Candidates for Goodyear City Council share vision for city
The Goodyear City Council race will be a competitive one, with three seats up for grabs. And with current Councilmembers Sheri Lauritano and Bill Stipp ineligible for another term, the race will see at least two new faces on the dais.
Incumbent Laura Kaino will compete against newcomers Angie Amarillas, Benita Beckles, Tamara Floyd, Teri Roberts and Trey Terry.
The Arizona Republic sent the candidates a number of questions about various city and state issues. Beckles and Floyd did not respond, but here’s what the other candidates said, in alphabetical order. Some answers may have been slightly edited to fit the agreed-to lengths for all.
Arizona election: Read our full election coverage of the Goodyear City Council race
Vision: Why are you running for Goodyear City Council?
Why are you running for Goodyear City Council? If elected, what will your first priority be?
Angie Amarillas: I am continuing my father's legacy of community service, exemplified by his role in setting up the Boys Club and serving on the Peoria community board. Additionally, I am inspired by the diligent work ethic of my parents and grandparents, who worked tirelessly in the cotton fields in Goodyear. My goal is to honor their contributions by giving back to our community and fostering a spirit of dedication and service.
If chosen, my priority will be to focus on enhancing infrastructure to accommodate our city's rapidly growing population of 111,508 residents. As the ninth-largest growing city, we need to strengthen our infrastructure to improve traffic flow and ensure safety on our roads. Additionally, creating quality neighborhoods will be crucial to supporting families, children, and seniors, allowing them to thrive and age in place.
Laura Kaino: I was appointed to fill a vacant council seat in 2018 and elected to my first term in 2019. This term was extended to comply with state requirement to comply with the consolidated election cycle. Two longtime council members are terming out and I am the only incumbent in this race. Goodyear has had a stable government for many years with responsible investment in infrastructure and conservative fiscal policies. My priorities are to continue to focus on the things that make Goodyear great: competent and community focused police and fire departments, community amenities that enhance quality of life, and economic and business growth. I am running to continue to maintain the sound policies that set a great foundation for Goodyear’s future.
Teri Roberts: God has blessed me with a servant’s heart. Currently, I serve the community as a business owner (AzOPT and Kids Place), volunteer swim coach, church nursery lead, and founder of Mariah’s Miracle non-profit organization. Serving on Goodyear City Council will continue my love of service by allowing me to positively impact our community. My first priority is to ask questions, engage the community, and learn every detail so I can determine the most impactful positive change. My main focuses are to maintain a fiscally conservative budget, support public safety and encourage strategic growth for a strong community.
Trey Terry: I am running for City Council because I grew up here in Goodyear. Almost 20 years ago I graduated from Millennium High School. I served our country overseas in the Army, including a combat tour in Iraq. Now my wife and I are raising our three children here in Goodyear. Four years ago, I was elected to the Agua Fria High School District board, which includes Desert Edge, Millennium, and the new Goodyear High School, now under construction. In this role I have seen first-hand the growing pains we are dealing with as a community. My first priority is, and always will be, public safety.
The biggest challenge our city, or any city, will ever face is what happens when you call 911. How long is the response time? How well trained and equipped are responders? How many of them are there and how well rested are they? If we cannot successfully meet this challenge as a city, nothing else matters. I’m proud to be endorsed by both the Goodyear Police Officers Association and the United Goodyear Firefighters. We need to take care of those who take care of us. Public safety will always be my top priority.
Benita Beckles did not respond.
Tamara Floyd did not respond.
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Taxing and spending: Where do the Goodyear City Council candidates stand?
New state policies will affect city budgets. If faced with a deficit, will you support raising taxes to maintain city services or cutting programs? Which specific services and/or taxes would you consider first and why?
Amarillas: The current tax rate is 2.5%. I prioritize exploring all options to avoid tax increases, with cutting programs as a last resort. I will assess current expenditures for efficiency and cost-saving measures. Exploring revenue sources and public-private partnerships is a possibility. I am committed to balancing the budget while supporting residents' quality of life and services. Improving major roadways and intersections is crucial to cutting commute times by widening roads, upgrading traffic signals, and enhancing public transit options to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion.
Kaino: It is very unfortunate that the state continues to make policies that adversely impact city budgets when we have the responsibilities of providing water, roads, public safety and other expensive infrastructure to our residents. I retired from the city of Phoenix as a human resources manager after weathering economic booms and busts, including the great recession. There are many steps to be taken before raising taxes or cutting services. First, evaluate internal processes and implement technology, lean principles and other steps that will make the city more efficient and cut expenses. This type of analysis is a sound business practice as government tends to get big when the economy is big. Another frequently used strategy is to implement a hiring freeze or a hiring justification process to evaluate the necessity of filling vacant positions. I believe Goodyear can absorb the negative budget impacts from the state to date, but it is likely to impact future capital improvement projects.
