Transportation, economic growth and education are key issues in mayoral race

No one would have blinked last week if someone casually assumed that Anthony Smith’s unopposed campaign for mayor was a sure thing, or as close to one as one might get.

As of this week, two write-in candidates have joined what is now a three-way race to hold the top elected position in the city of Maricopa.

It’s too early to judge whether either of them will prove to be a true contender, but each of them say they have the answers to what ails Maricopa, and each stress that unlike Smith, who steps down this month from chairing the Planning & Zoning Commission, they are not politicians.

That doesn’t mean they don’t believe they are qualified.

Write-in candidate Jim Hull, for example, points to a strong background in business with years of managerial experience for a major telephone company. He has since retired and says he has the time to devote to the job.

“Any organization to realize its goals must have a business strategy and the city of Maricopa is no different,” he said.

The most recent potential write-in candidate to announce plans to run, Michael Godsey, is also a businessman, with experience planning conventions, trade shows and other large-scale events at venues such as the Phoenix Civic Plaza and various Valley stadiums. As of Friday, Godsey planned on filing his paperwork with the city by today. His filing status could not be immediately confirmed at press time.

“If I am elected mayor, I would resign,” Godsey said. “I would go into politics full time.”

Godsey’s wife, Deanna Godsey, who is retired, has retained some of her plum clients from a former consulting practice she once ran full time. She is also the former pastor of a church.

Both men spoke at length regarding how they would handle transportation issues and economic development.

In Godsey’s opinion, the city’s leadership needs to become more aggressive at finding solutions and taking action.

“I know the city does study after study, but you don’t hear people talk about ways to solve problems,” he said.

There has been talk of bringing in a light rail system, creating a bus route or creating jobs to reduce the number of commuters who back up traffic daily on their treks to and from work outside of Maricopa.

“You know what? Why did we spend thousands of dollars to do studies about the traffic situation when we could ask the people who are sitting in it day after day?” he said.

The focus on new job growth also needs to be aimed at bigger businesses such as Honeywell, Microsoft, Intel and other high-tech companies which can provide 200 to 300 jobs to everyone from ground maintenance workers and housekeepers clerical help, to administrative assistants and managers in addition to those with technical skills.

“Just saying somebody wants growth or to bring more business is easy,” he said, adding that current incentives fall short.

Godsey said improving the local school system should also be a priority and that, ultimately, education is tied to every other key local issue.

“The key is to keep Maricopa dollars and Maricopa citizens in Maricopa, and if we can do that, it would help with the education system and with economic issues,” he said.

He’d also like to reduce the smell that operating agriculture sites generate in the area.

“It’s very bad in Tortosa because we are out near Hickman’s” he said. “We don’t want to alienate the farmers. They have the right to be here like anybody else does. But can we do something about it? I don’t know. It’s worth looking into.”

Hull launched his campaign by outlining a detailed plan which includes six main goals he said are designed to make Maricopa “A great place to call home.”

They include:
• Urban design and sustainable growth
• Personal and community well-being
• Economic opportunity
• Arts, culture and heritage
• Government and community involvement
• Natural environment

His strategic plan includes a vision statement for Maricopa “To be the city that makes a difference, acting locally and globally to improve the lives of residents, the broader community and the world.” Its mission is “To achieve excellence through leadership, innovation, partnerships and community engagement.”

Hull’s plan includes a call to action.

“If you believe this strategic development plan will enable Maricopa to move positively forward from this point in time and with confidence and assurance that the community’s needs will be met, then please write in Jim Hull on the ballot to be your next mayor of Maricopa.”

Hull unsuccessfully applied recently for consideration for one of three appointments made in late December to the Planning & Zoning Commission.

His involvement in the community includes regular attendance at City Council and Planning & Zoning meetings, as well as serving on various local and county commissions. He’s been involved in talks with the Ak-Chin Indian Community and believes he has a strong handle on what needs to be done and how to move forward.

Creativity and cooperation are key elements he sees to getting the blessing of the Ak-Chin community to build new roads or broaden those in place. By finding common ground that would allow us to “scratch each other’s backs,” Hull said, we might be able to open doors which are now closed.

“We want a hospital and they want a hospital, so perhaps we could tie access to a regional health center to access to land for developing roads,” Hull suggested. Exactly how he plans to make the connection is not fully clear, but it is something he’s working on and hopes that others will help him discover.

Smith, the lone candidate whose name will appear on the ballot in March, responded to a questionnaire about his vision for the city. Below are excerpts from his responses to selected questions about economic development, transportation and education.

“I believe the next five years are critical for determining whether Maricopa becomes a growing employment center or merely a bedroom community to Phoenix,” he wrote. “When campaigning, I have been using the term ‘economic magnet.’ This is to emphasize that I want Maricopa to be not only an economic center, but a preferred place that businesses are attracted to, like a magnet.”

As mayor, he said he plans to direct city staff to create an inventory of potential sites that would meet the “shovel-ready” criteria for development. “Shovel ready defines sites that are in high profile areas, zoned for employment, and served by all the major utilities. We must first identify all potential sites, then work to make them shovel ready. Only then will we be successful in attracting businesses looking to relocate. My goal would be that by the end of 2008, the inventory is completed and we have our first such certified site,” he wrote.

Smith also said he supports education. “To be an attractive place where business chooses to relocate and to create the strong employment base that I desire, the city must have quality education at all levels. I believe a strong public educational system is the backbone to having strong communities. However, children learn in different ways and some at a different pace. I will lead the city in encouraging all types of educational opportunities (public, private, charter, home-schooling, etc.). Having many types of schools is a real benefit to children and I believe families have a right to choose the best education for their children,” he said in his statement.

Transportation, however, he said is probably Maricopa’s biggest hurdle for sustaining growth.

“The reality is that the traffic situation on State Route 347 requires a regional solution. This won’t be fixed over night. Continuing to forge relationships at the local, regional, and state level will be necessary to bring real improvement. However, I believe there are changes that can be implemented quickly to lessen the overall impact,” he responded.

For example, permanent informational road signs marked “Alternate Traffic Route” could be installed along a specific route from SR-347 to I-10 via Val Vista Road. Most of these roads along the “Val Vista Alternate Route” are within city limits and would not require Arizona Department of Transportation approval for signage. This solution may take you out of your way, but during times of severe road congestion will likely save you lots of time in the long run.

Another possibility would be to forge a partnership with all of the emergency agencies to have a rapid response team dedicated to respond to SR-347 roadway accidents. Except in cases of fatalities, vehicles could be moved off of the roadway as quickly as possible to assist re-establishing safe traffic flow.