Carefree mayoral candidate Price pushes responsible fiscal management

D. Melissa Price

Submitted photo/D. Melissa Price

OPINION — I am running for mayor of Carefree to provide experienced leadership, responsible fiscal management and practical solutions that protect our quality of life while preparing for the future.

My background includes leadership in law, aerospace and small business. I managed California law-firm offices, spent more than 20 years at Lockheed Martin leading major projects, co-founded the aerospace consulting firm D2M2, LLC and owned a boutique in Carefree, giving me firsthand insight into the challenges facing local businesses.

Elected to the Carefree Town Council in 2011 and later serving as vice mayor, I have a record of leadership.  I helped secure the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion naming agreement, partnered with Kiwanis to bring a splash pad to the town center and led the creation of gateway entrances to the town center that strengthened Carefree’s identity.

As mayor, I will prioritize transparency, accountability and responsible fiscal management.

I am concerned about the town’s approximate $30 million water debt and the long-term obligations that directly benefit only about 15% of Carefree residents.  Decisions of this magnitude have lasting consequences for our community and should have included a public vote. 

I am further convinced that this long-term financial obligation paves the way for future efforts to impose a property tax in Carefree.  I believe residents deserve leadership that protects taxpayers and focuses on growing our sales-tax revenues through thoughtful economic development rather than increasing the tax burden on homeowners.  We all know taxes only grow, and grow and grow.

I opposed the current mayor’s proposed property tax in 2023 and remain committed to keeping property taxes out of Carefree through economic growth, responsible development and increased sales-tax revenue.

My vision is to revitalize our town center while preserving the beauty, character and open spaces that make Carefree unique.

I will work with Town Council members and community partners to attract responsible investment, strengthen our economy and reduce unnecessary legal and year-after-year consulting expenses.

Carefree is our home and a community worth protecting. With experienced leadership and fiscal responsibility, we can preserve what makes Carefree special while creating new opportunities for residents and businesses.

I respectfully ask for your vote and support for mayor of Carefree.

 D. Melissa Price is a candidate for mayor of Carefree. 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.