To give residents another opportunity to learn more about the Mesquite District candidates, the Peoria Independent has submitted a second questionnaire inquiring about their stance on certain issues.
Two candidates are running for the seat — former Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas and Interim Peoria Councilmember Brad Shafer.
This batch of questions were going to be used in a candidate forum sponsored by Peoria Independent, however Douglas chose not to participate because the forum is virtual and not in-person.
But in the interest of providing voters with the information they need to make an informed decision at the ballot box, this is the second article in a series of three featuring questions that were going to be used at the candidate forum.
Brad Shafer
The city and public school districts are separate, but how can the city get creative and help districts that are running out of bond funds?
During my time as Candeo School Board President, it was one of the top three academic performing schools in the state. I know how vital it is to have a diverse portfolio of quality education in our community. By not limiting ourselves to just the public instruction sector (of which my opponent once supervised with a 16% approval rating, according to OH Predictive Insights), there are enough students to support many different kinds of educational options. Additionally, when PUSD goes out to the voters for a bond to build a new high school in this area, I will back that effort.
What can you do to be fiscally responsible during a volatile economy?
In my professional career, I have managed hundreds of millions of dollars in budgets and contracts spanning several states and have a keen eye for the fine print. My MBA and Lean Six Sigma Blackbelt background are founded on eliminating waste and managing costs while maintaining the best services possible. When I managed our HOA budget, we avoided raising dues by innovative contract negotiations, spending control implementation, and investments that yielded better returns. This same foundation will be applied to protecting the taxpayers, demanding fiscal discipline, and not spending more than we have.
Diane Douglas
The city and public school districts are separate, but how can the city get creative and help districts that are running out of bond funds?
While I am always willing to explore and discuss innovative ideas, I am not convinced the city should get “creative” and “help” districts that have lost the trust of their voters and are therefore unable to pass bonds. Many of the same taxpayers who voted to reject the school district bond, and some who don’t live in the district that it benefits, will be forced to pay for the high school via city revenues, taxes or bonds. If it can be proven legal, ethical and of some advantage to ALL as city of Peoria, not PUSD, taxpayers then it may be worth pursuing.
What can you do to be fiscally responsible during a volatile economy?
Fiscal responsibility is not solely a subject of a “volatile economy.” It is the duty of every elected official to always be fiscally responsible to the citizens from whom they collect tax money. However, during such an economy I believe that, just as our citizens must “tighten their belts,” likewise the city should find ways to trim its spending or at the very least not increase the tax burden on its taxpayers. I’ve been around enough government budgets to know there is always plenty of waste to be trimmed regardless of the economic times.
Meet Philip Haldiman is an award-winning journalist who most recently took first place for investigative reporting in 2023 from Arizona Newspapers Association. He joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2015, covering Sun City West his first year. Since 2016, he has covered the city of Peoria. Prior to coming to INI, he was a reporter with The Arizona Republic for seven years, covering numerous cities throughout the Valley. Before that, he was a freelance writer.
Community: Haldiman spearheads the Peoria Independent Hometown Heroes Awards program, honoring local individuals and businesses that give back to the community. He has hosted local candidate forums over the years and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. Haldiman also served as a member of the Journalism Program Community Advisory Board at Glendale Community College. Outside journalism, Haldiman served as a member of the city of Peoria Complete Count Committee for the Census, 2019-2020. Lastly, he has served as a member of his HOA governing board since 2021.
Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications and a BA in Theater.
Random Fact: Haldiman is a fourth-generation Arizonan as well as wrote and produced an autobiographical comic book about his time spent in Hollywood and his life as a cult film star.
Hobbies: He enjoys hiking Arizona’s mountainous landscapes and is currently working on a play for the stage.
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