Excerpts from June 28, 2022 Town Council Candidate Forum: Statements of Nicolson and Joyce-Ivey

Today, LOVE is presenting excerpts from the Opening and Closing Statements by Councilmembers Josh Nicolson and Joyce Jones-Ivey during the Town Council Candidate Forum held on June 28th. LOVE added the subheadings.

You can watch the entire Candidate Forum HERE on the Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce website.
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Josh Nicolson Opening Statement

Background
I was born and raised in Arizona. I went to school to be an airline pilot and air traffic controller. I moved to Arizona 10 years ago with my beautiful wife and 2 young daughters. Since I joined the Council 4 years ago, I’ve been the Chamber of Commerce liaison, I was on the Budget and Finance Commission when we were doing the Police Pension Bond, and also on Visit Tucson.

Police/Public Safety
Very early on, I pushed to fix our police pension that was growing like a credit card at 7% a year. It ended up being $27 million underfunded. With the recommendation of Stifel Consulting, our newly elected Budget and Finance Commission, and our Town CFO, we ended up using $10 million of our savings to secure a bond at historically low 2.4% interest. This is going to save our taxpayers $30 million over 20 years. This $30 million in savings affords us to give our police officers a raise. They are now the highest paid officers in Southern Arizona. As many police departments throughout the nation are struggling to recruit new officers, our officers have a fully funded pension and the highest pay in Southern Arizona. This will help in recruiting and retaining the best police force.

Town Golf
As many know, I live on the Conquistador Golf Course and that was one of the things we had to tackle the very first year we were in office. We changed operators from Troon to Indigo and we opened up all the holes to public play. This is saving us millions of dollars. We used this extra cash flow to finance the golf course irrigation, build in Naranja park, tennis courts, and many more without any new taxes.

I appreciate your time tonight and I do appreciate everyone getting involved in coming to this Chamber event because it’s important for our citizens to be involved in our local government.

Josh Nicolson Closing Statement
Note: Nicolson set aside his prepared closing statement and opted instead to use his remaining time to address accusations made by candidate Bill Rodman regarding a lack of transparency on the current council.

I want to address one thing -- the transparency.
When Bill [Rodman] is talking about transparency, he’s talking about Executive Session. Executive Sessions are when we have to deal with contracts, hiring, firing, those types of things. Yes, we did have a lot of Executive Sessions because we inherited a whole lot of issues from the prior council.

But what were the results from those Executive Sessions?
We did several Executive Sessions on golf. There was a huge contract. We saved $2 million on golf. We hired our wonderful police chief, Chief Riley. We preserved Vistoso from being developed. We hired Judge Hazel. We annexed Westward Look gaining $800,000 in tax revenue for Oro Valley residents. So I want you to look at transparency. We are transparent, but when you do Executive Sessions, it’s regarding contracts, it’s for legal advice. It’s not talking behind closed doors against the citizens.

Joyce Jones-Ivey Opening Statement

Background
I am a retired 42-year ob-gyn nurse practitioner. I’m married to Jesse Ivey who was a 29-year servant of the LAPD and is also retired. I have lived in Oro Valley for six years now. For the past four years that I’ve been on council, I’ve had the privilege to not only serve, but also be liaison to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board as well as our Amphi school district.

Parks and Recreation
Our community has, since I’ve been on council, has expressed a desire for diversity in outdoor activities for both our seniors and our growing young families. This is a passion for me, that safe parks and a safe community is the best way we can continue to improve the quality of life for all our town residents.

Why I’m running for re-election
I’m running for re-election so we can finish the accomplishments of our first term and strategically and responsibly continue our town’s growth and economic needs. Thank you.

Joyce Jones-Ivey Closing Statement

Oro Valley is a better place today because we have listened to residents and made decisions that benefit all in our community – saving town golf, supporting Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve, expanding Naranja Park, all while improving town finances and continuing to ensure we remain one of the safest towns in Arizona.

I am asking for your vote to continue working to make and keep Oro Valley the best place to live in Arizona.

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Council Votes To "Preserve The Preserve"

Barrett and Nicolson lead the charge for $2 million in funding in 2025
Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett and Council Member Josh Nicolson led a successful effort last week to make the revegetation of the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve a priority in next year’s budget. As a result, the council unanimously approved including $2 million in that budget to begin the revegetation program in earnest.

Council needed to do something because town staff planned to spend next to nothing on the Preserve
Barrett and Nicolson were spurred to action because town staff had decided to fund the Preserve at a trivial level: $200,000 per year in the budget for each of the next five years; $100,000 for ensuing five. That amount is barely enough to keep the weeds at bay. At that rate, Nicolson noted, “I’m gonna be ninety years old by the time we're actually gonna be putting in some capital improvement in the property.” He’s forty today! He continued: “I do think it'd be nice for us to do something now for the people who invested nearly $2 million in the community,” referring to the fact that residents raised money to buy the Preserve.

And the Preserve is a mess
As we reported last week, the current state of the Preserve after two years of Oro Valley ownership is dreadful. One resident speaking at the meeting called it a “Ghost Preserve” because “we don’t know what’s growing there.”

Residents underscored need for real funding
Fifteen residents spoke at the meeting. They emphasized the urgent need for increased funding and focused efforts to restore the Preserve to its original desert beauty and ecological integrity. They urged the Town Council to prioritize its redevelopment, advocating for strategic investment to transform the area into a vibrant natural space representative of Oro Valley's beauty. They highlighted the importance of native seeding, revegetation, and infrastructure repair. They also called for equitable funding and decisive action to fulfill the potential of the preserve as a valuable asset for the community, emphasizing its role in enhancing Oro Valley's recreational offerings and preserving open space.

The Conservation easement holder recommended getting started now
John Welch, the representative of Archeology Southwest, the manager of the conservation easement on the property, spoke at the meeting. He said that it's time to update how we restore nature, focusing on less toxic ways to control invasive species and erosion. He believes that the town needs to complete the Vistoso master plan, making it current and consistent with the easement requirements, and that it should take action to fix urgent issues in the preserve. He believes that doing this will make it sustainable long-term and attract outside funding.

All Council Members supported the funding
At the meeting, Council Member Tim Bohen expressed the general consensus of the council. Addressing the residents directly: "You made an investment of your time, your will, and your energy, and it's really time for the Council to act. I don't think that the motion goes far enough. If there's going to be support for it, I think we should do it for at least three years… So I will support the motion, and I'm super grateful for the money that you put in. It's time for the town to start investing, and I hope we can do even more than this motion proposes tonight."