Roberts: I am not a proponent of raising taxes. I believe as citizens, we are already taxed at very high rates. At this point, Goodyear has done a wonderful job operating without a deficit. If elected, I will work hard to ensure we maintain a positive operational budget without raising taxes. Tough times call for tougher decisions. Families making decisions daily to live within their means to cover their needs and often compromise when gas or grocery bills continue to rise. If and when Goodyear needs to make tough decisions, I stand prepared to assist without compromising public safety, water and infrastructure, which are necessary to maintain a safe and strong community.
Terry: I will not support raising taxes. Goodyear is blessed with our diverse economic portfolio that has given us the highest per-capita tax income of any city in the Valley, while at the same time we boast one of the lowest municipal property taxes. These are two things I want to ensure continue into the future, and our growth certainly makes this possible. Recently the state legislature and the Governor eliminated a rental tax that provided approximately $7 million annually to the city of Goodyear. While this may create financial stress to our city budget, I do not think it's appropriate to create or raise an additional tax when this deficit represents less than two percent of the annual city budget and last year’s budget surplus was a similar size. My record on the high school district governing board reflects my opposition to tax increases. We have not raised the tax rate in my four years serving on the board, while at the same time we’ve been able to fund a new high school, new safety and security initiatives, and a massive expansion of our CTE programs.
Beckles did not respond.
Floyd did not respond.
Traffic: What would the Goodyear City Council candidates do to ease commutes?
In 2022, Goodyear residents had an average commute of about 30 minutes. What is the most important transportation project in the city that could cut down the commute times? Why and how would you pay for it?
Amarillas: Arizona has experienced the highest increase in annual commuting costs at 58.1%. Working closely with neighboring areas, Maricopa County, MAG, and ADOT to ensure the transportation needs of its residents are met today and in the future. We would plan to fund transportation projects through a combination of community investments and private partnerships.
Kaino: Passing Proposition 479 in November is essential for cities and the region. Building SR 30 as an I-10 reliever will help tremendously in altering commute times. Ridership on the Valley Metro express buses is down since the pandemic as people are changing how they work. The transportation project I believe is the most important in Goodyear is WeRide, our public micro-transit system . WeRide does what fixed bus routes cannot do – it moves people from where they are to where they want to go, when they want to travel. Micro-transit has been well received by riders of all ages and operates similarly to an Uber-type of ride, except that it is shared with other riders and pick up/drop off is determined through the app to be a point near, but not at an individual residence. Avondale implemented WeRide at the same time as Goodyear, and Surprise recently followed. This type of micro-transit makes good sense. This is the type of innovation that enhances our residents experience in Goodyear.
Roberts: The two most important projects the city of Goodyear can fund currently are the widening of the underpass under the 10 on Pebble Creek Pkwy and the widening of the bridge heading up to Estrella Mountain Ranch. These two projects are already funded by the GO Bond that was passed this spring. We also need to continue to work with the transportation team on better light signal flow. Goodyear continues to do a great job resurfacing streets to allow for safer and higher quality roads throughout our community.
Safety and quality of roads should remain a supported program through taxpayers, making sure that we are using research to determine the most efficient, effective and cost-saving techniques.
Terry: The biggest transportation project for the future of Goodyear residents is the construction of State Route 30, detailed in the Maricopa Association of Governments regional transportation plan. This would create a new east-west freeway that travels along the north side of the Gila and Salt rivers that would connect the 303 extension with the 202 in Laveen, then extending to the “Durango Curve” of I-17 in downtown Phoenix. This new highway would relieve the congestion on I-10 and considerably help Goodyear residents commute around Maricopa County. State Route 30 is currently planned to be a part of the Prop 479 extension on the Maricopa County transportation tax that has been on the books since 1986. The Prop 479 vote is this November. Again, this is not a new tax. It is an extension of what we’ve been paying since 1986 and has provided highways like the I-10 completion, the 101, 202, 303, and others. Goodyear greatly benefits when we work in conjunction with our regional partners on projects like this.
Beckles did not respond.
Floyd did not respond.
Jobs: What do Goodyear City Council candidates plan to do to create more local jobs?
What can Goodyear do to create more jobs within the city?
Amarillas: Goodyear boasts a robust and diverse economy supported by a favorable business climate and infrastructure, catering to various industries including aviation and technology. We can support startups, entrepreneurs, and small businesses through incubators, co-working spaces, and grants for expansion. We can collaborate with local educational institutions to offer training programs and apprenticeships that align with job opportunities in the area.
Kaino: I have a recent statistic from our Economic Development team that says over 13,000 jobs have been created in Goodyear in the past four years. We are a business-friendly city focused on making Goodyear a great place to live, work and play. We are only about 15% built out so growth is our future. People and businesses are moving here because of our excellent reputation as a safe, clean and family-oriented city. Because we have added employment centers and increased our multi-family portfolio, we have greater density and a higher daytime population to attract the restaurants, retailers and entertainment that our residents want. Our recent successful bond election indicates the public’s support of the direction we are heading. I will continue to be well informed and work hard to be a local and regional advocate for Goodyear.
