Why I feel our town government is failing us in Paradise Valley

Local government, in our town, is letting us down. Why do I say that?   

Firstly, we have a mayor who was basically elected by default. My reasoning is that Mark Stanton would never have been elected had it not been for a misguided candidate creating a run-off election.

Secondly, in the campaign months that followed, Councilor Pace and Councilor Andeen helped fund Stanton’s campaign and what I feel was misleading advertising.

Thirdly, there was no election for town council because the candidates were walk-ins. What does all that tell you? I leave you to draw your own conclusions.

So, who is letting us down? Let’s start with Councilor Pace, who is letting us down with her vitriolic and unsubstantiated attacks on her political opponents. Meanwhile the mayor, who promised he would call out this kind of behavior, remains silent.  

Next, we have the town manager, Andrew Ching, who wasted everyone’s time by presenting a budget which can’t be passed because he admits it “doesn’t meet statutory muster.” Then we have the Chief Financial Officer, Leslie DeReche, who is “not quite sure” where to find a line item in the budget. Finally, the Public Works Director, Isaac Chavira, asks for a huge budget increase for projects which fail to provide adequate information. Curiously, Mark Stanton was absent from this public budget meeting, without an apology. What does all that tell you? Again, draw your own conclusions.

The Town of Paradise Valley is a diamond – precious and treasured. Local government, in our town, is a rhinestone – fake and disappointing. How do we replace all these fakes with the real thing? 

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