Vote for a return to civility and respect in Fountain Hills

OPINION — Did you know that those serving on our town council are expected to act on behalf of the community, not according to their political party preference?

New councilpersons take this oath: “I promise to faithfully  and impartially discharge the duties of the office of Councilmember according to the best of my ability, so help me God.”

Washes aren’t woke. Roads aren’t Republican. Drains aren’t Democrat. Playgrounds aren’t partisan. Somehow the national firestorm of hate has found its way to our town. 

There’s still time to extinguish it.  That’s why I’m voting for Brenda Kalivianakis for mayor. Who asked Mayor Friedel  and his ROT bloc to ditch our current waste hauler for one that doesn’t mention DEI on its website? Why has he treated Councilmembers McMahon and Kalivianakis with such disrespect? Why hasn’t he learned how to run a meeting?

I’m a Democrat. Brenda is a Republican, but history shows she votes in the best interests of our community. I don’t expect all of her votes to go “my” way, but I will know she has done her homework and voted in what she believes are the best interests of the town – and she will do so without all the conflict and confusion that has marked this council. 

If you want to see our council make studied and rational decisions in the future, I hope you’ll vote for Brenda. 

To attain some sense of balance, Jeff Tate and Catherine Mirick are Independents and Susan DeGennaro, a software engineer and a Democrat, has run her own successful business. Her myriad of volunteer activities has proven her love of our town. 

Let’s usher in a new slate of councilpersons – and a return to civility and respect. 

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