Culp: Be wary of another slate of ‘conservative candidates’

It has been two years since Fountain Hills was presented with and elected a slate of “conservative candidates” who would “Reclaim Our Town.” If you are among the minority who appear to thrive on negativity and chaos, that promise was fulfilled. For the majority, the past 18 months have been a disaster marked by hyper-partisan grandstanding and dysfunction.

Eighteen months later, Councilmember Skillicorn, the self-appointed spokesperson for the “New Conservative Majority” continues to list the same sorry list of “accomplishments”: the town lobbyist was “fired”; the invocation was reinstated; and the sign ordinance was “fixed.” Accomplishments? In the absence of a lobbyist the state legislature abolished a tax resulting in millions of dollars of revenue. The invocation was reinstated without guidelines, resulting in discord and confusion. The sign ordinance was abolished, reinstated and modified and is now, according to Skillicorn, both confusing and unconstitutional.

Town staff has been bullied and disparaged; the town manager quit; the retreat facilitator was terminated; the retreats were sabotaged; and the Four Peaks development, under consideration for years, resulted in litigation based on unfounded rumors of collusion with the developer.  

Unwarranted concern over nonexistent problems has resulted in discussions and debates over “sober living homes,” “detox facilities,” crime, homelessness, panhandling, masks and “Diversity, Inclusion and Equity.” Despite Mayor Dickey’s admirable efforts, attention has been repeatedly diverted from the issues that concern most of us: our streets, our businesses and a culture characterized by inclusiveness and generosity.

A new slate of “conservative candidates” has now been identified by ROT’s Crystal Cavanaugh: Gerry Friedel, Gayle Earle, Walter Corrigan and Rodney Watts. We are on notice that “conservative” has been used to identify candidates who are intent on continuing the culture war with the goal of establishing minority rule. Don’t be fooled again.

Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.