From:    Jim Van Allen

              Carefree Resident

              Town Council Candidate

WILL LIGHTNING STRIKE IN CAREFREE??

As the lone candidate for Carefree Town Council running as a WRITE IN Candidate, I was told this week by a Citizen Supporter: "JIM, a write in candidate has the same chance as if lightning was to strike Town Hall... , but good luck and I am voting for you"

 

But, after spending many days at the Carefree Post Office, talking to voters and handing out flyers, I am greatly encouraged that the folks in Carefree want a choice as to who serves them on the Council.

 

A challenge facing a write in candidate is the apparent rule in the election laws (per Betsy Wise, Town Clerk) that says, in part: A write in Candidate MUST get 50% of the votes cast, Plus One in the Primary Election to be elected. HOWEVER, it goes on to say that if that level of votes is not achieved in the Primary the WRITE IN CANDIDATE CAN NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE MAY RUN OFF FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION ( if required). Clearly

this means the March 8 Primary is our one shot to win the right to serve.

 

I estimate that I will need about 525 votes by Citizens taking the time to write in my name. I feel every bit as qualified as the other Candidates and would appreciate the opportunity to offer Carefree a choice and will work hard to deserve their trust and vote.

 

LET US SEE IF WE CAN MAKE LIGHTNING STRIKE.

JIM VAN ALLEN  

TOWN COUNCIL CANDIDATE

 

 

 

Lyn, I just want you and all those who read "The Truth" and are concerned about Carefree, to know how pleased I am to hear Jim Van Allen is running as a write in candidate for Council.  Jim has served Carefree well for a long time and knows well what makes it so special.  He has helped our merchants, protected citizens and upheld the laws and codes our Council people are elected to do.

While I'm sure there are other qualified candidates, I'd be remiss if I didn't give a special endorsement of Mr. Van Allen.

Ed Morgan

 

 

 

Lyn...so well said. You do such an amazing job getting the truth out there. Keep up the good work!

Jamie Drinkwater Buchanan

(Lyn's note: This was in response to the property tax scare tactics.  Jamie is a former member of the Carefree Planning and Zoning Commission, and is very knowledgeable about our Town.)

 

 

 

    Good job Lyn.  My vote will be against all of the initiatives. The property tax initiative is not needed; that issue is already taken care of by state statute. Leave it to all of the voters, not just council members. The initiative regarding term limits is also not needed. In the almost 30 years that I have lived in Carefree, term limits have never been an issue and we have had a large number of different people on the council over the years. Those that were against the four year terms presented a good reason for their positions; we can remove anyone every two years should we desire. These initiatives are presented by candidates that are using them as a way to further their efforts to be voted into their respective positions in town government. 

    I also will not be voting for any recaller on the ballot. I think they are the reason that fewer people took out packages to run for office this cycle. There was much too much rancor brought to council meetings in the last 17-18 months, caused mostly by the recallers/Sorchych group. Seemed to me that they never had an agenda item that they couldn't create an argument about, and I have attended approximately 90 percent of those meetings. 

    There will be at least 5 brand new members on the next council and there is no better candidate than Mayor David Schwan to bring that group together. 

Dave

 

 

 

Beautiful!  I really admire your ability to explain complex issues to those of us who really don't know the facts.

Sue C.

 

 

 

It is no surprise that Stavoe is supported by the two other (soon to be former) Council members who supported the sleazy recall attempt a year ago.   In addition, he's endorsed by the state representative who was previously removed from office because he broke election laws, and a former California Congressman who has no involvement with our town.

Ann

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Carefree Citizen:

 

As the two mayoral candidates prepare for the upcoming town election, I thought it might be helpful to offer some insight into the personalities, backgrounds and qualifications of these individuals. I have personally know both men for a number of years and must admit that they have very little in common.

 

Carefree Mayor David Schwan is a man of integrity who has demonstrated his commitment and passion for the Carefree community through his many years of public service. As Mayor, he has provided leadership through one of the most challenging economic periods on record, providing sound fiscal practices, promoting an open door policy to the Mayor's office and respecting the needs of both our merchants and citizens. Mayor Schwan has served on numerous community boards and has acted as liaison to several school districts.  He served as a Commissioner on Carefree Planning and Zoning and has spent four years as a Town Councilman prior to being appointed Mayor. He was instrumental in the development of the newly formed Carefree Business Association which, through new marketing initiatives has already started to produce increased sales tax revenues for the town.  He is a proven leader, a respected member of our community and deserves re-election.

