses, not including health or hospital related costs, for illegal immigrants with only a 3 percent reimbursement from the government.
“We have to keep this financial impact information in front of the media and the people who pass the laws to get any relief from these financial burdens,” she said. “I am willing to be a voice for Cochise County on all these concerns as I was in the past when I served as the president of the Arizona County Supervisors Association. Together we can make a difference and have our voices heard.”
Flanagan shared his views.
“The lack of true systems that are open and determined through full participants of all in our shared communities is the single biggest issue of concern,” he said. “Without a living, breathing set of simple, principle based, agreed upon rules, county government cannot perform effectively. I believe being proactive is preferable to being reactive and that government should be evaluated just as private sector business is: by the outcomes we produce for our customers. If we are positive outcomes oriented, and we know what the agreed upon rules are, everyone will know if we are effective or not.”
Flanagan plans to use his skills and experience to improve on customer service and support.
“Once a functional set of rules (vision, mission, plan, goals, objectives and tasks) is in place, effectiveness of service provision, clear prioritization of tasks and resources, and healthy participation by all stakeholders is possible,” he said. “If maintained through an open, participative process, this will result in effective governance forever, irrespective of the individuals in any elected or appointed position. I will be accessible, visible and responsive to all, for the good of our shared community of Cochise County.”
Green says the current county “cow town economy” is impoverishing people and must end. He gives kudos to Victor Gonzales, Douglas’s economic development director, for bringing a call center to the small border town. He also considers the Bisbee Douglas International Airport as the perfect site for an industrial park and wants to inventory commercial and industrial buildings and lands in the county so a best-use plan can be devised to market them.
“Economic development, increasing the financial well-being of all the people is the most important single concern I have,” Green said. “To achieve this end, I would transform Planning and Zoning into an economic development agency. Changing its mission from repressing people and economic activity to helping people and business. Working hand-in-hand with the Center for Economic Research and county assessor to hold strategy meetings monthly with business, labor, municipalities environmentalists and interested citizens to astutely plan the procurement of light industry to cities within Cochise County. Those that can’t be placed on the U.S. side can be located in Agua Prieta or Naco, Sonora, enriching the purchasing power of Mexican national border-crossing shoppers.”
CANDIDATE CAPSULES
Note: District 2 includes areas of Apache, Bisbee, Double Adobe, Douglas, Elfrida, Gleeson, Hereford, McNeal, Naco, Paradise, Pirteville, Portal and Tombstone.
Harvey Allen
Board of Supervisors, District 2 candidate, Republican
• Age: 64
• How long have you lived in the local area/Arizona: Currently lives in Elfrida. Resident of Cochise County for 48 years.
• Marital status: Sandra, 42 years
• Education/military: Graduate of Valley Union High School, attended Eastern Arizona Junior College and Cochise College.
• Employment history: Owner/operator of Allen’s Well Service for 32 years; construction surveyor for the Arizona State Engineer Department and Cochise County Engineering Department; DC Contractors as a project engineer and was a superintendent building roads and doing job estimates in the Sierra Vista area.
• Community affiliations: Elfrida Domestic Water Users Association for 22 years.
• Previous offices held: Valley Union High School Board for eight years; Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Co-op Board of Directors for 15 years where served as treasurer, vice president and president.
What qualifies you for the supervisor’s position?
I have acquired a lot of knowledge in the past 44 years that would be useful in the position of supervisor.
My past experience and knowledge qualifies me for the position, having experience with water, electric, road construction, heavy equipment and solar energy, as well as the supervisory positions I have had.
The county budget stands at nearly $200 million. What cost-saving methods would you promote to reduce expenses in that budget to counter the effects of the slow economy, the state deficit and loss of revenue from the Highway User Revenue Fund?
When the economy slows down, the revenue is less. The county is the same as my business — you reduce spending in all departments. You freeze hiring except for key personnel. Each department must become more effective. The department that purchases or leases equipment from the road department should look at less expensive types of equipment.
The current administration is embarking on a “green building” era. Is this direction one you agree with, and if so, how would you balance the conservation of resources with development in the county?
I do believe that when plans are submitted to the county for building, home and business owners should be advised to build energy efficient homes and buildings. We all need to become more conservative when planning, and the county needs to be a good example to the residents. Solar energy is expensive to install but will save energy and money in the long run.
Some of the proposed changes to the zoning regulations have recently come under fire and have residents questioning the wisdom involved. What is your stand on the recent suggested changes? Are there any changes you would make to the zoning code?
