Serving the Town of Paradise Valley

Dear Friends,

I am happy to provide you with an outline of my positions on a number of topics important to Town residents. Please feel free to email me with any other topics or policy matters that are of interest and I will work to respond.

• Experience Matters - We have a great Town Council that will lose experienced members in the next election. Having a perspective of what makes Paradise Valley so special will be an asset to the Town. Serving on the Council from 1998-2008 gives me the knowledge and experience to help guide the Town as our economy recovers.
  
  
• Firm Supporter of Small Government – One of my basic beliefs has always been that "they who govern least, govern best" I am dedicated to making sure that our Town only fulfills the functions that our residents desire.
  
  
• Understands and Supports the Hospitality Industry - As a Co-founder of China Mist Brands, Inc. www.chinamist.com, I have been involved with the hospitality industry since 1982. What makes our resorts successful is a combination of the economy, our great climate, beautiful scenery and the ability to get that message out to visitors from around the world. I am honored to serve on the Board of the Scottsdale Convention and Visitor's Bureau www.scottsdalecvb.com since 1998 and have great relationships within the resort industry. Understanding that art and cultural activities play a part not only in our lives but those of people looking to visit or move here, I am also a Board member of the Scottsdale Cultural Council which oversees the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Public Art and SMOCA- The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art www.sccarts.org. We are blessed with wonderful resorts that assure our residents have great places to dine and stay along with covering the basic costs of the Town.
  
  
• Supports Preserving the One Acre Housing Standard in the Town - In my ten years on the Town Council, we never approved any residential cluster or planned developments on less than one acre that were not attached to a resort Special Use Permit. We need to preserve our open spaces. We need to continue to be vigilant in protecting the Town’s residential character and our one acre zoning.
  
  
• Understands The Changing Demographics of Paradise Valley – When first elected in 1998 Suzanne and I had only lived in the Town for a few years. Representing the newer residents as well as knowing many of the long-term residents gave me the understanding of what was important to preserve in Town and what services needed to change to meet the needs of everyone. Our Council instituted the agreement with Phoenix to supply all of our residents with the best, fastest and most cost effective fire and ambulance services.
  
  
• Supporter of Open and Transparent Decision Making - The best decisions are made in public view. Executive sessions should be held only when absolutely necessary.
  
  
• Ethical Leadership - Since leaving the Council in 2008, I have chaired the Board of the Williams Institute for Ethics and Management www.ethics-twi.org. Our Town deserves nothing less than the absolute highest level of ethics and honesty from our elected officials.
  
  
• Civic Obligations – My parents taught us that there are certain obligations of citizenship. We all need to give back to our communities that have been so good to us. In addition to creating jobs, my talents also are in being involved. Whether helping a Child Development Center in South Phoenix go from almost closing down to flourishing in assisting disadvantaged kids, to advocating for Children’s Issues or helping our local Public Radio Stations become self-supporting, I have always believed in giving back. Not all of us choose to get involved in politics but that is another way to give back to our community and to help preserve the Paradise Valley we love and help guide its future.