Guest Editorial: By Jim Bruce & Thomas McGuire
Vote for the future of Cave Creek
By Jim Bruce & Thomas McGuire | May 6, 2009
Prior to the election, and the results, it is a good time to thank all of those who have supported our candidacy. We appreciate the endorsements of Mayor Vincent Francia, our first elected Mayor Jackie Davis, members of the current council, the newly elected council members, Sonoran News and Don Sorchych, the Arizona Republic and our friends and neighbors. This show of support has been gratifying.
This campaign has been an opportunity for us to hear from individuals and groups who represent different interests in the town. Conservationists, horse enthusiasts, hikers, business owners, activists, the art community and people on the street have asked hard questions and are interested in the town’s well being.
We do not profess having all of the answers to the issues that are facing the town. However, our past records do reflect that we will make the hard decisions needed to keep the Town heading in the right direction. We support the annexation and open space. After annexation takes place, the residents of Cave Creek will have more open space per capita than any other town in Arizona, if not the country. Land preservation and opportunities for its enjoyment will help to define Cave Creek and guide responsible growth. Open space has been a special effort for the last seven years.
There is a small group led by an activist, non-Cave Creek resident, who have threatened a referendum to block our annexation and acquisition of open space. We vigorously oppose this kind of obstructionist behavior. How can anyone oppose such a history-making opportunity for the future of Cave Creek?
We support the funding and construction of the new water ranch. Our current sewer plant is at the wrong location, at or near capacity, and must be replaced. We cannot afford to wait and allow inadequate infrastructure to impact the Town.
Our water company went through extensive improvements to make the water services safe and reliable. Added water storage is a major asset to our citizens. We now have the water needed, even when there is an interruption of supply. Unlike the past, fire hydrants now have a sufficient supply to protect your families and property!
The historic town core must be protected and supported. Events such as Fiesta Days, Wild West Days, Taste of Cave Creek and the Cave Creek Film and Arts Festival are beneficial, but the fact is the town core, by itself, does not generate enough sales tax funds to support all of the Town’s expenses. A larger retail base is needed.
The Town of Cave Creek needs a master contract for its fire protection. Recommendations have been made by the Fire Options Advisory Committee, which should be acted upon in the near future. A master contract between the town and a fire service will provide the citizens of Cave Creek better fire coverage, more leverage when dealing with the Fire protection provider, and if property tax is involved, citizens can use a tax deduction that is not available under the present program. Jim chaired the committee that investigated and made specific recommendations for ways to insure our future fire protection.
The items listed above are just a few of the issues that will be presented to the council members during the next term. These issues will only be resolved by dedication, hard work, research, discussion, compromise and competent decision making.
President Reagan quipped, “I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.” With everything at stake we feel that our opponent would be well advised, having recently moved to our community, to volunteer for the Town’s various committees, to learn more about the community. Instead of spending relatively large sums on junk mail, bigger and bigger signs, and irritating phone calls, his funds would be better utilized if donated towards the purchase of 4,000 acres of open space. We pledge to those who have already supported us and to those who are still making up their minds to do the best for the Town of Cave Creek.
The election date is May 19! If you received your early ballot but have not returned it, please drop it off at the post office or Town Hall. The deadline for mailing early ballots is Friday May 15, if you miss that date you could drop it off on Election Day, Tuesday, May 19. The turn out for the March election was the highest (36 percent) for any Council election in Cave Creek. We would like to exceed that on May 19. Please vote to keep local control!