Guest View: Diane Peters ~ A New Beginning

Please watch the included video of Mayor Winfield’s opening remarks after being sworn in as mayor last Wednesday. Contrary to the openly hostile and “I’m always right” demeanor of the previous mayor, I believe you will find Mayor Winfield to be amiable, humble, and respectful.

Highlights from Mayor Winfield’s opening remarks
Winfield stated that in working with many elected officials over the years, he has learned that “Our elected officials are (1) simply ordinary people for the most part and (2) they clearly are individuals that have a desire to serve and make their community a better place.”

Mayor Winfield graciously thanked the outgoing mayor and council
He shared anecdotes to include Mary Snider’s long-standing involvement with school students and how it “speaks to her devotion to our community.” With Veterans’ Day approaching, Winfield honored Joe Hornat’s military service, noting that it “exemplifies a lifetime of service that Joe has dedicated to our country and to this community.”

The video also includes Winfield’s kind remarks and anecdotes about Mayor Hiremath and Vice-Mayor Lou Waters.

Winfield also shared his vision for leading our town
Winfield extended an inclusive outlook in defining his vision. “It’s our greatest desire to serve all the members of our community and we know it takes collaboration and cooperation and civility to make that happen…certainly we can be civil and collaborative in our efforts to serve you.”

“We are anxious to build a relationship with you, our community. We pledge that we are here to serve you and we are going to do everything we can to make you a part of that process. We don’t want anyone to feel disenfranchised or out of the loop, so to speak…We’re here to govern for all the members of our community.”
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Diane Peters has lived in Oro Valley since 2003, moving here to escape the humidity of the East Coast. She’s been involved in OV politics and development issues since 2006. In 2014, she organized a citizens group, Citizen Advocates of the Oro Valley General Plan, who over a 9-month period, successfully negotiated a controversial 200-acre development project. In her past life, she worked in medical research at various University Hospitals in New England. Her interests include reading, writing, nature photography, travel, art galleries, museums, and politics.