Introducing Melanie Barrett, Candidate for Oro Valley Town Council

Introduction
Melanie Barrett grew up in San Diego and moved to Oro Valley in 2009. She has been married to Nick Barrett for 15 years. They have four children, three of whom attend local schools.   She is an avid reader and photographer who loves the natural beauty of the desert.

Education and Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in English, Brigham Young University, 2004
• Graduated Magna Cum Laude, BYU Law School, 2007. Served on the Law Review.
• Oro Valley Planning and Zoning Commissioner, 2015-2018.  Vice-Chair, Feb. 2017-May 2018.
• Active participant in creating the Your Voice, Our Future 2016 General Plan.

What I plan to achieve as your councilmember                                                    

• Place the residents of Oro Valley before special interests and outside interests       
• Improve parks and recreation opportunities
• Pursue conservation opportunities
• Return to the Guiding Principles of the voter-approved General Plan
• Seek development that is responsive to residents wishes and responsible in design

Campaign Issues
• Protecting our desert environment
• The current pace of developments
• Resolving the financial problems of the Town-owned golf courses
• Residents not being allowed enough participation in Town decisions
• Lack of transparency on the Town Council
• Town Council accepting campaign donations from developers, creating a conflict of interest

- - - - -

You can read more about Melanie at her website HERE

The website is still in development so please check back weekly.

Facebook: Melanie Barrett for Oro Valley Town Council

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.

Guest View: LOVE Contributor ~ Here we go again

 

Who comprises the community?
In the November 25, 2020 edition of the Explorer, when referring to the potential purchase of the dormant Vistoso Golf Course, Mayor Winfield is quoted as saying, “I think it is very evident by the community that there’s a significant interest about the purchase and maintenance of this property going into the future.” I wondered what community he was referring to – The Vistoso community or the entire Oro Valley community?

One would think that after being mayor for over two years, Winfield would know that the people who come forward to speak at council meetings do not represent the community. They represent themselves and others who might be affected by the pending decision. Residents who speak at council meetings and/or email the council are those who are either adamantly opposed to something or strongly in favor of it.

We’ve seen this show before
In 2019, it was the Canada Hills crowd. The few hundred individuals dressed in green shirts who showed up at every meeting regarding the future of the Town-owned golf courses did not represent the entire Oro Valley community. They represented themselves as they fought to maintain their views and their property values.

The only time the council hears from the community as a whole is during the Town Council election season. The mayor ran for office in 2018 on the platform that he was going to reduce golf, but in 2019, he became intimidated by the “Green Shirts.” Nine thousand voters put him in office, and yet just a few hundred people in one section of town directed his decision on golf.

Two of the three individuals who ran on a slate with the mayor in 2018 also voted to continue operating the Town-owned golf courses. Vice-Mayor Barrett was the only one who voted NO (October 2, 2019 council meeting) and held to her campaign promise to “resolve the financial issues of the Town-owned golf courses” (Source: LOVE, May 22, 2018, Introducing Melanie Barrett) and “work towards minimizing golf losses through reducing the [number of] holes of golf.” (Source: Campaign website, MelanieBarrett.org).

The others caved to those who came to the meetings, instead of doing what the majority of voters elected them to do. As a result, we have the same golf dilemma that we had with Hiremath.

Now a different group has emerged
In 2020, the residents of the Vistoso golf course community want the Town to condemn the Vistoso golf property, pay fair market value for the property (around $3 million) and add the 200+ acres of open space to the Town’s inventory.

Does the mayor know how much this is going to cost the Town in annual maintenance obligations? Does he know if the entire community is on board with the Town purchasing this property?

The mayor and council should not make any decision until they know how the entire Town feels about this issue. A prior council went against the wishes of the community when it purchased the HSL property (the Community Center building and three golf courses) and they were thrown out of office at the next election.

The Vistoso property has been in its current state for a couple of years. There is no hurry to make a decision based solely on the wants of just those who come forward to speak.

---

Publisher Note: Mayor Winfield has stated that it is the town's intention to seek grants and contributions to pay for the purchase. In addition, the town commissioned a study that identified the cost of operating the facility under various scenarios. Residents tell us that that study far over-estimates costs by add extraneous items to the facility. Read about this and more this coming Monday.