Cochise County will keep growing as the people leave the cities for a slower lifestyle. As this happens, the county needs to grow smart. What I see now with the planning and zoning department and commission is when people want to build a business or improve their property, they are given a hard time. They either give up or leave the area. We still have people living in cars and old buses cluttering the countryside, devaluing the property and the property next to them.
With the effort to increase power from renewable sources on the state and federal level, the county may face more requests for solar and wind power generation facilities. Do you approve of such industry and what would you do to encourage such industries to set up shop in Cochise County?
I do approve of alternate energy sources and I would encourage the building of wind and solar energy systems in Cochise County.
This could be achieved by making the permitting phase easier and any power produced by wind and solar should only be used in Cochise County and not sent out of the state. I would encourage more homes and business owners to install alternate energy. Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Co-op and Arizona Public Service have good rebate programs for alternative energy projects.
When elected, I will work with the other supervisors to start an alternative energy program for Cochise County buildings. Feds handle the border.
Matt Cook
Board of Supervisors, District 2 candidate
Non-partisan
• Age: 63
• How long have you lived in the local area: Old Bisbee since 1993
• Marital status: Married to Jennifer “Ginger” Ryan. Married since 1997, in love since Jan. 15, 1993.
• Education/military: Bachelor of science degree, biology, Curry College, Milton, Mass., 1972; master’s of education, instructional media, Bridgewater State College, Bridgewater, Mass., 1980; U.S. Army, Sept. 11, 1968 to May 23, 1971, Korea
• Employment history: Taught biology, physics, photography at college level; technical, commercial and industrial photography; designer of experimental agricultural equipment for University of Arizona, U.S. Department of Agriculture; designer/Inventor of blood handling and blood analyzing equipment for Ortho Diagnostics, Johnson & Johnson; machinist, production control specialist, manufacturing engineer; Masoneilan International, heavy industry; Cochise County health inspector for Environmental Health District III for the past 14 years.
• Community affiliations: Have served in Bisbee as member and chairman, Bisbee Civil Service Commission; board member of Bisbee Community Y, Bisbee Food Co-op, Bisbee Radio Project (also served as president); and co-producer of the Dog Shows, Subway Gallery.
• Previous offices held: None
What qualifies you for the supervisor’s position?
I am qualified because I have been the Cochise County health inspector for Environmental Health District III for the past 14 years. I have been the directly responsible official for the regulation and enforcement of state law and county ordinances and policies. I understand the interaction between county government and the citizens and businesspeople who are trying to live and make a living in our county. I believe enforcement of regulation and maintenance of order is an educational process where citizens should be able to know how a regulation affects what they are trying to do, how it can help them accomplish their goals, and what their alternatives are if the regulation limits or disallows what they wish to do.
I also have witnessed the problems county employees have had with the internal management of the county and have led the way toward instituting changes which will improve morale and the quality of communication between employees and management. I am known for working out solutions for difficult problems citizens have with county regulations and policies. As supervisor, I will lead the citizens of my district toward greater involvement in the identification of needs and development of solutions to make the county responsive to the needs of its citizens.
The county budget stands at nearly $200 million. What cost-saving methods would you promote to reduce expenses in that budget to counter the effects of the slow economy, the state deficit and loss of revenue from the Highway User Revenue Fund?
To deal with the budgetary issues of the county, under the current economic challenges, I would promote exactly what the county has done so far: close contact with the state to relieve stresses of demands the state has been making toward the counties, support of the various department and division directors in coordinating policies and activities, and, especially, stand by the county manager, Mike Ortega, who has been handling this fiscal emergency with a good steady hand and with great concern for the protection of the county’s ability to continue to provide critical services now, and into the future.
The current administration is embarking on a “green building” era. Is this direction one you agree with, and if so, how would you balance the conservation of resources with development in the county?
We came from an age where our culture learned how to use non-renewable resources to create an enviable standard of living.
We are entering an age where civilization must learn to maintain the highest standards of quality of life with energy and material efficiency, and, specifically, by using passive and renewable energy to give our children and grandchildren a world as rich as we live in.
I would use the resources of the county’s staff and the power of community input, interaction and reserve of skills and knowledge to shepherd each future project toward design and energy efficiency.
Some of the proposed changes to the zoning regulations have recently come under fire and have residents questioning the wisdom involved. What is your stand on the recent suggested changes? Are there any changes you would make to the zoning code?
Again, I trust the citizens of the county to help frame the issues and help find solutions the county staff can pass through the regulatory and policy sieve to yield solutions the people can live with and the county can maintain and administer into the future.
