What matters most in the Fountain Hills election

OPINION — Brenda Kalivianakis recently chose to publicly discuss a decades-old gender transition in an interview with The Arizona Republic. Four years ago, Brenda had shared with me a copy of a birth certificate that identified Brenda as female. Only after reading the recent interview did I learn that the document had been legally amended following the transition.

Voters can decide for themselves whether that history is relevant to this election. My concern is not Brenda's personal life, but whether voters have the information they believe is important when evaluating candidates for public office.

What I believe is relevant is Brenda's record in office.

Brenda was elected in 2022 as part of a Republican-supported slate but often became the deciding vote on important issues. Most notably, Brenda voted with the council majority to approve the controversial Target high-density rezoning, despite significant public opposition. When citizens later sought to challenge that decision through a referendum, the effort failed on a technicality, leaving many residents frustrated that they never had the opportunity to vote on the issue.

This election should be about leadership, judgment, and trust. Mayor Gerry Friedel has worked diligently on behalf of Fountain Hills despite frequent criticism from political opponents. Voters should compare that record with the record of those seeking to replace him.

Every voter will have different priorities. Mine are honesty, consistency and decisions that reflect the wishes of Fountain Hills residents. I encourage everyone to review the candidates' records carefully before casting a ballot.

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