From tax policy to building an airport, here's where Peoria City Council candidates stand

Peoria City Council has three seats up for grabs this election season, with two spots guaranteed to go to newcomers. Voters in the Mesquite, Ironwood and Willow districts will soon decide who should represent them at city hall.

While there are three open seats to fill, only the Mesquite District has a competitive race in the July 30 Primary Election. The other two races proceed to the Nov. 5 general election as only one candidate in each qualified for the ballot.

One incumbent is expected to retain his position on the council this fall. Mesquite District voters will see three candidates' names on their primary election ballot.

Together, the slate of new and returning officials will take office at a time of anticipated economic development and enter an administration that’s determined to bring an airport to northern Peoria and develop a new innovation and technology corridor.

Peoria City Council incumbent Jon Edwards is the sole candidate on the ballot for his Willow District seat. He's looking to secure a fourth consecutive four-year term in office. Write-in candidate Angeli Wesson is challenging him for the seat in November.

Councilmembers Bill Patena of the Ironwood District and Brad Shafer of the Mesquite District are not seeking reelection.

Two newcomers — one who qualified for ballot placement and one who’s emerged as a write-in — are running to fill Patena’s seat. Three others are looking to fill Shafer’s. The newcomers Thomas Bottorf, Matt Bullock, Laura Page, Rick Stokes and Homer Landreth.

Arizona election: Read our full election coverage of the Peoria City Council race

The Arizona Republic asked the Mesquite District candidates about their desire to run for local office, how they would manage city finances and their thoughts on Peoria’s economic development.

Here’s what they (listed in alphabetical order) had to say. Some answers may have been slightly edited to stick to agreed-to lengths.

Vision: Why are you running for Peoria City Council?

Why are you running for Peoria City Council? If elected, what will your first priority be?

Bottorf: I chose to run for Peoria City Council because I have a deep passion for my community and being truly engaged with my fellow citizens. My first priority is keeping the citizens of our city safe, most importantly our children in school. Having lived in the northern part of the city, we need to continue to focus on making sure the police and fire have the tools they need to have faster response times. Given my focus on our citizens' safety, I have been endorsed by Peoria firefighters and police. I align with the city’s current vision of empowering Peoria to reach its full potential, particularly in areas of public safety, economic development, job growth and ensuring water security. With my long-term involvement in the community, advocacy for Peoria’s park improvements, established relationships with elected officials, and unwavering dedication to fostering a strong community, I believe I will effectively represent the interests of all Mesquite District residents.

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Bullock: I have lived in Peoria for 23 years and have been active in the community (school board president, volunteer in many city programs, etc.) and enjoy what Peoria has become (lifestyle, strength of community, etc.). I see Peoria at a “fork in the road.” There are interests who want to see the industrialization of north Peoria and turn it into the next Deer Vally airpark.  North Peoria residents moved here to get away from a “cramped” lifestyle. We also moved here for parks, trails, and opens spaces, which are threatened with over-commercialization. I am a business owner and will promote smart economic development to increase our tax base, but we need to protect what makes North Peoria special.

Page: I am currently the senior advisor to a United States congressman, I want to bring my skills and experience working on policy issues related to water quality, supply, economic development, transportation and infrastructure to the Peoria City Council. Neighbors have expressed to me that they want to have a voice in the planning and vision for their community. Currently, a gap exists between the City Council and the residents of Mesquite District. Decisions impacting our community's future landscape are made swiftly, leaving residents feeling unheard. To bridge this gap, I propose a multi-pronged approach. First, I'll hold regular town hall meetings, fostering open dialogue and direct constituent interaction. Additionally, I'll establish citizen advisory committees for the North Peoria Gateway and Peoria Innovation Core projects (including the airport). These committees will gather resident perspectives early in the planning process, ensuring informed decision-making. I want to build trust between the City Council and my neighbors in the Mesquite District. I believe in asking tough questions, seeking well-informed answers and making sound decisions. I will schedule meetings with my fellow council members and key members of staff to introduce myself and express my desire to build trust and collaborate in a straightforward manner.

