Saturday, February 6, 2010

A Personal Assessment Of Mike Zinkin---By Phil Richardson

I LIKE MIKE

A personal assessment of Mike Zinkin, candidate for Mayor of Oro Valley.


I feel qualified to mention Mike Zinkin’s attributes because I probably have known him longer than most anyone in Oro Valley – ever since he was a student at the U. of A, where he got his Bachelor’s Degree in 1967. We worked together on a civic project. A Big Man on Campus (BMOC), he could have become your high school history teacher.

Instead, he started Naval flight training as a Commissioned Ensign and that led to Air Traffic Control Officers School and a lifelong career as an FAA Air Traffic Controller.

I can’t think of a job that demands better judgment and ability to perform perfectly under pressure. He finished his career as an Area Supervisor – at Lambert Field, St. Louis and moved to Oro Valley in 1998. He got involved in community affairs almost immediately.

I didn’t have anything to do with Mike running for public office. In fact, I had no connection with him for over 40 years

I never heard him attempt to manage a long queue of planes stacked up over an iced-in runway, but those who’ve served with him on the Canada Hills Community Association, the Oro Valley Development Review Board or the Steam Pump Ranch Task Force know him to be a genial guy, willing to listen to everyone, but firm in his convictions and decisions. He is truly an independent person, beholden to no power structure – only to us citizens. Once you compare his list of contributors to other candidates’ backers, you’ll see this is true.

Mike is big enough, has presence enough and people naturally like him well enough so that he doesn’t have to quibble over petty issues.

This has also served him well while officiating at high school football and baseball games. If Mike has a weakness, it’s for sports. Don’t try to best him at sports trivia. This began shortly after he was born in Indianapolis in 1945. Name a major league player or a Tucson high school coach and he knows them well.

Mike Zinkin is a strong person, a terrific candidate, and we’re fortunate to have him retired in Oro Valley and willing to assume a heavy burden during a very important and difficult time in the life of our community.

I’ve been an activist, editorialist and participant in a score of community boards and commissions, and this is the first time in my life I’ve felt compelled to do such an endorsement. The biggest reason: I prefer Mike Zinkin’s feeling for keeping a tight rein on the purse strings and an appreciation how taxation impacts all of us - but the wage earner most of all.

-Phil Richardson

24 comments:

Unknown said...

Wonderfully put! Mike is a true thinker, uncluttered by ego or special interest. He truly wants for the TOV to be not just a place but a community. He is smart, he is pliant, he has knowledge, he is a people person, AND he has balance; he is Mike.

Ferlin said...

Mike Zinkin may be good BUT I find him a little lacking in his dealings with his supporters....

Gives you a smile and promises and no thanks for support.

I think we have a bunch of loosers and am really undecided.

Victorian Cowgirl said...

Ferlin,

I am one of Mike's supporters and I have not experienced a lack of appreciation for my support of his campaign as you describe.

If you've been to the candidate forums, you know that he stood out head and shoulders over his opponents. Loomis gave a lot of politician-speak non-answers and after years of telling us that business revenue meant that we would avoid a property tax, he is now pushing for a property tax as well. Hiremath couldn't balance the budget at GOVAC and admitted that he never attends council meetings (well, except for when he went before the council to ask for more money for GOVAC because he couldn't balance their budget).

Neither Loomis nor Hiremath have shown me that they have any inclination towards working within their means.

Ferlin said...

Collected 60 sigs for his entering the race. Sent $.

Not a "kiss my ass" or anything. He is a high flyer.

Richard Furash, MBA said...

I have met with Mike, spoken with him, interviewed him, seen him in action, watched and heard the other two candidates.

Frankly, selecting Mike as the best candidate for Mayor is a no brainer.

Satish will not have enough time to serve as Mayor, given he has a business and a young family. He also has no clue as to the working so Oro Valley and has stated in public that he hates council meetings. He hasn't a clue on how to do this job or what the amount of time it will take to do it.

Mike does. He's going into this deal with both eyes open.

And you all know what I think of Mayor Loomis: "Ten years too many." We need a break from him and his inability to control Oro Valley runaway spending.

Mike Zinkin is independent of me, Art, and anyone else I can think of. He is his own person.

Its time for us to the vote out for Mike so he can get the job done.

Anonymous said...

I agree that Mike is the right guy fir this time in our town's history. He is independent of the poor decisions made in the last couple of years and more importantly he is not beholdimng to anybody or any group. This is going to be a tough time to lead the community and the guy that created the mess (Loomis) is not the right guy to fix it. My business experience has taught me that you need to bring in a new manager to fix a mess. Mike is the right guy and has my support, for whatever that is worth.

Anonymous said...

my apology for the typos, I am a good speller and a lousy typist, I will be more careful to proof my future submittals.

Meyer L said...

I must have met a different Mike Zinkin. His demeanor was a little distnat and his LaEncanta attitude didn't set well with my shop Oro Valley mentality and pocketbook. He follows suit with the elitist cheerleaders here. As a mayoral candidate, I would expect that Mike would promote Shop Oro Valley

The LOVE blog IS a special interest group. Individuals supported by it are expected to tow the line.

Victorian Cowgirl said...

Ferlin,

I also collected sigs and sent money. I received a thank you card in the mail. I received another thank you e-mail. He also thanks me for my support whenever we talk on the phone. Not sure how you fell through the cracks.

Victorian Cowgirl said...

OinStarr,

Webster's Dictionary defines ELITE as:

The group or part of a group regarded as the finest, best, or most distinguished.

Thank you for the compliment.

artmarth said...

OinStarr--- If by "towing" the line, you mean "toeing the line"---you are correct.

We expect candidates like Bill Garner & Salette Latas who, after getting elected, do not forget their commitment to the people who helped get them elected.

That is a simple credo. Do what is best for the vast majority of the people of Oro Valley. Nothing more! Nothing less!

If that makes us a "Special Interest," we're proud to be just that.

Victorian Cowgirl said...

I heard that the Chamber of Commerce is endorsing Hiremath. Hmmm...I wonder why that is...

Could it be because he is a MEMBER of the CofC?

Could it be because he PAYS DUES to them every year? (Dues run anywhere from $210 to $1,020/year depending on the number of employees in your business.)

Could it be because their MISSION is to "serve, promote and protect" THEIR MEMBERS in the business community?

Hiremath never attended any council meetings. Does anyone know if he's even graduated from the Citizens Planning Institute? Mike did.

Nombe Watanabe said...

OINSTARR:

If only we had a LaEncanta here in the OV rather than the cookie cutter shops we must endure.

Think of the sales tax revenue we would be enjoying.
My motto for the next election is "More Tiffany, less Zales".

Don't even get me started about restaurant selection in the OV. - NW

Meyer L said...

NW

My budget and I'm sure many other's doesn't even include Zales. What store at LaEncanta sells blue collar work clothes? Not everyone who lives in the OV has a budget for caviar. Some of us work at the establishments that you continually knock. We matter too.

Anonymous said...

Regarding shopping options-- we need a mix. Yes Wal-Mart, Best Buy and the cookie cutter stores, but we also need some upscale options-- check out the Apple Store at LaEncantada and you'd wonder if they are in a recession, can OV support an AJs-- I think so. Unfortunately, these outlets tend to stay away from shopping areas that contain the Wal-Mart types.

I for one think that a unique community contains a few unique retail options. It is too bad that the decisions made regarding retail seems to relate only to increasing tax collections, with little thought given to the mix of retail that the community should provide its citizens.

Meyer L said...

The intent of my original post was to focus on a mayoral candidate and an attitude I observed. Shopping options has detracted from that. Artmarth's comments only solidifies why Mike may have a difficult time being his own person.

artmarth said...

OinStarr--- You keep saying "Mike will be beholden to me" in one form or another.

Will it make you feel any better if I offer this disclaimer here and now?

To Whom it may concern:

Please Vote For Mike Zinkin For Mayor. Mike will NOT be beholden to me. He will however be beholden to the people of Oro Valley.

Is that clear enough?

Unknown said...

OinStarr, if you have read my commentaries on this site, then you should know I am absolutely independent from it; also, I have no affiliation with any other defined interest entity. I must iterate that I, too, as my opening statement reads, am very pro Mike Zinkin relative to my beliefs that he makes for the best choice for Mayor for the Town of Oro Valley. I am most certain that Mike will be his own person and will NOT be beholden to the proprietors of this site or any other 'interest group(?)' whatsoever; I do believe that the other two mayoral candidates do have ties that could tilt them in favor of same (or maybe not). Just because a candidate might be endorsed by a person or group of persons does not mean that a reverse cause is necessarily a reality.

Victorian Cowgirl said...

OinStarr,

You said that your budget doesn't even include Zales. That's OK. There was a time when my budget was exactly like yours and I shopped at lower priced stores. But you have Wal-Mart and the dollar store and Target to fit your budget. What stores are there in OV for those with a bigger budget? I agree with Chuck. OV should have a MIX of stores. Something for everyone's budget. What's wrong with that?

You asked, "What store at LaEncanta sells blue collar work clothes?" I ask, "And what store at OVM or anywhere else in OV sells good quality clothing for white collar workers?" There aren't any.

OV doesn't get any of my sales tax dollars as a result.

To quote you again, "We matter, too."

Why is it only OK for Oro Valley to have discount stores but it's not OK for Oro Valley to also have some mid-priced and higher end stores as well? I don't understand.

Nombe Watanabe said...

Mr. Davis and Ms. Cowgirl are right, we need a mix of retail shopping and dining opportunities.

Mr. Starr is also correct, we need to focus on the candidates .... Pls support Mike Zinkin. If he wins, he will have a most difficult job and he will need assistance, support and advice.

Now, I have to get over to Williams Sonoma, I heard there was a sale on copper cookware....

Anonymous said...

dear nombe-- while you are picking out your copper cookware, would you mind stopping by AJs and getting me some petrale sole and stop at the apple store and pick up a number for me so i do not have to wait in line so long the next time i visit the apple store

Nombe Watanabe said...

I love the AAPL store. I just got a new iMac, my first mac and it is wonderful. I won't state which iMac I bought in deference to Mr. O. Starr.

Now if I could just get Win7 to run with boot camp, (apparently beyond my computer skills) I could kill Space Zombies gaming on the PC side.

Oh and I like the Prime Rib-eye at COSTCO just as much as the Prime cuts at AJs, so there.

artmarth said...

This Blog is starting to look like The Shopping Channel.

Main point---Vote Mike Zinkin For Mayor!

Anonymous said...

Your right Art it is a shopping channel. Some shopping for products and others shopping for a good candidate. For my money, Zinkin is the right product for what promise to be a very difficult time.