The reason we have seen agitation and dissatisfaction in the past has more to do with imposing regulations without consideration of consequences, rather than the regulations themselves. I’m out there. I hear it from the people.
With the effort to increase power from renewable sources on the state and federal level, the county may face more requests for solar and wind power generation facilities. Do you approve of such industry and what would you do to encourage such industries to set up shop in Cochise County?
Again, the citizens of our county must have a voice in the future of any such activities that may have a commercial base here. We have valuable and unique resources in Cochise County, not only the sun, wind and other energy sources, but our geographic resources, such as being the western portal to the low point in the Rocky Mountains has made the county the east-west route for gas, gasoline, power transmission, truck traffic, fiber-optic cable and various other pillars of the national infrastructure.
We’re wealthy in many ways; wise industries will come to us to our financial and future benefit.
Ann English
Board of Supervisors, District 2 candidate
Democrat
• Age: 66
• How long have you lived in the local area/Arizona: McNeal resident. Lived in state 1963, Cochise County since 1964.
• Marital status: Married to Pat English, 43 years.
• Education/military: Master’s degree in educational leadership, Northern Arizona University; bachelor of science degree from New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, N.M.
• Employment history: Teacher in Coolidge, Elfrida and Douglas; school administrator in Douglas; superintendent in Elfrida; real estate sales for Sulphur Springs Realty and Bisbee Realty; Cochise County Board of Supervisors, eight years.
• Community affiliations: Douglas Woman’s Club, AARP Tax-Aide volunteer, Ocotillo Club, Douglas Democrats, Democratic Women of Southeastern Arizona, Mule Mountain Democrats, Rotary, Cochise Association School Administrators, Cowbelles, Douglas Youth Fair Chance Board, Charity Quilt Club.
• Previous offices held: Cochise County Board of Supervisors, 1985-92; Arizona Criminal Justice Commission.
What qualifies you for the supervisor’s position?
I have served eight years (two terms) representing my district as a county supervisor from 1985 until 1992. I know and understand the processes and procedures for doing business as a county. I understand and appreciate the unique relationship between the other elected officials and the board. I understand the dynamics of a three-member board and the importance of being informed when trying to convince the other members on any issue.
The county budget stands at nearly $200 million. What cost-saving methods would you promote to reduce expenses in that budget to counter the effects of the slow economy, the state deficit and loss of revenue from the Highway User Revenue Fund?
We have to concentrate our efforts and resources on health and safety issues for the public. We will probably have to ask the staff to take on greater responsibility (with additional pay) instead of filling open positions or creating new ones. Reduction of staff through attrition is the least harmful process.
We have to do what every family does when times are tough: decide if this is something we want or something we need and what would happen if we did not do this.
The current administration is embarking on a “green building” era. Is this direction one you agree with, and if so, how would you balance the conservation of resources with development in the county?
There is only one reason we probably do not have more “green building” and that is the additional cost. It is always a balance of pay now or pay later. Retrofitting is much more expensive than building green in the beginning and neither one is cheap.
As individuals and as public officials, we need to be conservative with our finite natural resources and the money entrusted to us. Sometimes public officials have to make regulations that require conservation in order to have wide-spread change at a faster rate.
Some of the proposed changes to the zoning regulations have recently come under fire and have residents questioning the wisdom involved. What is your stand on the recent suggested changes? Are there any changes you would make to the zoning code?
Where people are clustered together on small parcels, they have always wanted to have more control over what their neighbor can and can’t do. In cities it is zoning regulations enforced by the city and in subdivisions it is covenants and restrictions enforced by the residents.
The “gray” area that has the most controversy is the rural area where most people have larger parcels of land and are more forgiving of extra cars, storage buildings, animals, etc.
When someone tries to change this way of life, it is met with strong resistance. Most rural people want to have fewer restrictions unless they have recently moved from the city to the rural area.
The Planning and Zoning Commission is appointed to represent the public in their area on planning issues. In other words, the planning and zoning for a designated area of the county should be left to the people in that area to set the restrictions or no restrictions.
I believe there are some areas of the county we need to leave alone (exception for septic inspection) until they are planned for higher density development.
With the effort to increase power from renewable sources on the state and federal level, the county may face more requests for solar and wind power generation facilities. Do you approve of such industry and what would you do to encourage such industries to set up shop in Cochise County?