Taxing and spending: Where do the Peoria 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?

Bottorf: As a businessman and engineer, I believe in establishing priorities in any budget. My wife and I spent the past 20 years helping college students eliminate debt. The current leadership has been fiscally responsible and has prioritized public safety, protected water and needed infrastructure. As we continue to put first things first, bring in new jobs and new revenue, we will not raise taxes. My opponent continually tried to raise debt levels and taxes when he was on the school board. Voters rejected his proposals. We need to prioritize response times, public safety and the things that matter most. Our new city manager has renewed the focus on the Peoria team on providing excellent and innovative customer service in delivering city services. I believe that we can weather any political changes and still deliver high-quality services to the citizens of Peoria.

Bullock: City Hall is putting a lot of time and money into researching an airpark, buying a helicopter, creating an aviation department and other projects taking millions of dollars, which most Peoria residents don’t want and can’t see the need for these projects. The first thing I would cut are the “wants over needs” projects, which will save Peoria millions of dollars and help weather a budget shortfall. The last thing I want to do is raise taxes. I would need to review each line item of the budget and work with respective city departments to see where we can reasonably cut spending before cutting essential services or raising taxes. With close to a $1 billion budget, I am reasonably sure there are projects we can hibernate or suspend before raising taxes or cutting essential services.

Page: Our city faces a challenging budget situation due to potential changes not only in state funding but also in federal funding. Cities receive grants directly from the federal government or passed through state programs. My colleagues, experts in federal programs, warn us to prepare for a 20-30% reduction in federal grants. This could have a significant impact on new programs or services which rely heavily on Federal Administration funding.

Furthermore, the proposed airport project raises concerns. With a projected cost to procure land and build the facility of $200 million, the current feasibility study relies heavily on Federal Aviation Administration grants, which don't cover operating expenses. Most general aviation airports struggle to turn a profit. Adding this financial burden could jeopardize our ability to maintain essential services without resorting to cuts or tax increases. I strongly believe in making sound financial decisions that consider both economic downturns and unpredictable political shifts. I think we need to slow down a bit before we add more burden to our expenditures. I would like to read the city’s comprehensive debt management policy. Debt comprises 43% of the 10-year Capital Improvement Plan’s budget, a lot of that is dedicated to new water projects.

Airport: What development do Peoria City Council candidates favor for state land to the north?

The city is working with the State Land Department to make roughly 8,300 acres of state trust land in northern Peoria available for auction to developers. It’s doing so in the hopes of creating an innovation core, anchored by technology companies and an airport. Is the city doing enough to ensure Peoria’s infrastructure, notably water resources, will support such growth? Do you support the overall plans? Why or why not?

Bottorf: I strongly support the General Plan Amendment introducing the new ASLD Special Land Use category for several compelling reasons. Firstly, it effectively integrates and preserves the strategic areas of North Peoria Gateway and the Peoria Innovation Core as unified elements. By preventing the piecemeal auctioning of these lands by the state, this amendment ensures that development in these critical zones is guided by a unified vision rather than fragmented, disjointed projects. Equally significant is the city's proactive stance on water resources, as evidenced by the substantial increase in budget allocation for the upcoming year's water security program and the recent passage of the comprehensive 10-year CIP with a substantial investment exceeding $700 million in water infrastructure. This strong financial commitment emphasizes the council's unwavering and thoughtful commitment to securing a sustainable water future for Peoria, aligning seamlessly with the four foundations of my campaign.

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Bullock: I support the plan to bring the 8,300 acres under city control. Then, we need to make sure we have the correct representation on the City Council to ensure developers are treated fairly, but also ensure that Peoria residents aren’t stuck with any effects of developer favoritism.  I will push for a balance between smart economic growth and speeding up the permitting and approval process for projects the residents agree with. Amkor is a great example. I am fine with that project (although I would have pushed for it to be more north-east). But most Vistancia and Trilogy residents say that there was a severe lack of transparency.