Next step: Reviewing and approving a realistic plan
In a few week, the council will hear the consultant, Sites Southwest, plans for the Preserve and the cost. Past plans presented have been grandiose. Portions have been in violation of conservation easement requirements.

Vice Mayor Barrett set the tone for that discussion: “We don't want a super expensive plan that's expensive because it involves lots of paving, additional trails, and other things that aren't consistent with the conservation easement.” 

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Introducing Josh Nicolson, Candidate for Oro Valley Town Council

Introduction
Josh Nicolson was born and raised in Chandler, AZ. He and his wife have lived in Oro Valley since 2012. They have two young daughters. They chose Oro Valley because of the excellent schools and the abundant natural beauty. Nicolson first got involved locally when his neighbors urged him to run for a spot on the HOA board. “That got me paying attention to issues in the community that impacted my neighborhood, and my awareness expanded from there.”

Education and Experience
• Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics from the University of North Dakota in 2005
• Air traffic controller at Tucson International Airport since 2009
• Legislative Representative for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA)
• Vice-President of the local NATCA
• Appointed to work with the FAA’s Safety Council to develop risk mitigation procedures
• Board member of Canada Hills Villages 9A and 9C HOA

What I plan to achieve as your councilmember

From Josh’s Press Release: “Decisions aren’t black and white, and I feel like I can take the voice of both sides and find win-win solutions. Right now it seems like developers are getting their way and there’s a group of citizens who aren’t being listened to at all. I believe elected officials have a moral obligation to do what’s best for the community as a whole and for the long-term prosperity of Oro Valley. We also need to consider the fiscal consequences for the generations to come and to make decisions that retain Oro Valley’s special sense of community and beauty that we currently have.”

Campaign Issues
• Frequent General Plan amendments and rezonings
• Mitigating the golf course losses as much as possible
• Recreation opportunities that appeal to a wider range of citizens
• Current Town Council not listening to the citizens
• Wealthy land developers dictating our politics
• Bringing transparency, honesty, and integrity to Council decisions
• Avoiding long-term debt (bonds) by returning to “pay-as-you-go” for a sustainable financial future for Oro Valley

Josh Nicolson welcomes communications with the citizens of Oro Valley and can be reached through his website, www.joshfororovalley.com (Click HERE)

You can also visit his candidate Facebook page at Josh for Oro Valley

Council Appropriates $3.2 million More For Naranja Park Buildout

Council appropriated $3.2 million reserves for Naranja Park Buildout
On November 16, the Oro Valley town Council appropriated $3.2 million to “complete” the build out of Naranja park amenities. The approval is exactly what Town staff wanted and includes all of the value engineering changes town staff recommended.  In addition, the council earmarked $509,000 of development impact fees to cover the overrun.

Bond project items that will not be funded at the moment are detailed in our posting of November 16. These will be subject to “pay as you go” spending. 

Nicolson: Sports Tourism is "front and center"

One of the key areas considered by the Council was sports tourism. This concept was introduced to council by former Mayor Hiremath. Councilmembers Nicolson and Jones-Ivey want a world-class pump track that can be used for competition. They think that it will bring people from out of town who will stay in the hotels that have yet to be built. During the one hour discussion, Nicolson, focused only on the pump track. He spoke of nothing else. Clearly, Nicolson wants his pump track.

Musette Drive Connection from Tangerine

Barrett: Borrowing was a good deal when we did it

Vice mayor Barrett commented several times during the meeting to justify why borrowing money to finance the park was good idea. The town received a favorable interest rate on the $25 million in borrowing. The amount of funding to build out the amenities was estimated to be $33 million. Yes. The amount ballooned to well over $50 million, Barrett noted. 

Mayor Winfield claimed that there was no way to predict the overrun

According to Winfield, the original estimate was provided by an engineering firm. This is not the case. It was provided by a Parks Consultant. In addition, the council was advised on several occasion by Public Works Director Keesler that there were materials shortages and that costs were rapidly inflating. 

Solomon: Council ignored statistically valid survey regarding parks priorities

Councilmember Steve Solomon said the same thing that he has said every time this subject is on the agenda. His assertion is that the amenities that are being built don’t follow what people want because they don’t in any way sync with the statistically valid survey that the town did 18 months ago. No one asked for a skate park. Or a splash pad. Residents want trails. Solomon is correct. But that ship has sailed!

Bohen: Last election validates doing this

Councilmember Bohen pointed out that we had a recent election of four people. These are the same four people who proposed the bond. They were reelected. Obviously, the community felt they were doing the right thing.

Greene voted "no" but gave no reason

Councilmember Mo Greene did not vote for the measure. He did not state the reason why he voted “no” since he did not speak. Our guess is that he was caught off guard when Solomon voted in favor. Generally, Greene votes the way Solomon votes.

Winfield's "sleight-of-hand" succeeds

Mayor Winfield is giddy over the fact that Naranja Park is going to be completed. He achieved what former Mayors Paul Loomis and Satish Hiremath were not able to get done. Both Loomis and Hiremath proposed that the town issue bonds that would be paid via a secondary property tax.  Residents voted “no” on that. 

Winfield, on the other hand, circumvented the entire “property tax thing” by issuing a bond that will be serviced from the existing sales tax. A rather clever sleight-of-hand. Oh yes… Winfield and his council also abandoned the “pay as you go” funding for parks improvements. This is a policy that his council at one time affirmed and that all council’s have followed.  The reason that policy prevailed is that is unwise to borrow to fund “wants.”

The "thing in the punch bowl:" Town has no idea what it will cost to maintain Naranja Park

What is lost in all of this is what it is going to cost to maintain the new Naranja Park. Ongoing maintenance cost of the facility has never been considered by this Council  This despite the fact that town ordinances require estimating maintenance cost before committing to build any facility. That is simply smart fiscal management. It is important to know what it is going to cost to maintain a new facility because that cost is borne in future budgets.

Barrett, Bohen, Nicolson "Shine" in Championing The General Plan

Clear support for the general plan

Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett, Council Members Tim Bohen and Josh Nicolson provided clear and unwavering support of the "Your Voice, Our Future" General Plan during last week's hearing of the Kai-Capri General Plan Amendment. They voted "No" together with Council Members Jones-Ivey. (Mayor Winfield voted "Yes".)

