Where do Surprise mayoral candidates stand on growth, homelessness? What to know

Surprise will see a new mayor take office after voters decide on July 30 who should guide the City Council for the next four years.

The candidate they choose will lead the rapidly growing northwest Valley suburb and oversee a $952 million city budget. This comes as Surprise faces growing calls to improve roads and infrastructure to address the city’s expansion.

Three candidates are vying to become Surprise’s next mayor, filling the vacant seat that longtime public servant Skip Hall is leaving. Hall served on the City Council for over a decade before his colleagues appointed him mayor in 2018.

Hall’s departure signals a changing of the guard as the council is guaranteed to see at least two new faces seated on the dais in the coming term.

For the mayoral role, sitting Councilmember Aly Cline of District 2 and Kevin Sartor, a former planning and zoning commissioner, have qualified to be on the ballot. Ed Cunningham, a local business owner and former firefighter, has emerged as a write-in candidate.

Arizona election: Read our full election coverage of the Surprise mayor's race

The Arizona Republic asked the official candidates about their desire to run for local office, as well as how they would manage city finances and address Surprise’s infrastructure and traffic woes.

Here’s what they had to say. Answers are listed in alphabetical order and may have been slightly edited to meet agreed to lengths for all.

Vision: Why are you running for Surprise mayor?

Why are you running for Surprise mayor? If elected, what will your first priority be?

Aly Cline: I love this city. I moved here on purpose. I want to continue to keep the feel of a small town, friendly and welcoming, but to bring the economic development of new jobs and places of entertainment that will support the lifestyle of our dynamic multigenerational residents.

My first priority is to continue to work with nearby cities as part of the west-side mayors' organization. Encouraging connectivity and mutual support, so that all the west-side communities work together to expand jobs and educational opportunities.

Kevin Sartor: I am running for mayor of Surprise to bring disciplined, strategic leadership to our city. With over 20 years of military service as a retired Army officer, combat veteran and former Army drill sergeant, I understand the importance of integrity, accountability, and dedication. My goal is to ensure that Surprise remains a safe, prosperous and vibrant community for all residents.

If elected, my first priority will be public safety. A safe city is the foundation for a thriving community. I will work with our police and fire departments to provide the resources and support they need to protect our city. This includes investing in training, equipment and community policing initiatives to build trust and cooperation between law enforcement and residents.

Beyond public safety, I am committed to fiscal responsibility, economic growth, and enhancing the quality of life for all citizens. By focusing on these areas, I will ensure that Surprise continues to be a great place to live, work and raise a family.

Taxing and spending: Where do the Surprise mayoral 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?

Cline: The City CFO has projected a shortfall of our expected revenue from the recently discontinued rental property tax of $6.3 million and in addition to the rental tax ban, the city also faces a roughly $7 million shortfall following the 2021 decision to cut the income tax rate to a flat 2.5%. It was previously set at a variable 4.5%. The council recently discussed this situation in two public meetings. We did not want to reduce services to our residents, nor cut staff in every city department. We also decided not to add a food tax as many other cities have. Public safety, which includes fire and fire-medical, police, road preservation, traffic engineering and sanitation would all be impacted by staff reductions; adversely impacting our safe city status. A small increase (0.6%) in sales tax will spread the cost of maintaining existing city services to our increased population and spread the burden of the increased costs to residents and visitors to Surprise alike.

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Sartor: I will prioritize fiscal responsibility, ensuring our city operates efficiently without placing undue burdens on taxpayers. If faced with a deficit due to new state policies, I will not support raising taxes. Instead, I will focus on streamlining and optimizing city operations to reduce costs while maintaining essential services.I am committed to providing core services like public safety, infrastructure and essential community programs, which are the backbone of our city and important to our residents' well-being. I will explore efficiency improvements and cost-saving measures within these areas to avoid service disruptions.If cuts become necessary, I will prioritize reducing non-essential spending and administrative costs, ensuring that any reductions do not compromise the level of services provided by the city. Transparency is key, and I will involve the community in discussions about potential budget adjustments to reflect the priorities and needs of our residents.In contrast, my opponent, Aly Cline, recently voted to raise the Surprise sales taxes, which places an additional burden on our families and businesses. I believe that increasing taxes is not the solution. Instead, I will focus on fostering economic growth and attracting new businesses to broaden our tax base, generating additional revenue without raising taxes.

Growth: How should Surprise ensure it can accommodate future growth?

The city’s current estimated population of 160,300 has grown by 12% since the 2020 census. MAG projects the population to reach 234,579 by 2030, a 46% increase. What first steps should the city be taking now to prepare Surprise’s infrastructure so it can accommodate that growth? How would you pay for it?

Cline: The average increase in population in Surprise is about 5,000 a year. This average would bring Surprise to around 190,000 in 2030; an increase of 18.5%. Managing city services in addition to expanding infrastructure is the first step. Making sure developers improve roads adjacent to their property as they build, insuring they pay into the impact fees for future needs. The city is currently using our general fund to reduce scalloped streets where contiguous development does not exist then placing a lien on the unimproved property. The lien is collected when the property is finally developed. Working with local utilities like APS and Palo Verde Power station to ensure continued future energy needs. Continuing to expand our water recharge program to ensure water resources are available. These processes will ensure that the city continues to grow and allows the infrastructure to grow along with it.