I certainly approve of such facilities and I would work with builders/investors to make sure they would be good neighbors with the current residents. I am sure we have areas of the county where these projects could be tested to see if they are economically feasible for large scale production of energy or individual projects for personal use.
Individuals can now take advantage of the power companies’ and federal rebates to get started on a homeowner or business basis for solar energy.
I would make sure we do not try to put unnecessary roadblocks on people who are trying to develop these resources.
Charles Flanagan
Board of Supervisors, District 2 candidate
Democrat• Age: 55
• How long have you lived in the local area: Double Adobe resident (McNeal post office area 85617). Resident of since 1985 (been coming here since approximately 1979).
• Marital status: Married to Inge Flanagan, 34 years.
• Education/military: Long Beach High School/NY State Regent’s Diploma, 1971; University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, degree in English language and literature, 1985; Arizona State University and CPM Consortium, certified public manager, 1993; extensive supervisory, managerial and administrative training and education. No military experience.
• Employment history: I have worked since I was 13, with experience in construction, food service and service industry. Performing arts training and education, leading to employment with various companies in the U.S. and Europe. 14 years professional experience as ballet, neo-classical and classical dancer, culminating in 11 years with the Dutch National Ballet company (HNB), based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, traveling the world and performing. Nearly 21 years with the Arizona Department of Corrections, retiring approximately two years ago. Almost 15 years experience in administration, including seven years as warden of large prison complexes, with large staffing, contractor, volunteer and inmate populations, as well as budgets approaching that of the county. For the final 2 1/2 years, I was the assistant division director/bureau administrator in command of all of the academic education, contracts, including federal and state grant funded programs, with seven community colleges and the Arizona correctional Industries, operating approximately 50 business enterprises, including contracts with private sector partners, breaking all records with $26.7 million in sales my final year. Currently, and for the past two years, director of the Correctional Education Division and program co-chair of the Administration of Justice Studies program for Cochise College.
• Community affiliations: Board of Directors and campaign chair, Cochise Community Foundation; affiliated with the Arizona Community Foundation; Vice President, Douglas Arts and Humanities Association; affiliated with the Camp Naco Preservation Committee; board member, Loved Ones Incarcerated; member of Douglas Area Democrats, American Correctional Association, Arizona Probation Parole and Corrections Association, National Correctional Industries Association and Arizona Correctional Educators Association. Board of Directors, Habitat for Humanity, Tucson; Douglas Noon Lions, past president; Douglas Kiwanis; Statewide Advisory Board for Mothers Against Drunk Driving; member of Community Reintegration Committee.
• Previous offices held: None
What qualifies you for the supervisor’s position?
Asked by numerous people to run for this office, it was their estimation that I am capable of restoring effective leadership and representation for District 2, and serving the needs of the county.
I earned a degree in English language and literature from the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, as well as certified public manager designation from Arizona State University and the CPM consortium, as well as extensive supervision, management and administration training and experience.
I have worked since the age of 13, and have experience in construction, food service, the performing arts, corrections, education (teaching and administration), private sector business partnerships and our community college. I have seen and experienced various governmental systems, and been successful in a wide range of activities. Retired from the Arizona Department of Corrections after nearly 21 years of service, I have served as warden of two large prison complexes, successfully managing and administering budgets and employee numbers approaching that of Cochise County. My staff and I have received awards and recognition for excellence in all of my administrative roles.
The county budget stands at nearly $200 million. What cost saving methods would you promote to reduce expenses in that budget to counter the effects of the slow economy, the state deficit and loss of revenue from the Highway User Revenue Fund?
The best tool that I have found to successfully chart the course of any organization is that of the strategic planning process. No lasting, positive change can be achieved without design and implementation of systems which have the full support of all of the major stakeholders. It is my intention to involve our citizenry, business community and government servants in setting our vision, mission, goals, objectives and tasks, according to the participative priorities of us all.
We need to re-evaluate staffing and allocations for efficiency and effectiveness (ie, do we have the correct or adequate number of staff, resources, etc?). At the same time, we must evaluate how our existing resources are utilized. We need to focus on getting grant monies, advocating effectively for Federal and State dollars, determining if we are utilizing effective service delivery methods, and ensuring we are good stewards of tax dollars. I have a wealth of experience dealing successfully with tight budgets.
One concrete example I would advocate would be to eliminate the number and type of vehicles in our fleet. Domiciled vehicles (those that elected officials and county employees can take home) would be reduced to emergency responders only. I also would fight against the purchase of gas-guzzling SUV’s and trucks.
The current administration is embarking on a “green building” era. Is this direction one you agree with, and if so, how would you balance the conservation of resources with development in the county?
