On April 10 we did a posting: Again---"It's Like Being Nibbled To Death By Ducks"
We noted that Oro Valley will consider another increase in our already very high water bills.
You can read the Explorer article on this issue here.
http://www.explorernews.com/article/show/21848
Note: At the Council meeting,Terry Parish "pulled" this item from the consent agenda. It was then decided to continue the item for further review. We think that was a good idea.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
The Explorer Solicits Answers From Candidates Gillaspie & Parish
In the April 16 Explorer, Barry Gillaspie & Terry Parish have their responses to The Explorer on a couple of issues confronting Oro Valley.
The run-off election for these two is May 20.
Read the questions & responses here-----and be sure to vote.
http://www.explorernews.com/article/show/21852
The run-off election for these two is May 20.
Read the questions & responses here-----and be sure to vote.
http://www.explorernews.com/article/show/21852
Oro Valley Residents Offer Opinions On Terry Parish/Don Cox
Following are three letters to The Explorer discussing Terry Parish & Don Cox. The first two are responses to Cox's letter of April 9. (See our April 10 posting & comments)
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Councilman hasn’t seen a tax he dislikes
Don Cox tells us that councilman Terry Parish has given Oro Valley residents what they want. He didn’t mention what else Parish has given us.
He was a prime mover in creating the utility tax we now pay. In fact he wanted it to be twice the amount the town council ultimately approved.
He has been a proponent of creating a city property tax and supported the extravagance of the Naranja park site to the maximum projected cost, which would place an unreasonable burden on the homeowners of Oro Valley.
As councilman, Parish has not seen a tax he didn’t want to create or raise. It’s time to have council members that understand the meaning of fiscal responsibility.
Phil Stufflebean
Oro Valley
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Cox lost for same reasons Terry struggles
This is in response to Don Cox’s comments regarding Terry Parish.
How ironic is it that Don Cox would so strongly support Terry Parish. Mr. Cox lost his run on the Town Council for the same reasons Mr. Parish is struggling to keep his. They both have very close ties to local builders and received ample funds for their election bid from said builders.
Mr. Parish may have been instrumental in bringing retail and dining opportunities to Oro Valley, just not the kind that was desired. Fast food restaurants and big box stores are not what this community needed.
Personally, I feel Mr. Parish’s dual positions as a Pima County sheriff’s deputy and council member presents a conflict of interest, especially by receiving substantial outside financial support.
Mr. Cox should be careful about who he supports: his name associated with anyone running for local office is a sure bet vote for the opponent.
Patti Clemente
OroValley
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How much does Terry need in order to win?
On Tuesday, April 8th, a fundraiser for Oro Valley Town Council candidate Terry Parish was held at the Westward Look Resort in Tucson. The Southern Arizona Home Builders Association (SAHBA) was the sponsor. The Tucson Association of Realtors (TAR) sent out notices for the fundraiser. The cost was a suggested $50 to $100.
The TAR Newsletter said, “This type of election is usually over in the first ten days. That is why it is so important to get Terry the resources to get his message out as quickly as possible.”
In the primary election, Parish raised over $33,000 from out-of-town developers and related businesses (only four donations came from Oro Valley residents) far outspending all of the other candidates combined. Oro Valley voters have to ask themselves, how much money does Parish need to succeed? Why didn’t SAHBA hold the fund raiser in Oro Valley? Why are Realtors and home builders so anxious to have Parish elected? Could it be that he votes for their interests and not for the interests of Oro Valley citizens?
Phil Gibbs
Oro Valley
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Councilman hasn’t seen a tax he dislikes
Don Cox tells us that councilman Terry Parish has given Oro Valley residents what they want. He didn’t mention what else Parish has given us.
He was a prime mover in creating the utility tax we now pay. In fact he wanted it to be twice the amount the town council ultimately approved.
He has been a proponent of creating a city property tax and supported the extravagance of the Naranja park site to the maximum projected cost, which would place an unreasonable burden on the homeowners of Oro Valley.
As councilman, Parish has not seen a tax he didn’t want to create or raise. It’s time to have council members that understand the meaning of fiscal responsibility.
Phil Stufflebean
Oro Valley
***************************************************************************************
Cox lost for same reasons Terry struggles
This is in response to Don Cox’s comments regarding Terry Parish.
How ironic is it that Don Cox would so strongly support Terry Parish. Mr. Cox lost his run on the Town Council for the same reasons Mr. Parish is struggling to keep his. They both have very close ties to local builders and received ample funds for their election bid from said builders.
Mr. Parish may have been instrumental in bringing retail and dining opportunities to Oro Valley, just not the kind that was desired. Fast food restaurants and big box stores are not what this community needed.
