Vitiello: County needs to streamline without ‘reckless’ across-the-board cuts

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Rich Vitiello

By Rich Vitiello

Rather than couch things in political happy talk, I speak plainly – without glossing things over and dishing out words from both sides of my mouth. I speak from the heart. That’s not trying to be divisive – just honest.

If I don’t know about a subject, I have always found it best to sit, listen and learn from people who have an interest or expertise in the matter. I’ve been listening to residents, farmers and other business people, as well as government employees, officials and management. Once elected, that is what I will continue to do.

The county’s budget is large and complicated, but it is something that must be examined every step of the way. It’s taxpayer money – and elected officials must be held accountable for spending it. I plan to sit down with department heads to listen and learn – and to find what their needs and wants are. In government, just as in business, there’s always a need accompanied by a want. Part of my mandate will be to have county management separate their needs from their wants so budgets can be evaluated and projects put forth that yield results. That’s part of being a responsible government leader and advocate. That’s also part of being a guardian of the taxpayers’ money.

I’ve told people that I am in favor of streamlining the county’s government – in other words, reducing the burden to the taxpayer and improving government service, but not at the expense of the safety, health and welfare of the public that depends on fundamental county services. Streamlining and reducing the burden to the taxpayer may come from a combination of things, but one thing is sure, I won’t be so reckless as to support cutting department budgets straight across the board, nor will I seek cuts without attempting to understand their impact.

I believe protecting our citizens and establishing a bond of trust and accountability is key to making Pinal County a safer place to live and do business. That is what will bring security, peace of mind and success. I am an advocate of public safety, not just law enforcement, but all that concerns the public. I have publicly spoken against marijuana and in support of the needs of residents. People need results, not talk.

I have called the incumbent on the carpet for attempting to mislead the voters. In that regard, I hope to clear things up for the incumbent: The county sheriff doesn’t have a fleet of patrol cars that were transferred to that office by the federal government after seizure. If we did, those cars and the deputies riding in them might be paid for by using RICO funds. But we don’t. Our deputies, who are already understaffed and underpaid compared to other law enforcement agencies, are working 12-hour shifts due to eight years of shrinking budgets. The incumbent wants them to work additional hours per shift.

In consulting with sheriff’s office officials, RICO expenditures already carry PCSO in many different areas that the purposefully insufficient budget does not cover things such as training, weapons, vehicle maintenance, aviation fuel and equipment, technology, software licensing, etc. So, Mr. Smith, please stop trying to sway the voters on a hypothetical argument under false pretense. It’s unbecoming.

Recently, a resident in the Hidden Valley area south of Maricopa wrote about her experience with the incumbent. Until recently, the incumbent staunchly supported the proposed Palo Verde Park. He flip-flopped in the face of very vocal and virulent opposition, and now states he will “listen to” opposing residents and make a vote consistent with constituents. I believe the incumbent should have been doing that since he was elected three plus years ago. That would have been representation — not the experience people have had to endure.

As to flood control, I am concerned about all of Pinal County, not just the area that the incumbent is focused on. Public safety and solving our flood control issues are keys to bringing economic development to the county. I’ve had conversations with Dan Frank, a civil engineer and president of the Maricopa Flood Control District. He’s also a candidate for Maricopa City Council and has substantial experience in flood control matters.

Frank has expressed some frustration in working with Pinal County Flood Control for review and approvals of certain documents for the MFCD. The incumbent sits on the board of the Pinal County Flood Control District. In June, it appropriated $1.5 million for a flood control study with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at local taxpayer expense. “This is not the first time this watershed was studied by the Corps,” Frank said. “I hope this is not a repeat of 1994, when the Lower Santa Cruz River was studied and the results were to do nothing.” The conclusion of that study was that “No implementable plan was developed with available funds… the study was terminated with joint concurrence of the (U.S. Army) Corps of Engineers and Pinal County flood control.”

The definition of insanity can be described as doing the same things over and over again, hoping for a different result. The definition of government insanity can be summed up as spending the taxpayer money over and over again to study the same thing that should have been solved long ago. Something needs to be done – allowing a problem to fester for over 20 years does nobody any good.
The incumbent criticizes me for speaking with people in and outside of the district. Getting information, including diverse opinions and listening to the concerns of residents is part of being an advocate and representative of Pinal County. Understanding and relating to the needs of residents and business people is one of the most important things one can do in local government. But it is apparent that the incumbent doesn’t feel the same way. It’s time for a change.


Rich Vitiello is a Maricopa resident and candidate for Pinal County supervisor in District 4 in the Republican primary against incumbent Anthony Smith.