I am a proponent of this initiative. Development needs to adhere to the best of the green industry standards for the good of our limited resources and the health of our people and our environment. In this discussion, we must include our citizenry, as property rights must be respected, while accepting our communal responsibility.
We are stewards of our beautiful county. It appears to me and many of my neighbors that the direction this county has been going in is to be friends to developers at all costs, which is not what they or I want. Short-term financial gains come with a long term cost. We may not be able to stop growth; however, we can control it and determine the direction it takes, so that the quality of our life, the quality of the legacy we leave our future generations and the cultural values we hold dear can be preserved.
Water, space, unique urban environments and rural communities must all be respected. I have the greatest admiration for those ranchers in our county that have been working with environmentalists to preserve both ranching and our environment. Bigger is not always better. With limited resources, we must determine what growth is sustainable.
Some of the proposed changes to the zoning regulations have recently come under fire and have residents questioning the wisdom involved. What is your stand on the recent suggested changes? Are there any changes you would make to the zoning code?
The largest number of complaints I get from people relate to the planning and zoning department and the regulations and processes that they must follow are viewed as overly intrusive and costly. As a private citizen, I took part in the open meetings that planning and zoning facilitated after an initial outcry against the proposed zoning regulations. First, I must say the effort of those in the department during these contentious meetings was admirable, and this was a valuable forum.
That having been said, there were a significant number of recommendations from the community participants that were not included in the recommendation of the planning and zoning staff to the Planning and Zoning Commission, and subsequently to the Board of Supervisors. This was not acceptable to me, as the citizen recommendations were reasonable and legal.
It is my belief that the goals and objectives of planning and zoning, as well as the size of this department need to be thoroughly reviewed, with public input, and a new, clear direction given regarding the purpose and provision of services. Cochise County is not all urban, and each community needs to be respected in the rules. Finally, the cost in time and money to our citizens for the planning and zoning services need to be limited.
With the effort to increase power from renewable sources on the state and federal level, the county may face more requests for solar and wind power generation facilities. Do you approve of such industry and what would you do to encourage such industries to set up shop in Cochise County?
Cochise County should already be on the forefront of the alternative energy industry. I have some small experience in this field, and believe it is critical that we utilize alternative power sources such as solar and wind as part of our energy plan.
I am committed to attracting partnerships of energy companies/cooperatives, venture capital, power transmission, manufacturing and installation companies to this area. Three relatively small solar power facilities could provide all of the power needed locally for our county. Although costs for this power must be brought down, the way to do that, in part, is to invest in a green power future. This is a demand occupation, which brings well paid, sustainable and healthy jobs, as well as clean power.
Attracting industries to make an investment in Cochise County as a new hub of alternative energy takes asking for support and showing interest in seeing a project through. I would be a strong advocate for this, working with a significant number of interpersonal skills to get the job done. It is also unacceptable that we do not yet have recycling on a significant level or are supporting local food growers by facilitating the buying of local goods: another wave of necessity and the future.
Joe Green (Jose Verde)
Board of Supervisors, District 2 candidate
Democrat
• Age: 61
• How long have you lived in the local area: McNeal resident. Resident of area since 2002.
• Marital status: Divorced
• Education/military: Graduate Foothills High School; some college; thousands of hours of real property law and appraisal Theory; decades of self-education government general and specific law, economics and political philosophy.
• Employment history: Former businessman, real estate appraiser, broker, marina manager, industrial mechanic for Pacific Gas and Electric, Elk Hills Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 1, oil field service Diversified Chemical Corp., construction worker labor union Local 220, farm worker starting at age 12.
• Community affiliations:Cochise County Individual and Property Rights Association (CIPPRA), organizer and served as chairman; former assistant soccer coach, T-ball and 4-H leader; member of Earthworks; former member of Greenpeace.
• Previous offices held: Elected president of Local #526 United Cement Lime and Gypsum Worker Union AFL-CIO; appointed Organization of Industrial Community Board of Directors, youth organizer; voter registration chairman for Frontlash, Central Labor Council AFL-CIO, Commissioner on the Kern County Wildlife Resources Commission.
What qualifies you for the supervisor’s position?
Supposedly what we’re really talking about in qualifications is political philosophy and issues that best mirror the public mood. But in reality, the campaign is a glamour contest usually won by the candidate who spends the most money.
The voters have to get serious with the economy collapsing, food and energy costs skyrocketing into outer space, you cannot afford or allow yourselves to be bought by big money hacks who will sell you later.