Sartor: My first steps, as mayor of Surprise, will be to ensure our infrastructure is robust, sustainable, and scalable.We need to prioritize the expansion and maintenance of our roadways so Surprise residents can get in and around the city more easily and safely. This includes expanding roads, improving key intersections and investing in smart traffic management technologies.Surprise must also upgrade our water and sewer systems to handle the increased demand. Ensuring a reliable water supply and efficient wastewater management is vital for supporting both residential and commercial growth.Expanding our public safety infrastructure is essential to maintain safety and security in our growing community and something I am fully committed to doing.To fund these initiatives, I will pursue a combination of approaches: leveraging public-private partnerships, applying for state and federal grants, and ensuring efficient use of existing city funds through careful budgeting and cost-saving measures.Additionally, by fostering economic growth and attracting new businesses, we can broaden our tax base and generate additional revenue without raising taxes. My focus will be on sustainable growth that enhances the quality of life for all residents while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

Homelessness: What are the Surprise mayoral candidates' plans to get more people off the streets?

Based on the latest homeless count, Surprise’s unsheltered population was 49, slightly above the average for the West Valley cities. The report also showed that the West Valley had far more unsheltered individuals compared to sheltered (483 to 176). What should Surprise be doing to get more of its homeless into shelter space? Do Surprise and the West Valley overall need to set up more shelters?

Cline: Sheltering is important, and all the cities are working to provide more shelter. Not everyone who is unsheltered wants to give up their current lifestyle to live in a shelter. What I think is important is that we help everyone who is willing to accept assistance to get the assistance they need. Surprise currently has a transitional living shelter for women and families and a shelter for young adults 16 to 24. We currently have a veterans outreach program. Our police department has an outreach program to “meet new people” and help them find resources if they are willing. I currently serve on the MAG Health and Human Services Committee and the MAG Domestic Violence Committee. These committees are made up of members from all the cities in Maricopa County to coordinate services across the county. We need to work together with our community partners all over the west Valley to find ways to assist those who want to be sheltered. As mayor, I want to ensure continued representation on these committees from the council.

Sartor: My approach to addressing this issue is to implement long-term solutions focused on prevention and diversion.We need to enhance our outreach programs to connect unsheltered individuals with available resources, including shelter space, health care, and job training. Establishing partnerships with local nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and neighboring cities will help us maximize the impact of these services.I believe prevention is key. We must work to prevent homelessness before it starts by offering support to at-risk individuals. This includes providing rental assistance, emergency financial aid and counseling services to help people maintain stable housing.Diversion strategies are essential. By diverting individuals from entering homelessness through rapid rehousing programs and support services, we can reduce the overall number of homeless individuals. This involves offering temporary financial assistance and case management to quickly move people back into stable housing.Regarding the need for more shelters, it's clear Surprise and the west Valley need additional shelter space. I will make sure shelters are equipped with comprehensive support services to help individuals transition out of homelessness.By focusing on prevention, diversion and expanding shelter capacity, we can address homelessness more effectively and provide our community members with the support they need to thrive.

Inspiration: Who shapes the Surprise mayoral 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?

Cline: Eleanor Rosevelt. She was one of the most active first ladies in history and worked for political, racial and social justice. She never gave up on her goals, and I won’t either.

Sartor: Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Teresa King is someone that I admire greatly. She took charge of the United States Army Drill Sergeant School in 2009, when I was an instructor. Teresa King was the first female commandant of the school and her leadership and dedication to her soldiers was inspiring. During her tenure, she faced adversity because of her military occupational specialty and for being a woman in a male dominated role. Her peers applied pressure and levied unfounded claims against her character and leadership ability, but she remained confident and stoic through it all. She demonstrated true leadership, being able to stick to her convictions and principle in the midst of scrutiny and slander. Whenever I face adversity, I think back to her leadership and emulate it to the best of my ability.

Election integrity: Where do the Surprise mayoral candidates stand?

Do you think Arizona elections are fairly run? Do you trust the results? Will you abide by them? Why or why not?

Cline: Yes, yes and yes, I believe that the state of Arizona, whether run by Republicans or Democrats, has always held the process of voting to be one of the utmost importance.

Sartor: As a candidate for mayor of Surprise, I recognize the importance of maintaining the integrity and trustworthiness of our elections. It is crucial that every voter has confidence in the electoral process.I believe that Arizona's election system, like any system, can always be improved to make sure the highest standards of security and accuracy are met. While there have been concerns raised by many voters, it is essential that we address these issues and work towards enhancing the system to make it as robust as possible.I trust the results of our elections. However, I also support ongoing efforts to review and improve our electoral processes to address any vulnerabilities and restore full confidence among all voters.Yes, I will abide by the results of the election. As a retired Army officer and combat veteran, I have dedicated my life to upholding the principles of democracy and the rule of law. Ensuring that we have fair and transparent elections is essential for the health of our democracy.I am committed to serving the people of Surprise with integrity, and that includes respecting the will of the voters as expressed through a fair electoral process.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Surprise mayoral race 2024: Candidates explain priorities