Opinion

In the midst of Tuesday's City Council meeting, I sat in the packed room at host Global Water, with a rare feeling when it comes to our city government: I was thrilled!

Often people will turn a blind eye to the presence of drugs within their community, or even within their own families, when just the opposite needs to occur. Drugs are here, in our community, our schools and our lives. Now what we all need to do is educate ourselves, and those around us, in order to gain the necessary strength to fight this epidemic.

However, before I can return to the matter of this holiday season, there are several issues that I'd like to address before we slide through the end of calendar year 2007 and emerge into the shiny new year of 2008.

As Governor I've worked to give our children the educational foundation they need to succeed - an effort that often begins with teaching literacy. Because literacy is so important in ensuring educational success, I am pleased that 2007 marks the fifth consecutive year of my free book program.

"Over 2,000 dead as United States enters war" was a headline that appeared after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941.

On Nov. 1 an estimated 500 law enforcement officials from around Arizona came to Casa Grande to pay last respects and escort one of their own, Sgt. Tate Lynch, a Casa Grande Peace Officer, to his final resting place.

Four years after becoming incorporated the city has not proven to the citizens of Maricopa that they are managing the city well, particularly when...

In the future economy our success will depend on innovation - producing new and better products and services that will put Arizona on the cutting edge.

They put their lives on the line every day - some paying the ultimate price - so that the places we live, work and play are safer for all. A monument paying tribute to law enforcement officers from agencies within Pinal County, who died in the line of duty, will be unveiled at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 27, in front of the Pinal County Sheriff's Office in Florence.

As of late there have been a number of articles written about myself and the company for which I serve as general counsel. Although, these slanderous articles do not bother me anymore, I'd like to set the record straight since that will never happen in certain publications.

A plethora of local businesses closed up shop in Maricopa this year including Fashions by Cexi, Trax Cafe, Ramsey's American Grill, Gifts, Games & Gadgets, Wireless Central, Maricopa Home Loans, Austin's Gifts, Fidelity National Title, First American Title and two Century 21 offices. I think everyone agrees that such a fate is not only devastating for business owners, it's also a bad omen for our city.

Underage alcohol consumption is currently the number one substance abuse problem facing Arizona youth.

I'd like to spend this month's column talking about another November holiday that doesn't generate nearly enough attention even though the special day I'm thinking of honors all those Americans who have provided us with the freedom to enjoy all of these other holidays.

Leadership is difficult to describe. It is said to be the ability to influence others, but most people today would agree that leadership is much more.

At the end of last month I had the opportunity at the annual Border Governors Conference to come together with leaders from both the U.S. and Mexico to make important progress on issues where Arizonans demand results.

Very soon City Council will be considering implementing a sign kiosk program. The original intent of the sign kiosk program started more than a year ago and was solely developer focused.

Founder's Day was a great opportunity for Maricopa to show off its progress as a city. Record numbers of people were in attendance; there were more business and organization booths than last year, and a new crop of politicians introduced themselves to residents.

Words cannot adequately express the deep thanks and appreciation for the city of Maricopa's residents during my family's recent loss of our husband and father. To all who have made a meal, brought a gift, deposited money, or said a prayer, I can't thank you enough.

Edward Garcia writes Superintendent John Flores and the Maricopa USD Governing Board regarding the athletic department telling them their "lack of support is quite evident."

There have been lots of changes in how we view land use since1962 when the county passed the current zoning ordinance.

In the concluding paragraphs of my column last month, I spoke at some length about the county's push to review and revise its Comprehensive Land Use Plan (more commonly referred to as the Comp Plan - it's the equivalent of a city's general plan).

I am speaking about the changes hidden deep in the bowels of our County's new 304-page draft Zoning Ordinance revision that will limit horse ownership in the most rural parts of our county to just two per acre.

October is here, and I would like to take some time to pass on information about a very serious and important topic: breast cancer.

The MOMS Club of Maricopa - Wells would like to extend a big thank you to Officer Koozer and the Maricopa Police Department for their community presentation on Stranger Danger last Tuesday afternoon.

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. What we must never forget is that across our country domestic violence traumatizes victims, endangers children, harms families and threatens communities.

Hooray for September! Presumably we have a mere 30 more days of monsoon exposure left in front of us. I don't know about you, but I'm not washing my vehicle until October 1.

On Aug. 29 a storm in Florence and Coolidge damaged critical infrastructure that provides power and telecommunications support to our region. Another storm on Sept. 3 blacked out a wide area of Casa Grande.

Having grown up in a town of less than 10,000 back in Pennsylvania, it seemed to me everyone knew each other and helped out in times of need.

Youth Sports has become a cultural phenomenon these days. According to a Michigan State University study, over 70 percent of kids quit sports by age 13. Think about that. For professional sports, that is the equivalent of losing one potential Peyton Manning a week.

It has been said that it takes a village to raise a child. Once again this community proves it is the place to live and raise our children, for it is very obvious that we all care about the well being of our youth.