 

Councilman Doug Stavoe is unfortunately a different story. He is not a man of integrity and has a long well earned reputation for combative and aggressive behavior to town staff, many of our merchants and others who get in his way. He has verbally threatened town staff with their employment, and made common knowledge his desire to eliminate the Chamber of Commerce, the Thunderbird Art Shows and advocated defunding the Sheriff's Posse. He was a strong advocate of the bogus Recall Initiative against Mayor Schwan, that was soundly defeated by one of the largest margins in the town's history.  It is also important to note that Mr. Stavoe's participation in town civic functions, i.e. evening concerts, wine festivals, Veterans Day events, charity organizations, community boards has been virtually non-existent. He has never volunteered his time for these types of community services. As the appointed Town Finance Liaison he failed to attend five budget meetings and at the meetings he did attend, he provided little or no input.  It is very apparent that finance is not his strong suit. 

 

Please ask yourself what he might do as Mayor with our Fire Station and relationship with Rural Metro, the Water Company and the possibility he might sell, transfer or relinquish control to an outside source. Will he fulfill his threat, as reported in the Sonoran News to replace our town staff for no other reason than retribution.  These are valid issues that should concern every citizen in Carefree.

 

Mr. Stavoe lacks the financial expertise, management experience and most importantly the interpersonal skills to lead Carefree through these difficult economic times.

 

Bob Gemmill

Carefree Councilman

 

  

 

 

LET ME SAY THAT THE NEXT TIME WE HAVE ELECTIONS, I WILL DO ALL IN MY POWER TO DISCOURAGE THE SONORAN NEWS FROM EVER HOSTING ANY FORUM OR DEBATE IN CAREFREE.  WHAT A CIRCUS!  THE SO-CALLED MODERATOR COULD BARELY READ THE PRINTED WORD.  HE ALSO THINKS IT WAS A FORUM FOR HIS COMEDIC TALENT.  IT WAS PATHETIC!  THEN WE HAD DON, A SELF APPOINTED "BOUNCER".  I SENSED A LOT OF DISDAIN FROM HIM TOWARD SOME TOWN RESIDENTS.  IF WE ARE SO HARD UP AS TO ALLOW A FORUM ON OUR TURF, SPONSORED BY A PAPER THAT REGULARLY DEMONSTRATES IT'S DISDAIN FOR CAREFREE, THEN HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM.  IF NO ENTITY WITH DISTINCTION STEPS UP NEXT ELECTION TO HOST A FORUM, I WILL BE HAPPY TO DO THAT.

JOSEPH INTENZO

CAREFREE RESIDENT

 

 

 

I don't believe at any stage is anecdotal information germane or helpfully informative, and some member on the council should speak-up and label it for what it is, that is, hearsay and mostly someone's solipsistic nonsense.  The merchants should decide on the efficacy of the signage, not the council people acting on a few tidbits of anecdotal information or on a silly Coady "poll."  Notice how quickly Vanik, Coady, and even Stavoe (for the most part - he actually reversed his stance) shut-up regarding their criticism once the merchants and Ms. Bergman began to share their opinions.  It is all great fun . . . these "discussions" among council members acting like they know something, when all that's really happening is council members seizing on one or two comments from citizens that conform to their biases, and/or to their pre-conceived notions, and/or that provide them with a soapbox from which they can get noticed.

Fred

  

 

 

Lyn,

If "reasonable doubt" is enough to sway a jury's verdict, then the Arizona Republic article (2/6/10-by Beth Duckett) that includes the following statement:

                   

                    "Koteas, Stavoe and Councilman Bob Coady have 

                     endorsed Traynor in the recall."

...should convince voters that this man cannot be trusted to tell the truth. Of course, the beautiful thing about the public record is that we are all free to use it as a fact checker so that our votes go to the right candidates.  In this case, the right candidate for mayor is the incumbent, Mayor Schwan.

Your readers should be encouraged to consult the above article and many others that directly contradict Doug Stavoe's claims that he is innocent of supporting the recall.

Alex Wilson

Carefree

 

 

Home Work , Home Work.  You do it very well.  Thanks.

Joe

 

Thank you, Lyn.  This is a wonderful explanation of what is going on in this election.  

Josef Metzger

(Lyn's note: This refers to Doug Stavoe-The facts)

 

 

Lyn,

Beware politicians using words like "taxes" and "debt" without

 

clarification.  Your statement in "Carefree Truth #97" bears repeating

 

for the sake of clarity:   The Water Company debt is separate

 

from the Town debt, and is paid for by monies generated by

 

the operation of the water company.  As stated in Carefree

 

Truth issue #95, "This type of bond is used to finance a revenue producing facility such as a public utility or airport. Maybe this is why Mr. Stavoe keeps failing in his own business ventures.  After all, you've got to know where your money actually comes from.  And if he gets elected and continues to parse city finances with the same confusion (or worse) as he does in his campaign, we're all in trouble.

Alex Wilson

Carefree