Barrett did her homework
Vice Mayor Barrett relies on her own analysis and not town staff to made decisions on the part of the residents. As a result, she concluded that the land use of this property should remain neighborhood commercial. She proffered five arguments in support.

There is already much land in the area zoned for residential use, land that has yet to be used

The argument that the town needs more residential property in the area of First and Tangerine to support retail located in the area has been used numerous times to justify converting commercially zoned property to residential. In fact, the prior council approved a number of commercial to retail zoning changes that are reasonably near First Avenue and Tangerine, properties that do not yet have residencies. These include Nakoma Sky (behind Home Depot); property at Rancho Vistoso and Vistoso Highlands Drive, property on the corner of LaCanada and Moore Road; and BigWash. To add yet another property before seeing the impact of these on retail in the area makes no sense. The town needs to first see how these other areas “play out”.

There are long term financial impacts on town spending to be considered

The town needs to move carefully, according to Barrett. There are long term financial impacts on town spending to be considered. She reminded the council of a study they had commissioned that noted that “The cost of municipal services is generally less for non residential development than for residential development.” Commercial haas more of an impact on the town.

Impact of recent land use changes to improve primary employment in area need time to bear fruit

Barrett also wants to see the impact of recent changes approved by this council before making yet another decision to rezone the Kai-Capri property. “We have spent a lot of the past two years... to expand property for primary employment.. Just a few months ago we passed a zoning code that would expand the allowable uses on this property... to allow it to be used for primary employment. Let’s see if this works before we consider rezoning for a different use.”

According to Barrett, the town had only 188 acres available for primary employment land before this change. Oro Valley already has a significant deficit in primary employment land compared to other towns (Marana). A town study said Oro Valley needed 300 acres to meet its ten year primary employee goal. Changing the zoning on the Kai-Capri property reduces primary employment land.

Amendment goes against some key general plan goals

“To me, there are goals in the general plan”.. that matter to her that the change proposed does not enrich. This property as currently zoned enhances some of the key challenges of meeting the general plan including the achieving the goals of improving long term financial and economic sustainability of the community, providing robust job opportunity for quality employment, minimizing traffic and maintaining a small town feel

Property, as zone, provides ideal commercial space

Her conclusion was that the Kai-Capri property as currently zoned provides for ideal commercial space. It is next to other commercial property. It’s close to “shovel ready.” The corner of First and Tangerine is one of the. last spaces in Oro Valley that provide significant commercial use opportunity.

Listen to her remarks in the panel above.

Nicolson presents two reasons he voted "no" 

Council Member Nicolson observed that proponents saying that there is not enough people living in the area of First and Tangerine fail to consider the enormous amount of discretionary spending just north of the area. He reiterated his commitment to supporting what he believes residents want (See panel left)

Bohen, likewise, did his homework
New Council Member Tim Bohen observed that the town has already done much since 2015 to make this area commercially feasible such as approving the Silverhawk development, the expansion of commercial land use to enable primary employment, the widening of Tangerine Road to provide better access to the area and marketing activities on the part of the town to let people know properties such as this are available for construction.

He concluded: “We are only three years into this ten year general plan.” This request “... does not rise to the threshold required for a change to the general plan. I respect the work that was done. I respect following the process.” 

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Kai General Plan Amendment Not Approved By Council... Barrett, Nicolson and Bohen Hold Fast

Barrett, Bohen and Nicolson hold fast to reject changing the general plan 

The Kai-Capri general plan amendment did not receive the required five Oro Valley Town Council for approval at last night’s town council meeting. 

This despite a herculean effort on the part of town staff and the applicant to get approval. This included a "sleight of hand" move in which the staff and applicant changed the request such  that the property would be used for only rental casitas. 

Three council members held fast to their initial vote on January 6 rejecting this measure. They were Vice Mayor Barrett and Council Members Bohen and Nicolson. Barrett repeated what she had said at the January 6 meeting. Essentially, six months ago the town had approved significant economic development moves to improve commerce in the area and that time needed to pass for these to take effect.

Winfield enthusiastically supported changing the plan 

Mayor Winfield and Council Member’s Solomon and Greene voted to approve as they had done in January. In fact, Mayor Winfield “doubled-down” on his support. He noted that he and his family had “recreated” on this property and that “the highest and best use of this property was residential.”

Jones-Ivey approves... 

In January,  Council Member Jones-Ivey voted to reject the amendment. This time she voted to approve the measure. She liked the idea of putting rental casitas on the property.  

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Changing Of The Guard Continues At Tonight's Council Meeting

Tonight's council meeting is marked by a continuation of a conversion from the Hiremath years of leadership to the Winfield years. Here are some of the changes that will be discussed.

Volunteer Commission Liasons
The consent agenda presents an assignment of council members to town volunteer commissions. The role of the council member is to attend meetings of these commissions and to provide feedback to council on important developments. The assignments are:

• Board of Adjustment: Solomon 
• Historic Preservation Commission: Solomon 
• Parks Recreation Advisory Board: Barrett 
• Planning and Zoning Commission: Rodman
• Stormwater Utility Commission: Jones-Ivey 
• Water Utility Commission: Piña 
• Amphitheater School District: Jones-Ivey 
•  Legislative District: Nicolson 
• Visit Tucson: Nicolson 
• Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce: Nicolson 
• Pima Association of Governments: Winfield
• Regional Transportation Authority: Winfield

There is also a liaison responsible for establishing the agenda for council meetings. It proposed that Council Member Jones-Ivey serve that role through March 1, 2019.

Volunteer Commission Term Limits

Members of Oro Valley's volunteer commissions may serve up to 2 or 3 year terms. A member can serve a third term at the discretion of the council. The council will discuss a proposed resolution by Mayor Winfield and Council Member Barrett that there be no discretionary third term. In addition, the proposal would end any current third term commission membership at the end of this year.

Council Member Barrett mentioned to us during our October interview that she was hopeful of stimulating greater community involvement by making more volunteer opportunities available. This resolution would do just that.

Nineteen 2019 Town Council Meetings

Also on the agenda is approval of the 2019 town council  meeting schedule. There are 19 of these. The next will be January 9th.

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Is It Time For New Town Outside Auditors?

11 years as auditor and counting
The town's current outside audit firm, Heinfeld Meech,  has been auditing the town's books for 11 years. That's a long time. Too long, in fact. Not because the firm may or may not have been doing a good job. But because 11 years is just too long a time period to have the same firm audit the same town staff.