Personally, I feel Mr. Parish’s dual positions as a Pima County sheriff’s deputy and council member presents a conflict of interest, especially by receiving substantial outside financial support.
Mr. Cox should be careful about who he supports: his name associated with anyone running for local office is a sure bet vote for the opponent.
Patti Clemente
OroValley
****************************************************************************************
How much does Terry need in order to win?
On Tuesday, April 8th, a fundraiser for Oro Valley Town Council candidate Terry Parish was held at the Westward Look Resort in Tucson. The Southern Arizona Home Builders Association (SAHBA) was the sponsor. The Tucson Association of Realtors (TAR) sent out notices for the fundraiser. The cost was a suggested $50 to $100.
The TAR Newsletter said, “This type of election is usually over in the first ten days. That is why it is so important to get Terry the resources to get his message out as quickly as possible.”
In the primary election, Parish raised over $33,000 from out-of-town developers and related businesses (only four donations came from Oro Valley residents) far outspending all of the other candidates combined. Oro Valley voters have to ask themselves, how much money does Parish need to succeed? Why didn’t SAHBA hold the fund raiser in Oro Valley? Why are Realtors and home builders so anxious to have Parish elected? Could it be that he votes for their interests and not for the interests of Oro Valley citizens?
Phil Gibbs
Oro Valley
Don Cox Has His Say Concerning The Goldwater Institute Ruling On "Giveaway"
Following is Don Cox's letter to The Explorer pertaining to the judge's ruling on the Goldwater Institute lawsuit against Phoenix. What do our readers think?
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The ‘anti’s’ lost their court battle over Phoenix funds
For several years the “anti-“ people have hammered the Town of Oro Valley over the Economic Development Agreements they signed with various developers to include The Oro Valley Marketplace. The cornerstone of their anti-ness was that such development agreements are illegal under the Arizona constitution.
Their “savior” in this argument has been the Goldwater Institute, a bi-partisan group out of Phoenix, and their “Sir Lancelot” has been an attorney named Clint Bolick. Bolick has clearly stated on several occasions that Oro Valley was in violation of the Arizona constitution and when the smoke clears the EDA(s) will be found to be unconstitutional. Some locals have consumed that Kool-Aid with great delight.
Since there has never been a challenge to the incentive language, many, including yours truly, have taken the position that until case law so indicates, the incentives are not only legal but can be very beneficial to the community also.
Recently the Goldwater Institute finally found a cause (and probably a well-financed anti- person to pay legal fees) and filed suit against the City of Phoenix for a $97 million tax incentive agreement it entered into.
The court issued its ruling on April 2, 2008, stating, in short, that the tax incentive is not a violation of the Arizona Constitution. Without a doubt it will be appealed and there still exists a possibility the Arizona Court of Appeals will issue another of its “where did that come from” rulings and overturn the lower court.
Until then, maybe the anti’s will finally give up on that front and allow Oro Valley to develop economically in an orderly manner and stop their repeated attempts to block every commercial enterprise that wishes to assist us in making Oro Valley a great place to live, work and play … and shop.
Don Cox
Oro Valley
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The ‘anti’s’ lost their court battle over Phoenix funds
For several years the “anti-“ people have hammered the Town of Oro Valley over the Economic Development Agreements they signed with various developers to include The Oro Valley Marketplace. The cornerstone of their anti-ness was that such development agreements are illegal under the Arizona constitution.
Their “savior” in this argument has been the Goldwater Institute, a bi-partisan group out of Phoenix, and their “Sir Lancelot” has been an attorney named Clint Bolick. Bolick has clearly stated on several occasions that Oro Valley was in violation of the Arizona constitution and when the smoke clears the EDA(s) will be found to be unconstitutional. Some locals have consumed that Kool-Aid with great delight.
Since there has never been a challenge to the incentive language, many, including yours truly, have taken the position that until case law so indicates, the incentives are not only legal but can be very beneficial to the community also.
Recently the Goldwater Institute finally found a cause (and probably a well-financed anti- person to pay legal fees) and filed suit against the City of Phoenix for a $97 million tax incentive agreement it entered into.
The court issued its ruling on April 2, 2008, stating, in short, that the tax incentive is not a violation of the Arizona Constitution. Without a doubt it will be appealed and there still exists a possibility the Arizona Court of Appeals will issue another of its “where did that come from” rulings and overturn the lower court.
Until then, maybe the anti’s will finally give up on that front and allow Oro Valley to develop economically in an orderly manner and stop their repeated attempts to block every commercial enterprise that wishes to assist us in making Oro Valley a great place to live, work and play … and shop.
Don Cox
Oro Valley
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