Cave Creek voters to decide between 2 mayoral candidates with opposing views
Residents of Cave Creek are seeking a mayor who will serve the residents and make decisions for the betterment of the city.
The next mayor of Cave Creek will have to deal with concerns about the city’s budget, economic development, and water security.
On July 30, Cave Creek voters will have to decide between two candidates who are in opposition with one another when it comes to the city’s budget and the mayor's responsibilities.
Early voting began July 3. Voters can check on the status of their mailed-in ballot on Maricopa County’s website at https://elections.maricopa.gov/voting/voter-dashboard-login. Those who choose to vote by mail are advised to mail their ballot by July 23 or drop it off at a ballot drop-off location or voting location by July 30.
Who is running for mayor in Cave Creek?
Each candidate proclaims their connection to Cave Creek.
Jim Grubb is a former council member who has resided in Cave Creek since 1981. He worked in the Arizona State Finance Department and the city of Phoenix's manager's office.
Bob Morris is an Arizona native and has lived in Cave Creek for 22 years. He had a career in executive management, marketing, and strategy.
He served six years on the Water Advisory Council, four years on the town council, and is completing his first term as mayor of Cave Creek.
How do the mayoral hopefuls view Cave Creek's finances?
Morris thinks the economics of the town are spectacular, boasting about a $35 million account.
He also said the city puts money in the bank every single year and how he has reduced the debt of the city from $63 million to $20 million.
Arizona local elections: Read our full coverage of the Cave Creek mayor’s race
He thinks the budget of Cave Creek is sustainable and any suggestion that it is not is untrue.
Grubb thinks the future budget needs to be reduced to a sustainable level because it is currently not. He thinks the budget overextends Cave Creek’s financial resources.
Grubb believes in the next recession they would have to make major cutbacks in services and in the Capital Improvement Program if the budget is not reduced.
What are the candidates' thoughts on purchasing open space?
Grubb believes the city should be working with the state land department, the Governor’s office and the Legislature to enlist support in applying to buy 4,000 acres of open space.
He said the main issue is not knowing how much the open space is. He assumes the land is around $100 million, which he says the town doesn't have.
An alternative he suggests is to lease or reach an agreement with the best parts of the land and operate it as a preserve.
Morris said town officials are in contact with the state land development monthly and are getting a cost appraisal.
He also said it would not be a purchase, but a right of first refusal and they are most likely to get that property as open space without doing anything.
How do the candidates stand on mayoral powers?
The town has debated allowing individual council members to bring issues onto the agenda without needing the mayor's permission.
Morris believes this is one of the few powers that the mayor has and agrees with the ordinance as is. He would not give up his power as mayor because he believes they are already limited.
Grubb thinks the ordinance should be reversed back to having one council member add an item to the agenda without the permission of the mayor.
He believes the job of the mayor is to make sure there is good information, good staff reports, and good debate about the item. He states the mayor’s task should not be to control the agenda.
Major endorsements?
Morris is self-funded and is not seeking any endorsements.
Grubb is endorsed by Scottsdale Area Association of Realtors and has received $2000 in campaign contributions.
Reach the reporter at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cave Creek mayoral election 2024: Meet Jim Grubb and Bob Morris