Though the auditor does report to the council, they have to work with town staff for 11 years. It's really the same town staff in place. The auditor has developed relationships over 11 years with them. At this point, they trust town staff. That's nice. However, trust is not an auditing standard!

The same firm auditing the work of the same people simply does not provide the critical eye and independent thinking that is required in today's compliance oriented world.

After the Enron financial fiasco, public company best practices regarding auditors changed. It was no longer wise is to keep the same auditor forever, as Enron had done. The auditor, regardless of who it is, gets too comfortable with staff.  Post Enron, it is a best practice to change auditors every 4 to 6 years.

Trust is not an audit standard
During last week's meeting, Corey Arvisu, partner in the Heilfeld firm, responded to several probing questions by council member Nicolson. Nicolson wanted to know how the firm detected the error and whether or not they extended their audit procedures. The auditor did not know exactly how the error had been detected. He surmised that it was detected through conversations with town staff. Really, trust town staff to tell you what may be wrong?

The auditor should have known this was an area ("Developer Credits") to be investigated since it was the result of a change in policy the town in 2016. The auditor should have known of this change. They should have developed audit procedures to test that this change is being properly recorded. They did not. Instead, they trusted staff. The auditor also did not extend their audit procedures to identify all possible errors, in this year or by looking into the past.

Being the best of the worst is not good enough for Oro Valley
In continuing his response to Nicolson, the auditor went out of his way to point out that  the $3 million reporting error which his firm detected (see our posting last week) and identified as "significant" was "... not a significant concern at this point." His said that his firm has found worse in other places.  So what?

Being best of the worst is not good enough. This isn't other municipalities. This is Oro Valley. The auditor's point of reference (worse communities) is simply not good enough.

Take it behind closed doors
The council did not but should have met with the auditor is special session, with no town staff, no public attending. This has three advantages:

• The auditor can speak freely without having to temper comments because staff is watching
• Council members can ask any question they want to ask, without fearing that they are going to "offend" or in some way "impugn" town staff
• Showboating is eliminated. There is no need for any council member to use the discussion as a vehicle for pointing out how great the town is doing financially or how great the staff is.

Yes. It is time for a change, in both who is external auditor and how they report to council.
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Winfield and Council Incumbents Seek Reelection

This morning, Mayor Winfield announced that he and council members Barrett, Joyce-Ivey and Nicolson are running for reelection. The following is his statement.

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Dear Friends, 

It's my honor to serve our community as Mayor for the Town of Oro Valley. Today, I am announcing that I will run for re-election this year and would appreciate your vote. Four years ago, I announced my candidacy to become your mayor because I felt the Oro Valley residents needed to be heard and deep pocket contributors had the appearance of unduly influencing Town Council decisions. I believed that Oro Valley needed "a new direction" where everyone has an equal voice on matters related to its future.

Joining me were Councilmembers Melanie Barrett, Joyce Jones-Ivey, and Josh Nicolson. We ran and were elected as a team and have been honored to serve the citizens of Oro Valley for four years. We will run as a team again in 2022. We will run a self and resident funded campaign to ensure that council decisions are made in the best interest of the Town. We invite you to join us and welcome donations from residents who want an independent Town Council representing them. We want to build upon and and expand the many successes the Town has experienced under our leadership and make Oro Valley the best place to live, work, and play in Arizona.

Your Council has been extremely supportive of Public Safety. In 2019, we approved funding for four new police officers. After conducting a nationwide search for a new police chief we appointed the best candidate for the job, Chief Kara Riley. Her selection was strongly endorsed by residents and Community leaders, and she has since been voted the Best Public Official in Northwest Tucson. Under her leadership the Oro Valley Police Department has thrived and has started an officer wellness program, added a mental health specialist, and texting to reach 911. In 2021 are police officers saved 11 lives. While public safety was under attacked elsewhere, we increased funding for our Police Department.

Our commitment to fiscal responsibility and our police officers led us to solve the problem of our underfunded police pension liability, which will save the Town up to $30 million dollars. When we came into office, the Town had $27 million in unfunded police pension obligations. We recently paid $10 million of our excess reserves, gained through prudent budgeting, towards the debt, and financed $17.6 million at a record-low interest rate of 2.4% to save the Town millions of dollars and guarantee that the police who protect us every day have fully funded retirements.

We have supported responsible growth in the community. In 2020 to 2021, there has been a 12% increase in new business, and 30 new businesses added. We negotiated the annexation of the Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa, bringing new revenues to the Town. We are bringing in new employers like Leonardo Electronics US who will invest $100 million in a new Oro Valley plant and add 170 high-quality jobs to Oro Valley.

We promised to bring common sense solutions to the challenge of the Town's significant golf course losses. We chose to retain the courses, and operate them as municipal courses. Through changing operators, running more efficiently, and increasing play we have been able to save over $1 million every year in golf losses. 

The Parks and Recreation department oversaw the installation of the popular and widely used Naranja Park playground which opened in 2020. The Town also conducted an extensive Parks and Recreation master planning process, including resident surveys, public input, public meetings, staff contributions, professional design, and more. This led the Council to change the "golf and community center" sales tax to be more equitably used for any parks and recreation amenity in our community. Using the money saved by fixing the golf operations and the growth in the recreation tax revenues, the Council approved a $25 million bond at 2.3% interest to fund the highest priority recreation needs. The Park's bond funds will nearly build-out Naranja Park with new fields and amenities, rebuild the Community Center tennis courts and parking lot, rebuild golf course irrigation and add to our expanding multi-use path network to provide pedestrian and bike connectivity to Naranja Park and the Community Center.

The best news is that these substantial recreation investments that benefit the entire community will be mostly funded from savings in Town golf subsidies! There will be no new sales or property taxes required for these expanded amenities. As exciting as these developments are, most are just underway and will take several years to be completed.

I am running with my fellow Councilmembers for re-election because after starting Oro Valley in a new, collaborative direction, we want to finish the job. I want to keep working for you as your Mayor, to make Oro Valley the best place in Arizona for our current and future residents to live, work, and play.

I invite you to join and support our team in running this resident focused and funded campaign for re-election to serve you. Your vote matters, please vote to re-elect Joe Winfield, Melanie Barrett, Joyce Jones-Ivey, and Josh Nicolson!