Page: The 2040 General Plan was ratified by 67% of the voters in November 2020. There is a tremendous amount of time and expense that goes into a 10-year General Plan. Just a few years later, major changes are being proposed. It has been stated this land deal will be the largest in Arizona State’s history. I am adamant a change of this magnitude needs to go to the voters for approval. At the same time this major amendment is being considered, the city is working with ASLD to rezone 1,600 of the 8,300 acres for the North Peoria Gateway Project adjacent to Vistancia. They are running these two astronomical changes at the same time. I would ask that we slow down on this firehouse approach to change for our community. I keep hearing we have to rush or the ASLD will decide. They can’t decide without the council’s approval, as stated on ASLD’s webpage, “The eventual development of State Trust land is subject to planning and zoning regulations of the local jurisdiction.” ASLD advises the city's General Plan to understand the current zoning. The current zoning of most of the 8,300 acres is residential or agriculture.

Transparency: Do Peoria City Council candidates think the city's residents are heard?

The city has been wrestling with a transparency issue with some leaders voicing concern that the mayor is silencing their voices, and by extension, their constituents. What would you do to ensure that the voices of all your colleagues on the dais and their district residents are heard?

Bottorf: Unlike my opponents, I have attended every City Council meeting for the past two years, all available study sessions and informational webinars produced by city staff. The allegation of a transparency issue is baseless and merely a political attack against the mayor. In my experience, residents in my district who raise concerns about "transparency" are not taking advantage of the numerous resources provided by our communicative city administration and frankly are focusing more on politics than the truth. As an engaged member of the community, I am satisfied with how open and responsive our city leaders are and urge any concerned citizen to directly meet with them instead of hastily turning to social media attacks. Unlike my opponent, I have already established relationships with council members and will continue to foster an environment of teamwork, unity, fairness and transparency.

Bullock: I have heard that quite a bit since I launched my campaign. Whether it is all true or only partly true, for this many residents to be talking about it, the city has a perception problem.  If I am elected, it will be my job to provide all information as soon as it is available to my constituents. If that “ruffles feathers” at city hall, that is too bad. The mayor, City Council and all city employees are paid with residents’ tax money. The resident is the boss. Elected leaders are a fiduciary with resident tax money and the temporary custodian of city assets during their term of office. The job of all elected leaders is to research ideas for growth, present the objectives to the residents and solicit regular feedback along the project path. Ultimately, elected leaders make the final decision, but a majority of residents should be supporting the overall project.

Page: I hear from neighbors, friends and business owners daily about their concerns and their inability to participate in the process. They want to be part of the decision-making process when their quality of life is at stake with these rapid-fire changes coming at them. Communication is key. Increase the number of town hall meetings and neighborhood forums to directly address resident concerns and gather feedback. Offer more options for dates and times for these meetings to make them accessible to more people. Online meetings and videos are helpful, but nothing replaces the value of neighbors being able to discuss the issues in a public forum not only with the city staff but council members. Make city data readily available online in a user-friendly format. The staff needs to take into consideration that most people don’t engage in this process on a daily basis. Structure the information in a way that is easily understood by all regardless of their level of expertise. Clearly label and define legends in proposed rezoning maps. Establish citizen advisory committees on specific issues to gather diverse perspectives and recommendations before decisions are made. Utilize online surveys and polls to gauge public opinion on important issues.

Inspiration: Who shapes the Peoria 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?

