By Richard Dyer
Twitter: @RHDyer

If a majority of property owners in Gold Canyon in unincorporated Pinal County petitioned to be annexed into the city, it would get a lukewarm reaction by some candidates for Apache Junction City Council and mayor who would have the final say.

Five Apache Junction residents have qualified to run for mayor and five others for three seats on City Council.

Running for mayor are Charles Austin, Robin Barker, Jeff Barlett, John Insalaco and Chip Wilson. Vying for council are Braden Biggs, Darryl Cross, Kelly Gremmel, Tess Nesser and Jeff Struble.

The mayor and the seats of three members of council --- Vice Mayor Wilson and Councilmembers Barker and Struble --- all who were elected in November 2016, are up for re-election. Incumbent Mayor Jeff Serdy is not running as he is seeking office on the Pinal County Board of Supervisors.

Independent Newsmedia reached out to each mayoral and council candidate seeking answers to a variety of questions, which will be detailed at yourvalley.net in the coming weeks.

Since the consent of a majority of the City Council would be required for any annexation, candidates were asked if a majority of residents of Gold Canyon petitioned to be annexed into the City of Apache Junction, would he or she vote yes and why or why not?:

Mayor candidate Chip Wilson

A cost analysis of bringing Gold Canyon into the city would need to be done first, such as how to budget for a police substation and road maintenance, Mr. Wilson, 72, said.

“I would request a cost summary be accomplished. This study would include the cost for any needed road repairs, any needed upkeep and improvements required to include the required additional labor to meet these needs. Also include the additional needs for police vehicles, the increased officer needs as well as the establishment of a substation to meet the needs of the Gold Canyon community,” he said.

“Finally, we would have to figure out how we are all going to pay for these expected expenditures. Finally I would vote what is best for both communities,” Mr. Wilson said.

He retired from Boeing as a calibration and repair of electronic test equipment technician, and retired from the military after more than 22 years of service.

He is on Facebook at Chip Wilson for City Mayor. He can be reached at walterchip@aol.com or 602 361-6135.

Mayor candidate John Insalaco

Mr. Insalaco, 82, said it is not cost-effective to join the city with Gold Canyon.

“Gold Canyon has made it very clear that they would like to stay the way they are, an entity of their own,” he said.

“It would not be feasible or cost-effective for Apache Junction or Gold Canyon, at this time, to join as one city,” Mr. Insalaco said.

Mr. Insalaco retired from Insalaco’s Music and Upholstery in December 2013 after 42 years ownership and now plays in the four-piece band “Country Soul.”

He can be reached at jsinsalaco@gmail.com and 480-323-6752.

Mayor candidate Jeff Barlett

Gold Canyon should incorporate as its own town and not become part of the City of Apache Junction, Mr. Barlett, 24, said.

“I personally believe that less government is better for the people and I feel that if people from Gold Canyon want to have a city government they should incorporate it as their own town,” he said.

“I would vote against this because I believe that less government is better for the people,” Mr. Barlett said.

He works as a call-center representative and has experience working as a correctional officer, as a semi-truck driver and has also worked in security and other occupations, he said.

Mr. Barlett is on Twitter @barlettjeff and Facebook @Barlett4Mayor2020. He can be reached at vote4jeffbarlett@gmail.com.

Mayor candidate Robin Barker

In-depth research is needed before considering if Gold Canyon should become part of the City of Apache Junction, Ms. Barker, 77, said.

“If the residents of Gold Canyon petitioned for annexation into Apache Junction, a great deal of research would have to be done before consideration. Though Gold Canyon would increase our population, that does not automatically mean it would also increase our revenues,” she said.

“Those who shop in Apache Junction now would continue to do so and those who don’t would very likely continue to go outside of the city. I would want in-depth research into these areas,” Ms. Barker said.

Ms. Barker is a retired English teacher (21 years); and was owner of the AJ News.

She is on Facebook at Robin Barker for Mayor 2020. She can be reached at barkerr43@yahoo.com and 480-980-0880.

Mayor candidate Charles Austin

Annexing Gold Canyon would help with the stability of the City of Apache Junction, Mr. Austin, 58, said.

“Would I vote yes? I sure would vote yes. Why? That will help with the growth and stability of Apache Junction,” he said.

Mr. Austin has worked with a lawn service, with various employment assignments; Botta’s Concrete Construction; and for D Bradshaw and other contractors.