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Source

Town Council Candidates collecting signatures at Oro Valley Library this week

Mayoral candidate Joe Winfield and Town Council candidates Melanie Barrett, Joyce Jones-Ivey, and Josh Nicolson will be collecting signatures this week at the Oro Valley Public Library during the Library Book Sale. They need to collect at least 345 signatures in order to be placed on the ballot for the Town Council primary election in August.

Please stop by to meet them and sign the petitions. NOTE: Petitions for all four candidates will be available to sign during the hours listed even if a candidate is not present that day.

Wednesday, April 25th

Joe Winfield   9 - 11 AM
Melanie Barrett   9 - 11 AM
Josh Nicolson   9 - 11 AM
Joyce Jones-Ivey   9 AM to Noon

Thursday, April 26th

Joe Winfield   9 - 11 AM
Joyce Jones-Ivey   3 - 5 PM

Friday, April 27th

Joe Winfield   9 - 11 AM
Joyce Jones-Ivey   9 - 11 AM

Saturday, April 28th

Melanie Barrett   9 - 10:30 AM
Joyce Jones-Ivey   9 - 11 AM
Joe Winfield   9 AM until (to be determined)

Meet Our New Council: Josh Nicolson

The "Air Conroller" Guy
Walking at Riverfront Park, we talked with a resident whom we had seen at Kreigh Park. Among other things, she told us that she was excited about the new council. "I really like that air controller guy." That guy is Josh Nicolson, one of the four new members of the Oro Valley town council.

Josh and his Chandler high school sweetheart, Dana and their 2 daughters (7 and 10) moved to Oro Valley six years ago. "We had a birthday party here. We drove down LaCanada north of Ina and we said: 'Holy cow. This is beautiful. Large lot sizes." Two years later, they were residents.

ATC by happenstance
Josh found his way into air traffic control by happenstance.  He earned an internship with a major airline after completing course work at the University of North Dakota. He was a professional pilot from 2005-2007. The pilots with whom he spoke assured

him that he would have a better family life if went into air traffic control (ATC).  Convinced, he found his way to ATC at Tucson International Airport after working with ATC in Houston, one of America's busiest skyways.

High energy
Josh is a high energy person. His drive to be involved is why he joined his HOA board. Now, he will direct his energy to Oro Valley's council.  "I have already begun reducing my volunteer activities and my extra involvement. It will be a slow transition as I want the new people to be able to carry on with excellence."

Does his "homework"
"When any issue comes up, I try to do my own research." You can't really do a good job "...unless you really know something." Part of doing his homework is making sure he listens. "I try and surround myself with people who are smarter people than me, treat them well and let them show me how valuable they are to whatever team/organization/business I'm working on."

Enjoys his family time 
" I like to sit in our swing chair and look at the mountains during the sunset with my kids, my wife my dog... read a book, play some classical guitar, I like 'Greensleeves' , meditate, and ride my mountain bike."

Family matters to Josh. "I'm most proud of my parents, who really went the extra mile to make sure I had a fun great childhood, yet forced me to keep my nose to the grindstone and work hard in school...brought me up with the North Dakota ethics of how to treat people, I wouldn't be the person I am today without them. "

Pay it forward
"I know now I was very blessed to have this great advantage and I know not all people have this privilege, so I feel a great need to give back to people less fortunate and hopefully will have more opportunity to do so during my life time."

Could A "Look-See" At A Water Feature Further Delay Restoring The Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve?

A "water feature" will be considered
Last week, the Oro Valley Town Council voted 6-1 to explore the feasibility of creating a water feature at the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve. The proposed feature would be built at the site of the former golf course pond, which has been out of operation for six years. 

This decision directs town staff to amend the current contract with consultant Kimley-Horn to obtain a design and cost estimate for the potential project. According to town manager Wilkins, this new directions should not change the cost of a consulting project that is currently underway.  The consulting contract is $150,000. To date, $85,000 has been spent.

"Look See"pauses restoration process
The proposal was spearheaded by Council Members Josh Nicolson and Melanie Barrett. Nicolson cited several reasons for considering this option, including strong community support, the potential aesthetic and recreational value of a water feature, and the opportunity to transform the disused pond into a vibrant community asset. Barrett added that having detailed cost estimates would enable the council to make an informed decision while balancing fiscal responsibility. 

The decision represents a "hold" on the council's November decision to move forward with a plan that included at Desert Garden in the area where the water feature would be.

Residents want a water feature explored
At the meeting, residents spoke in favor of the measure, emphasizing the historical and emotional significance of the pond as a community gathering place and highlighting its potential benefits for mental health, wildlife habitats, and accessibility. Rosa Daly, whose advocacy led to the measure being reconsidered, remarked, “When my children were younger, we had a beautiful golf course as our backdrop. It breaks my heart to see the area in its current state. Reintroducing a water feature would be a win for the community.” Another resident, Chris Westermeyer, said, “Whatever we do with that area, it’s got to be for the citizens. Let’s make it beautiful, something the community can enjoy, and not just another eyesore.”

Opposition from Mayor Winfield
Mayor Joe Winfield cast the lone dissenting vote. He opposed the measure due to concerns about water conservation, maintenance costs, and the potential conflict with the town’s ordinance against ornamental water use. Winfield pointed out that previous studies estimated that restoring the pond could require up to 76 acre-feet of water annually and an ongoing maintenance cost of approximately $70,000 per year. Additionally, an earlier estimate placed the initial cost of restoring the pond at $3 million. He argued that these expenses could strain the town’s resources and were not aligned with Oro Valley’s commitment to fiscal and environmental responsibility.

Winfield also reiterated the council’s earlier decision to focus on restoring the area to a natural Sonoran Desert landscape, which he believes reflects the community’s long-term vision for the preserve. He expressed concern that revisiting this decision could delay progress on the overall project.

Next fall restoration start now in question
The council’s decision to revisit the inclusion of a water feature has introduced a potential for further delay in the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve restoration project, a delay already several years in the making. The target for getting started on the restoration was next fall. That's the planting season. If you miss that season, you have to wait another year. There is a question as to whether or not that can be achieved now because...

There may not be time to get a plan in place for the planting season

Two key factors could push back the start of the restoration. First, we estimate that Kimley-Horn will not report back to the council until February.  At that point, the council must decide whether to include the water feature in its plans or proceed with the original concept of a desert garden. This decision is critical—missing the fall planting season would push the project back by an entire year.

And the project can not start until the grant is approved...Grant approval is not certain and it takes time

Second, grant approval takes time. Town staff highlighted that obtaining state grants, such as the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant, is a lengthy and unpredictable process. Preparing and submitting an application typically takes two months, while approval can take eight months or more. For instance, a current grant for non-motorized trails submitted in March 2024 remains unapproved nine months later. Additionally, no work can begin until the grant is approved. If the approval process extends beyond the fall planting season, the restoration will face another year-long setback.

An uphill struggle...More tomorrow
At the conclusion of the discussion, after the vote was taken, Council Member Joyce Jones-Ivey cautioned the audience that this vote did not approve a water feature but only approved gathering information to determine whether such a feature is viable.  We think that's a wise caution because getting approval of water feature from this town council is going to an uphill struggle. Will tell you why tomorrow.

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Guest View-Josh Nicolson: We Will Get The Marketplace Right

Probably my favorite thing about doing this job is getting out and talking to people. I am always drawn to a good conversation with a citizen, and this election season I have talked to hundreds of Oro Valley residents. 



One thing keeps coming up… they want to know about the Marketplace, and few are in support of the five and six story apartments in our scenic corridor that were proposed by Town West and HSL Properties. My opponents all support this original proposal for 75 foot, downtown style apartments. 



No doubt my opponents will approve tall buildings in the Marketplace

I got asked the other day: If those running against us win the election, can the developer can still get high rise apartments. The answer is: Yes!  This issue hasn’t been resolved and will be on the table until the area is developed.


I told Town West that four and five story buildings would not “fly” in the Marketplace


When Town West and HSL purchased the marketplace, they met with council members and Town staff. At the time, they were presenting two and three story garden-style apartments along Tangerine, and a four and five story apartment along Oracle Rd. 



I told them they had some good concepts, but that five story apartment just wasn’t going to fly in Oro Valley. 


Yet… they submitted that plan anyway!

A couple of years later when they filed the application, they had five and even six story apartments at both Tangerine and Oracle Rd. Approval could set a precedent for high rise apartment buildings and exceptions to General Plan designated scenic corridor requirements. These are the five and six story apartments the developer was proposing.




These buildings would be “really, really high”, blocking our scenic views

Council members were taken on a site tour, and apparently the applicant had run out of helium before placing balloons at the corner closest to Oracle where the view would be most blocked. I grabbed a balloon from another location and tramped through the brush to get it set up correctly to be able to see the correct height impact. Due to the flexible nature of the balloons and wind, the balloons lean at an angle. We ended up getting the police department to bring out drones to show us how tall the buildings really were. 


The shaded area shows you the view blockage

These pictures [panel right] show you just how much the view would be blocked from Tangerine Road and the multi-use path next to it:

A. This picture shows the view to the West, and just how much higher the drone (actual building) would be than the balloons. 

B. These pictures are from near the multi-use paths near the Marketplace. You can see how high the balloons are from that angle, as well as the drone higher up.








 

The latest plan is workable. It is “community friendly”

In the end, the council members whose campaigns weren’t funded by Town West and HSL were able to negotiate for the citizens and asked for a plan that would be within existing heights and setback limitations to preserve the scenic view. 



A plan is pending that would allow for two and three story garden style apartments, and a small amount of height allowance for two 49’ hotels that would follow scenic corridor setback requirements. 



We will always fight for you

If you feel, as I do, that this would be a better fit for Oro Valley, please be sure to re-elect your Mayor and Council to represent you.



Josh Nicolson

Oro Valley Council Member and Council Candidate

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Note: LOVE added the subheadings for reader convenience

Incumbent Council Members Win…. Mayoral Seat Leaning Toward Winfield

Barrett, Jones-Ivey, Nicolson handily defeat opponents

It looks as if the three incumbent council members will be in their seats on the Oro Valley Town Council until 2026. Vice Mayor Barrett and council members Jones-Ivey and Nicolson have substantial leads over challengers Hurt, Rodman and Erceg. 

Provisional votes yet to be counted

We believe that all that is left to count are “provisional votes.” We do not know how many of these there are. Generally, they are a small percentage of the total votes. Our guess is that there are no more than a few hundred. The closest challenger, Charlie Hurt, is currently 500 votes short of the lowest winning competitor so it is doubtful that he or his fellow challengers can “make up ground” with provisional voting.

Winfield leads, but mayoral race too close to call
We are waiting the results of the provisional ballot counts. At the moment, Mayor Joe Winfield leads challenger and former Police Chief Danny Sharp by 119 votes. This one could be close, folks!

Low Turnout
There were 25% fewer ballots cast for Mayor and 22% fewer ballots cast for council than in 2018. At that time, Winfield earned 9,242 votes. That is much greater than the 6,018 votes counted in this election so far. He easily defeated his opponent in 20% with almost 60% of the total vote. Not so this time.

More to follow as we learn more

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Greene Helps Make Town Staff 4% Pay Raise A Reality, Ignoring Financial Warnings...Failing To Participate In Discussion

Town Staff Gets Big Pay Increase 
This year’s budget includes a whopping 4% increase across the board for all employees. That’s the highest level ever given, in a year in which the council was warned that revenues are going to be tight in the future. 

Greene, Joyce-Ivey, Solomon and Winfield supported big increase
That increase was explicitly approved by a slim council majority at the June 19 council meeting, a meeting in which the council approved the $151.2 million fiscal 2025 Budget. Vice-Mayor Barrett had argued in favor of the historical 3% increase.  Council Members Bohen and Nicolson voiced their support for that.

Town “Spreads the Peanut Butter” when it comes to pay raises... No performance based awards...No incentive to get better
When it comes to staff pay raises, Oro Valley spreads the peanut butter! Everybody gets the same percent increase regardless of their performance. 

This contrasts with private sector practice where, as noted by Vice Mayor Barrett and Council Member Bohen, employees are paid based on their performance. As Council Member Nicolson noted at that meeting, who works in the public sector under the across-the-board pay philosophy: “I get the same raises, still same pay, not really a whole lot of incentive to improve.”

Barrett: Individual performance should be individually awarded
“I think it’s important to have some performance-based measures because I think that helps encourage our good employees, and we can help identify the employees that are most likely flight risks. That’s something that’s done regularly throughout all of the private sector and efficient places in other sectors as well,” said Vice Mayor Barrett.