Bottorf: As a Christian, I look for lessons on servant leadership from scripture. As both a businessman and a civic-minded American, I deeply admire Ronald Reagan for his exceptional communication skills and unwavering beliefs, which he applied in serving and connecting with every citizen of our nation. He was a leader for all Americans and worked effectively with his political opponents, while also demonstrating tremendous strength in international relations and prioritizing the United States. Similar to Reagan, I have great admiration for our city manager, Henry Darwin, who possesses qualities of leadership rarely found in city leaders. His talent for creatively streamlining processes aligns with my engineering background and appreciation for efficiency. Additionally, Henry's ability to surround himself with highly competent individuals reflects the same approach taken by Reagan. What impresses me most about Henry is his openness to ideas from others and his genuine desire to listen to the citizens of Peoria. As the next Mesquite council member, I aspire to follow in the footsteps of these two great leaders. While conservative at heart, I deeply care about all members of my community and have been honored to meet individuals from diverse backgrounds during my campaign.

Bullock: Since this is an election questionnaire, I will pick Ronald Reagan. Why is that? During the Reagan years, we could debate each other passionately and fight for our vision of the future, but then go out to lunch with the person on the other side of the debate. Nowadays, you are evil if you even look at someone from another political party. I always admired Ronald Reagan’s ability to get people excited and infuse hope and energy around his ideas and then he would invite you to join him on the journey, and most people followed him (only president to win 48 states). He made his share of mistakes, of course, but I would really like to see that tone and professional respect in our political discourse today. We would get so much more accomplished.

Page: My mentor, colleague and friend, Casey Hatcher. She recently passed away at the young age of 43. She was the deputy chief administrative officer for Butte County, located in California. The 2018 Camp Fire destroyed the Town of Paradise, over 12,000 structures in a few hours. The severity of this disaster required countless hours, new strategies, and often grueling work, during which Casey proved again and again that she was up to the challenge. Casey worked tirelessly in the days, weeks and years after the Camp Fire. Initially working to ensure fire survivors received accurate information; hosting community meetings and forums; doing interviews and connecting with local, state, and federal leaders advocating with them to rebuild the community for which she cared so deeply. Casey testified before a congressional committee on disaster recovery where she was provided a national platform to advocate for disaster recovery and address the unmet needs and contradictory federal policies she worked so tirelessly to improve. The systems Casey put into place are used today as a model by communities experiencing catastrophic disasters, including most recently by the State of Hawaii in their response to the Lahaina Wildfire in Maui in August of last year.

Election integrity: Where do the Peoria 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?

Bottorf: Having trust in elections and the election process should be important to everyone. While Peoria doesn’t run elections, I will always abide by the results of an election. I do have concerns about some of the election practices and laws in Arizona that I think we should update so that voters can receive timely results that they can trust. I would support efforts that strengthen election integrity so that voters can have confidence that their vote counts and that we can get secure results as close to election night as possible.

Bullock: The 2024 election cycle will have the most people watching it of any election in our history. No poll worker or ballot counter will be able to sneeze without 20 cameras and 20 attorneys on them. I believe our overall election, including polling locations and technology, have improved since past elections and will fairly represent the American voter. I will accept the outcome of each race, from mine on the City Council all the way up to the President.

Page: Maricopa County runs our local City of Peoria’s election. I understand with all the discussions flying back and forth it makes it difficult to trust the system and can discourage people from participating in the process. But I say get out there and vote. If you stay home, or you don’t drop or mail in your ballot, you know with 100% accuracy that your vote will not be counted. Choose to vote. Certainly, there is always a need to analyze, scrutinize, adapt and change as new information is obtained and situations arise. The county still has work to do. For current voting information, please go to elections.maricopa.gov/ and visit BeBallotReady.Vote for important voting deadlines, polling locations and your registration status. I absolutely will abide by the results of the election, win or lose. It is a privilege to participate in the process. I’m pleased that the voters have choices for the City of Peoria Mesquite District council members. I wish there were more candidates running in the other districts. It allows the public to better understand the stance of their candidates by comparing and contrasting. Please visit my website at PageforPeoria.com for more information.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Peoria City Council election 2024: Candidates answer Q&A