Do state Sen. Carroll’s priorities align with LD 28’s needs?

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OPINION — What exactly are state Sen. Frank Carroll’s priorities for Legislative District 28?

Start with BNSF Railway, which has begun construction and site preparation for a massive rail and logistics development in the Wittmann area, with serious implications for traffic, roads, water, growth and surrounding communities.

While Carroll represents the people affected by that development, BNSF Railway’s political action committee reported a $1,000 expenditure to Frank Carroll.

The contribution is legal, but legal doesn’t mean irrelevant. When a corporation seeking to dramatically transform part of your district contributes to your campaign, we as constituents have every right to ask whose interests are being heard.

Then there’s Carroll’s other transportation priority: flying cars — or, more precisely, “advanced air mobility.”

Carroll sponsored SB 1307, now Arizona law, directing state transportation planners to prepare for advanced air mobility, including public vertiports and electric-aircraft charging infrastructure.

People in LD 28 are struggling to pay for medical care, food, electricity and water. Frank Carroll has been championing vertiports and infrastructure for flying aircraft. Flying cars won’t lower our grocery bills, pay our medical expenses or keep our electricity on. Is this really what our state senator thinks we need?

These are two separate issues, but together they raise the same question: Whose priorities is Frank Carroll representing?

LD 28 doesn’t need distractions from the problems people face every day. We deserve a state senator willing to stand up to powerful interests seeking to reshape our communities — not take their campaign money.

Follow the priorities. Follow the money. Then ask yourself whether Frank Carroll is the state senator LD 28 needs.

This writer is using a pen name. Incumbent Frank Carroll is running against Michael Braun in LD 28, which includes parts of Phoenix, Peoria, Sun City and Sun City West. 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.