Votava: No. That might make some people unhappy
Town Human Resource Director Andy Votava does not think that is a good idea: “So, in my mind, I don’t think we’re well-equipped to implement a pay-for-performance system because the danger or the hazard is that if we don’t do it well, some employees may take issue with that. Potentially, anybody can file a lawsuit, but it could lead to complaints.” 

Greene supported this massive increase in spending though he failed to even participate in the discussion

Mo Greene, who is running for reelection, claims to be fiscally responsible. However, his actions, including his decision to support this 4% across-the-board pay raise despite looming financial constraints, demonstrate the opposite. He was so disinterested in the conversation on the pay increase that he did not participate in it. Not one word!

Indeed, Greene's disregard for fiscal responsibility was evident when, at the Sun City forum, he was asked how he would demonstrate fiscal responsibility. He merely echoed Council Member Solomon's statement in a May council meeting: "We need to separate our wants from our needs." Greene then referenced something he did 20 years ago while working the New England Journal of Medicine, without citing any actions he has taken on the council in the past four years. That's because there were no examples to cite. 

Next Tuesday's election is a clear opportunity for voters to hold him accountable for his demonstrated lack of fiscal responsibility. 

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(Source: June 19, 2024 Oro Valley Town Council Meeting, Item 5)

Meet the Candidates

Mark your Calendars

Meet the Candidates

Oro Valley Library

Wednesday, May 23rd at 5 PM

Come meet Mayoral Candidate, Joe Winfield and Town Council Candidates Melanie Barrett, Joyce Jones-Ivey, and Josh Nicolson at the Oro Valley Library on May 23rd starting at 5 pm. They will be discussing the future of Oro Valley and listening to your concerns.

UPDATE: Josh Nicolson has a prior commitment and will be unable to attend.

New Taxes not a "Silver Bullet"... Part Of A Package Of Actions For Sustained Oro Valley Fiscal Stability

Town has identified and council has considered three new taxes to cover possible future spending shortfall

In March, Oro Valley Finance Director David Gephart presented a five-year forecast of the Town’s General Fund showing that expenses are projected to exceed revenues beginning in fiscal year 2029–30. The General Fund—one of the Town’s many funds—supports day-to-day operations, capital spending, and transfers to other funds. In response to the projected financial shortfall, Town staff identified several ways to close the gap. These included implementing three new taxes already in place in nearby communities: a commercial rental tax, a use tax, and a telecommunications tax. Together, these taxes, along with long-overdue fee increases for parks and recreation programs, would close the roughly $3 million funding gap identified in the forecast. The Council approved the  Parks and Recreation fee increase in October. As reported last week, the Council is expected to vote on them at its next meeting.

 
New taxes are not a "silver bullet" but are part of a set of actions to insure financial sustainability

Though much has been said by town staff in favor of the proposed new taxes, these taxes are not a “silver bullet” for ensuring Oro Valley’s long-term financial sustainability. According to Mayor Joe Winfield, speaking at the October 15 study session on the new taxes, “We’re looking at this as one of many tools,” he said, emphasizing that the Town must continue to pursue multiple strategies to strengthen its financial position rather than relying on any single measure.  Winfield pointed to the Town’s strategic refinancing of its public safety pension debt—which has saved about $3.4 million—as an example of responsible financial management. He also cited other ongoing efforts to improve fiscal sustainability, including pursuing annexation of retail rich areas, working to reduce retail sales leakage, and supporting population growth through approved housing projects now under construction. Winfield said that all these actions together—not any single one—will help build a stronger financial foundation for the Town.

While town focuses on maintaining efficient operations

Winfield also stressed that the real solution also lies in maintaining an efficient municipal government and practicing disciplined budgeting. Finance Director David Gephart believes that the Town is running a “tight ship.” He emphasized that Oro Valley has been proactive in managing expenses and maintaining fiscal discipline. Gephart outlined several ongoing efforts to control spending, including limiting staff growth, consolidating positions where possible, and delaying or reprioritizing capital projects that are not immediately necessary. The Town is also using technology to improve efficiency, reducing reliance on outside consultants, and closely monitoring contracts and operating costs. He noted that departments have been asked to identify savings and that the Town continues to maintain healthy reserves without relying on short-term borrowing. Gephart said these measures have allowed Oro Valley to preserve high service levels even as costs increase and revenues grow more slowly, demonstrating that the Town is already “doing more with less” while continuing to strengthen its long-term financial position.

 
Impact of new taxes on businesses and tenants remains uncertain

Town staff said they do not believe the proposed new taxes would place a significant burden on residents or the business community. The only direct impact on residents would be a small increase in their cell phone bills. Regarding the commercial rental tax, Finance Director David Gephart said the effect on tenants would depend on lease terms and market conditions—some landlords might absorb part of the cost to stay competitive, while others would likely pass it through to tenants. Councilmember Nicolson initially disagreed, noting that most Oro Valley commercial centers are owned by large, out-of-state corporations that operate under strict financial models and are therefore unlikely to absorb new costs. Later in the meeting, however, Nicolson pointed out that Oro Valley’s commercial vacancy rate—about 14 percent—represents an oversupply condition that could limit a landlord’s ability to raise rents, meaning some may have to absorb at least part of the additional expense themselves.

Council decision will shape Oro Valley’s long-term financial path

Soon, the Town Council will decide whether to move forward with all or some of the proposed new taxes. The decision will determine how Oro Valley balances its budget in the years ahead—whether through new revenue sources, continued cost control, or a combination of both. Whatever the outcome, the discussion has made clear that maintaining the Town’s long-term fiscal stability will require steady attention, discipline, and a mix of strategies rather than reliance on any single solution.

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Tucson Association of Realtors spreading Town Council election falsehoods

A LOVE reader sent us this screenshot of an email that is being distributed by The Tucson Association of Realtors (TAR) and the Realtor Political Action Committee (RPAC).

The contents of this email are a blatant lie and there are only two possible explanations for this:

• They received inaccurate information and didn’t bother to verify its authenticity before spreading this false information

• Or they are deliberately putting their own spin on the story in order to instill FEAR in their members in an attempt to drum up donations and votes for Hiremath-Hornat-Snider-Waters

Did TAR interview the challengers? No! So how do they know the challengers stances on this issue? On what basis did they draw the conclusion that the challengers “have promised to impose a building moritorium [sic] in Oro Valley if elected?” Did a mole attend one of the challengers Meet and Greets and then inaccurately report back what transpired at that meeting?