Roberts: Opening a new business in any city is a strategic decision. At AzOPT & Kids Place, we research demographics, taxes, permitting, safety, proximity to highways and major intersections, commercial building costs, and affordable housing (both rental and ownership). Industry growth creates new jobs. However, when people are not interested in living within the city, employee retention is low. The cost of gas and the stress of commuting will eventually force employees to find jobs closer to their homes. Therefore, in order to attract more job opportunities in Goodyear, we need a city that is safe and clean with diverse housing options. Goodyear needs to be a place people want to live, which in turn will drive businesses to want to open in Goodyear.
Terry: I want Goodyear to be the easiest place in the Valley to own and operate a business. Government officials don’t create jobs, but the policies we enact, whether good or bad, can have a significant impact on the economic environment of Goodyear. I want to make certain we do everything possible to ensure businesses and companies want to operate in or expand to Goodyear. One of the more consistent messages I’ve heard from residents during this campaign is their desire to see more commercial businesses, restaurants, and shops in our city. It is important we have a city council that reflects those desires.
Beckles did not respond.
Floyd did not respond.
Inspiration: Who shapes the Goodyear City Council candidates' thinking?
Who in public life, past or present, do you admire most? Why? And what lesson do you draw from that person’s experience?
Amarillas: The person I admire most is my grandmother. She was an incredibly strong woman, always hard at work, from picking cotton to working as a housekeeper in a hotel setting. Despite life throwing challenges at her, including outliving all her children and taking in all her grandchildren, she never complained. Instead, she worked diligently to support her household. From her, I learned true inspiration and dedication, becoming strong and independent amidst all challenges and obstacles.
Kaino: I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to serve on Goodyear City Council while Georgia Lord was mayor. She had such class, great grace and great grit. She wasn’t afraid to have difficult conversations or challenge people’s thinking, even the NIMBYs. She was a great source of encouragement to me as a new council member as I made the big transition from a city employee to an elected official. I admired her ability to make residents feel heard and cared about, how she was such a strong advocate for Goodyear and the west valley and great strength under pressure. She was mayor during the pandemic, and there was no playbook for that. The council continued to meet in person, although separated from each other, and we conducted the business of the city together. Under her leadership, we were thoughtful and measured on our actions, following the lead of the State but we did not implement vaccine mandates for employees or put additional restrictions on businesses. She taught me to use my voice, my influence and position wisely and purposefully for the good of the city. I am forever grateful for her impact on my public life.
Roberts: I am drawn to individuals who lead from a more private life. I am always amazed when I meet someone who has accomplished amazing feats for the community but you would never know it, until you learn more about the person. I am inspired by mothers who sacrifice so much for their children. I am inspired by people who volunteer their time for causes in which they are passionate. I am inspired by artists, singers, athletes, scholars, and authors who are constantly taking on new challenges. I am most inspired by children (and their parents) with disabilities who choose to find the good in life. The children I have the privilege to treat as a physical therapist are so full of joy, they never see the disability, just the goal to reach. From them I learned that no matter what life you chose and challenges you encounter, when you work hard to accomplish your goals, it ultimately benefits self, family, and community.
Terry: I would probably say Pat Tillman. I remember being towards the end of my junior year at Millennium High School when the news broke that he had been killed in Afghanistan. He was someone who had a great lifestyle as a professional athlete yet turned down a new contract worth millions to serve our country in the military. It instilled a sense of pride in service and perspective on the important things in life. He helped inspire me to not only serve in the military, but also serve my local community later in life.
Beckles did not respond.
Floyd did not respond.
Election integrity: Where do the Goodyear City Council candidates stand?
Do you think Arizona elections are fairly run? Do you trust the results? Will you abide by them? Why or why not?
Amarillas: I believe that we as a state have faced periodic scrutiny over the election process and practices. Yes, I trust the results. Yes, I will abide by them. I will abide by them because Arizona has taken steps to ensure that elections are conducted transparently.
Kaino: Yes. Yes. Yes. The State Legislature, Secretary of State and county recorders all have a role to play in our election process. Is there room for improvement? Yes. Is it complicated and political? Yes. Does it work despite this? Yes.
Roberts: When I decided to run for Goodyear City Council, it never occurred to me that an election would not be fairly run. I trust our county officials to work hard to eliminate mistakes that could cast doubt on any election. I will, of course, abide by the results and while getting to know the other candidates, I cannot imagine anyone not abiding by the results.
Terry: Yes. I have confidence in our elections, the staff and volunteers who work and administer them, and I trust the results.
Beckles did not respond.
Floyd did not respond.
Reach the reporter at [email protected] or by phone at 480-259-8545. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @AlexandraHardle.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Goodyear City Council election 2024: Candidates respond to Q&A
