Wickenburg, AZ: Thursday night at the Community Center, the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce presented a soft hitting candidates forum for the candidates running for City Council.

Six Candidates provided their biographic information and their reasons for running for office. The questions were provided first  by the Chamber and then questions screened by the Chamber from the audience. The questions included the hard hitting one, " Do you support the Arts in Wickenburg?". The questions asked didn't really make candidates be specific in many of their answers.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS :

 

Scott Stewart pointed out " We should run the town as a business.....money taken from the Taxpayer needs to be guarded.....if we decrease taxes on business it will result in increased economic growth" The major problem in town.." crime, drugs...we need to address this problem.. by helping the officers with dealing with these .."

 

Jim Ferman pointed out " All of the three candidates represented by the slate "CHIPS" have no potential conflicts of interest that could cause a conflict of interest...", such conflicts exist if you are a councilman, " and work for or have family that works for, the real estate industry, or mortgage companies..." . How can you vote for the people's interest when their is financial gain for you or your family members?

Rubin Madrid pointed out " there is crime in Wickenburg".... " the police department is under funded and under staffed,"...." when we have one officer on the street and there is an accident or he is taking a prisoner to Phoenix...there is no one to cover a 911 call"..." We are the cross roads with highway 93 and 60 and drugs are moving through Wickenburg ".. " Need cops on the street ", " in 1978 Wickenburg had 6 officers, Today (26 years later) we have 9 officers on the force".. " why is Wickenburg annexing property when they haven't allowed for more officers?" The police Department needs help !

Chris Band  pointed out " we need to look at controlled growth..".." review and adjustments to the General Plan need to be made.."...." there is irresponsible annexation planned.." and it needs to be reviewed".

Phil Richardson pointed out  " what communication problem ? .." (exists) when he was asked about the existing communication problem that currently exists between Wickenburg Citizens and the existing City Council. He side stepped the question on potential conflict votes by stating he " would refer conflict questions.. to the City Attorney ". Can the City Attorney be impartial for their employer. (the City).

 

Questions were kept lite, except when Jim Ferman brought up the topic in one of his answers regarding Phil Richardson and  his donations, by developers with issues before the city council. See his Campaign Financial Report.

 The bottom line on the forum was if you want business as usual vote for Richardson, or Henson. If you wish change then your candidates are Ferman, Band, Stewart, Madrid or Wilkenson.  Cookies provided were good and fat, the questions were weak and lite.

YAWN !