You have three candidates to choose from — two overly educated bureaucrats and one private sector former real estate appraiser who has empirical and practical experience coupled with common sense.
Our government was meant to be a citizen-run government, with a continual rotation of persons elected from the common lot, thus preventing cliques and pedant dynasties from taking over our government. It’s your government; it’s your choice. Be wise you cannot afford to make a mistake.
The county budget stands at nearly $200 million. What cost-saving methods would you promote to reduce expenses in that budget to counter the effects of the slow economy, the state deficit and loss of revenue from the Highway User Revenue Fund?
In 2006, Cochise County spent $1,719,894 of general funds providing law enforcement and criminal justice services to undocumented immigrants, spending $25 million in 1999 through 2006 on this federal responsibility. Cochise is one of the poorer counties in Arizona with a 2005 per capita income of $12,919 annually. If the county had $1.7 million right now, there wouldn’t be a budget concern. There’s something morbidly wrong with this spending practice. I will get the money reimbursed from the federal government, or stop this boondoggle.
To offset HURF losses of $730,000 use the supervisors discretionary funding of $300,000 (each) and at a $10,130 per mile cost, cut 43 miles from the proposed work plan saving $432,590 for a total of $735,590.
The current administration is embarking on a “green building” era. Is this direction one you agree with, and if so, how would you balance the conservation of resources with development in the county?
My support of “green building,” a misnamed developer-Pat Call con job, a basic fraud upon the public, is an unequivocal no! Green building or exurbanization is a large-scale settlement by urban people in non-metropolitan areas areas beyond typical suburban commuting distances. In simpler terms, checkerboard development of mini-cities throughout rural Cochise County.
Pat Call, marionette of developers who wants to give bonus building units to developers who provide a green belt area in their projects.
When Call said, “I want Cochise County to be the most welcoming county in the state when it comes to green development.” This is a classic example of Orwell’s “doublespeak.” Strike the green from Call’s statement to see the true meaning.
Call wants to codify these mini-cities, a developer’s dream, making these developments an operation of law not subject to public review or referendum as was Smith Ranch.
As a former real estate appraiser, I safeguarded millions in public and private monetary funds from con-developers. The Board of Supervisors mainly handles land issues. Who do you want guarding your valuable property rights, a cowboy well driller, former warden, pedant ex-school administrator or an expert in real estate?
Some of the proposed changes to the zoning regulations have recently come under fire and have residents questioning the wisdom involved. What is your stand on the recent suggested changes? Are there any changes you would make to the zoning code?
The Fifth Amendment guarantee that private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation has been usurped by the board of supervisors and planning and zoning.
For example, Code 307 uses prohibited in part, “any use not permitted,” “is specifically prohibited.” 307 just took control of your property uses and transferred them to the supervisors and planning and zoning without just compensation. 307 started a mini-riot at a planning and zoning meeting in Elfrida, causing a citizen committee to be formed to reform the zoning code. Most of the citizen recommendations were tabled or ignored. I participated on that committee and felt along with others that the code needed to be rewritten and 307 repealed.
Next, more than 5,000 pre-1976 mobile homes that collectively paid $250,000 per year in property taxes were outlawed by the supervisors rendered them worthless. The owners were never paid just compensation. Due to the idiocy of the supervisors and planning and zoning, the homeowners lost the value of their homes and the county lost needed tax revenues.
With the effort to increase power from renewable sources on the state and federal level, the county may face more requests for solar and wind power generation facilities. Do you approve of such industry and what would you do to encourage such industries to set up shop in Cochise County?
Soon, the public will understand the full magnitude of this energy crisis as the economy collapses further. I forecast the lack of a meaningful all-inclusive national energy policy will go down as the single greatest public blunder in U.S, history. It’s estimated that if we had a national energy plan, it would take at least 20 years to start feeling the benefits. This is a 20-year gap in everyone’s life that no one wants.
Like a bellowing calf that’s been weaned, we’re still crying for more cheap oil.
Yes, I support renewable energy sources, but it should be understood that renewable energy will never meet our needs. There’s no free lunch. Wind and solar farms have their economic and environmental impacts and costs.
I will evaluate each proposed project on a cost-benefit basis for the people of Cochise County.
Being in a desperate position because we didn’t and don’t have an energy policy, we shouldn’t jump at and buy the first bottle of snake oil energy from any energy medicine show that hits town.
I understand energy production having worked in fossil fuel and nuclear power plants, being the only candidate with energy experience.
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