Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke focused on history and compassion during his speech Feb. 12 that was the centerpiece of the annual State of the City event at the Chandler Center for the Arts.
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks
Vice Mayor Angel Encinas introduces local Boy Scouts to sing the national anthem ahead of Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke State of the City speech Feb. 12 at the Chandler Center for the Arts.
The city of Chandler can continue to build on its history of innovation, its mayor said in last month’s annual address.
Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke, during his speech Feb. 12 that was the centerpiece of the annual State of the City event, said the city “stands on the marks left behind by those who came before.”
Despite some recent layoffs announced by some of the city’s bigger employers, including some tied to the still-growing semiconductor industry, Hartke said he sees innovation and tech as cornerstones of city growth, going forward.
Giving what will be the last of his eight state-of-the-city addresses at the Chandler Center for the Arts, Hartke, who is term-limited and running for a state legislative seat, went over fiscal policy, infrastructure and economic growth over the past year or two.
He pointed out that the city still owes a lot to big tech but has diversified somewhat.
“Billions of dollars in new and expanded centers have brought thousands of jobs in technology, aerospace, finance, health care and advanced manufacturing, pushing our population past 290,000 residents and creating a strong job-to-household ratio,” Hartke said. “These investments are ‘future-proofing’ our city with the infrastructure that keeps growth, industry and neighborhoods possible.”
While there was a focus on history, including video pieces shown on the CCA screen and in mentions by Hartke aloud, he still used the word “future” more than twice as often as he mentioned “history.”
Hartke also focused on history as a celebration point in the context of describing Chandler’s main role in ongoing semiquincentennial celebrations.
The “27 Flags: Our History Through the Stars and Stripes” display was set up on the Center for the Arts east apron for the State of Our City event.
“These flags will travel to 14 locations across Chandler, including libraries, recreation centers, galleries and our museum, inviting residents to explore the story behind each flag,” Hartke said.
City leadership and staff also created the “Red, White & Blue Pass” to entice residents to visit America250-themed events, exhibits and activities through Chandler’s lens, the mayor said.
Hartke highlighted a couple of businesses, beyond those in food service that provided complimentary light fare before the speech in the Center for the Arts lobby. He also mentioned volunteerism and nonprofits in the context of Chandler being a community of service.
The mayor mentioned recreation and expansion of it, but didn’t mention perhaps the biggest recreation grand-opening event of the year: the opening of Tumbleweed Recreation Center’s new outdoor pickleball complex celebration late last summer.
In the first of his eight State of the City speeches in 2019, Hartke mentioned a sculpture of a turtle atop a wooden post, meant to illustrate that help and cooperation are usually needed to reach great heights.
He reiterated some of that sentiment this year.
“Our heritage has given us roots and wings,” Hartke said. “Let’s keep using them to dream boldly, to innovate wisely and to care deeply for one another.”
Email Jason W. Brooks at jbrooks@iniusa.org. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA
Jason W. Brooks News Editor | Chandler Independent
Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.
Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.
Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.
Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.
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