Fortunately, we have an accurate report of the challengers’ positions on development. Below are direct quotes from the 3-part article, “LOVE interviews mayoral candidate, Joe Winfield” published on June 5-6-7.

In Part 1 of the interview, Winfield stated:

“In addition, I want to moderate growth. I would approach that by simply putting a moratorium on any amendments or rezonings and letting our community take a breath on the amount of development that has been occurring. I’m not suggesting that we don’t need development or that development would need to stop, but that we would comply and follow the current land use and zoning.”

Winfield suggested only a moratorium on General Plan amendments and rezonings. He never promised a complete moratorium on all building. He said “moderate…take a breath…follow the current land use and zoning.”

First of all, a moratorium is just a temporary halting of an activity, in this case, a temporary halting of General Plan amendments and rezonings. That is a far cry from imposing a complete moratorium on all building.

Does Winfield’s measured approach sound like something that would “have a dramatic impact” on the entire community?

In Part 2 of the interview, Winfield stated:

“I would hope to have made a difference in terms of the development of our community. Admittedly, much of the community is already developed so I don’t know that you’ll see a significant difference but I would hope that there would have been some moderation in development and the type of development.”

Does that sound like a complete building moratorium to you? Does that sound like it would lead to a dramatic impact?

Melanie Barrett’s thoughts on development

“Seek development that is responsive to residents wishes and responsible in design…[slowing] the current pace of developments.” [Introducing Melanie Barrett, LOVE, May 22nd]

Joyce Jones-Ivey’s thoughts development

“Responsible growth that preserves our town’s scenic beauty…Adhere to the guiding principles of the General Plan.” [Introducing Joyce Jones-Ivey, LOVE, May 24th]

Josh Nicolson’s thoughts on development

“Frequent General Plan amendments and rezonings…Right now it seems like developers are getting their way and there’s a group of citizens who aren’t being listened to at all. I believe elected officials have a moral obligation to do what’s best for the community as a whole and for the long-term prosperity of Oro Valley.” [Introducing Josh Nicolson, LOVE, June 11th]

As you can see, TAR and RAPAC are using fear tactics and spin to drum up support for their cause. No one should take them seriously. After all, they can’t even spell moratorium, the very subject of their email! They misspelled it four times!

TAR and RAPAC have a right to support the incumbents but they need to cease and desist with their lies and fear-mongering.

Challengers Have Raised and Spent Far More Than The Incumbents

David v Goliath

It is truly a “David v. Goliath” scenario when it comes to fundraising and spending in this August’s Oro Valley Mayor and Town Council Election. 

Candidates, including a PAC supporting challengers Sharp, Erceg, Hurt and Rodman have raised cash donations of $221,114, and spent $144,622 as of June 30. They have raised far more cash and spent far more cash than incumbents Winfield, Barrett, Joney-Ivey and Nicolson, on both counts.

The gap is huge.  The challengers and a supporting PAC, Keep Oro Valley Strong (KOVS), have received 89% of all cash donations and expended 75% of all spending to date.

Sharp, Erceg, Hurt and Rodman garnered developer and real estate community financial support
The sources of cash donations from the developer and real estate community mirror the 2018 election financial support provided to then Mayor Hiremath and his council’s reelection campaign. 

The challengers (Sharp, Erceg, Hurt, and Rodman) received donations from these same sources. For example, individuals affiliated with HSL Properties, a major contributor to the 2018 Hiremath team, have contributed $53,000 in total to the challenger’s campaigns. That’s 31% of the funds they have raised. $12,000 of that was donated to Danny Sharp’s campaign. 

The challengers have also received financial support from the real estate community. The Realtor’s of Southern Arizona PAC contributed $17,000 to the campaigns. The Southern Arizona Homebuilders Association PAC contributed $750 to Erceg’s campaign. 

As a result, the four challengers have received significant financial support primarily from individuals living outside Oro Valley. 57% of their funding has come from those who do not live in the town. 

Winfield, Barrett, Jones-Ivey and Nicolson fundraising pattern has a “home grown” Oro Valley, no special interest,  “skin-in-the-game” flavor
The fundraising efforts of the current council member candidates are starkly different from those of the challenges. They have focussed on raising money from Oro Valley residents and not taking money from PACS. The result is that they have raised far less money. Cash contributions to date are $26,687. 89% of these are from Oro Valley residents. 

The incumbent candidates have also put “skin-in-the-game,” loaning their campaigns $12,710. Challengers Hurt and Erceg have also loaned their campaigns $11,310. They also received in-kind donations of $17,000 in total for development of their web sites.

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Note: The source of the data in this article is the second quarter Campaign Finance Reports of the candidates and KOVS.

Guest View-Rosa Dailey: Those Who Are Free To Represent The Citizens vs Those Who Are Not

Incumbents instrumental in making the Preserve a reality

Today at 8:30 am, Mayor Joe Winfield will cut the ribbon that launches the new Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve in Oro Valley. Though too many residents, members of Preserve Vistoso, and The Conservation Fund endured the 21-month saga that ensued to purchase the old Vistoso golf course, few people know the key to why it was possible. 

Mayor Winfield, Vice Mayor Barrett, and Councilmembers Jones-Ivey and Nicolson won their seats and a majority on the Oro Valley Town Council in 2018, without taking developer and special interest money. 

Consequently, when the over 200 acres of the closed Vistoso golf course drew developers like flies, the Winfield administration was able to swat them away and serve the residents who deserved to have the land remain recreational. 

They were free to represent us because they are independent of special interest influence

The recent debate forum hosted by the Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce brought out this distinct difference between the two groups of candidates running in this election. It was actually quite amusing to listen to the excuses made by Joe Erceg, Charlie Hurt, Bill Rodman, and Danny Sharp as they rationalized why they could take developer and special interest campaign contributions and still represent the residents of Oro Valley.

They are “grass roots” candidates… Free to represent the residents of Oro Valley 

Winfield, Barrett, Jones-Ivey and Nicolson are running as incumbents the same way they ran in 2018. They are significantly self-funding their grass roots campaigns to ensure that crucial decisions about land, like the one that will soon give us a new nature preserve, reflect residents’ desires and not those of powerful special interest groups.

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Rosa Dailey is a resident of Rancho Vistoso. She played a leading role in bringing the Preserve to reality. She was there from the beginning through to the end.