He can be reached at ctecaustin@msn.com or 602-309-8226.

Council candidate Jeff Struble

If feasible and a win-win situation, Gold Canyon should be annexed, Mr. Struble, 57, said.

“As long as it was a feasible endeavor, I would vote for the annexation. It has to be a win-win situation,” he said.

“Since Apache Junction does not have a property tax it is important that we get people to use our community’s businesses to create revenue streams. Therefore, we need to make sure that the annexation has sufficient people in relation to the land-mass added,” Mr. Struble said.

Mr. Struble owns both Padgett Business Services and Fatmans Pizza.

He is on Facebook at Jeff Struble for Apache Junction City Council and has a website, letsbuildourfuture.com. He can be reached at jeff@rhinodreams.com and 480-694-5100.

Council candidate Tess Nesser

A combined city of more than 50,000 people would bring more tax funds from the state and federal coffers if Gold Canyon property owners desired to be annexed, Ms. Nesser, 71, said.

“Yes. Why? If for no other reason than for all the economic benefits to both communities. Strength in numbers. One, a more vocal say with the Pinal County Board of Supervisors. As Gold Canyon is not incorporated they have no voice at present,” she said.

“Two, to bring in a greater amount of potential large businesses. AJ has a population of approximately 40,000; GC has a population of approximately 10,000-plus. Combined, that would make a total population of 50,000-plus. Most businesses --- national restaurants, retailers, industrial --- have set 55,000 as the number of year-round residents as their minimum for them to move to, build, operate in our area. Three, to obtain our fair share of tax money from the state and federal government,” Ms. Nesser said.

She retired from the Pinal County Attorney’s Office as a unit supervisor in Florence, where she worked 1986-2010. Part-time employment includes:

• Apache Junction Unified School District, part-time sub-para --- 2017 to present;
• Goldfield Ghost Town Museum, --- 2019 to present;
• Arizona Renaissance Festival entertainer --- 1999 to present; and
• Pinal County Elections Department, as a poll worker.

Ms. Nesser is on Facebook at Tess Nesser – Apache Junction City Council. She can be reached at TessNesser-AJCityCouncil@yahoo.com and 480-540-9680.

Council candidate Kelly Gremmel

Ms. Gremmel would vote to approve the annexation of Gold Canyon into the City of Apache Junction.

“Yes, I believe this would be financially beneficial for both communities,” she said.

Ms. Gremmel is a retired administrator for the City of Phoenix Prosecutor’s Office, a licensed real estate agent and co-owner of Successful Options.

She can be reached at kellygremmel114@gmail.com.

Council candidate Darryl Cross

A cost-analysis would need to be done before annexing Gold Canyon as the city doesn’t have a property tax, Mr. Cross, 55, said.

“I would be open to Gold Canyon joining Apache Junction as long as the costs associated with it could be covered. For instance, Apache Junction would be responsible for fixing non-ADOT standard roads, provide for more police and a police substation,” he said of Arizona Department of Transportation.

“There are a lot of costs associated with annexing another community. We have to remember Apache Junction does not have a property tax to absorb these additional costs. I would need to see how much revenue is created by the businesses in Gold Canyon and reach out to our citizens for their overall thoughts on annexation,” Mr. Cross said.

He has worked at Summit Fire Protection since August 2018 to present; and for Nu-Way Fire Protection --- 1998-2018.

He is on Facebook at Darryl Cross. He can be reached at CrossforAJcouncil@gmail.com and 602-820-9583.

Council candidate Braden Biggs

Mr. Biggs, 27, would only consider the annexation if Gold Canyon citizens requested it.

“If and only if Gold Canyon approached the City of Apache Junction on this issue would I consider it,” he said.

“Gold Canyon is a separate entity as far as I am concerned and while we need to work together with the residents of that community on various regional projects, they are not my constituents and as such, I need to not intrude on their business. We have a mutually vested interest in the region but that is it,” Mr. Biggs said.

He is director of communications and program development at Empowerment Systems Inc., an Apache Junction non-profit organization.

He is on Twitter @BradenBiggs, Facebook @Biggs4AJCityCouncil and has a website at Bradenbiggs.com. He can be reached at Biggs4AJ@gmail.com and 573-586-8787.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley
@RHDyer

rdyer@iniusa.org

Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia, Inc.. USA, since 1987. Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions. He also is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows