My Priorities

Oro Valley is one of the safest communities in Arizona under the leadership of Chief Kara Riley and I will work to keep it that way. Our officers need to be properly compensated to reflect the community’s priority for public safety. The town recently purchased a 50,500 square foot building at the corner of Rancho Vistoso Blvd and Oracle Rd, and is now in the process of renovating the space to serve as the new police station. Renovating an existing building will cost the town far less than new construction.

Regardless of what adjective you put in front of the word growth in Oro Valley, it all boils down to one thing: water, our most precious resource. Oro Valley is a 36 square mile Town that is now 95% build out. We have approximately 3,000 units in a mix of apartments and houses that have been approved, with only a small fraction of that inventory currently planned or under construction. This supply of housing will serve our needs until 2040. I believe we need to take a cautious, wait-and-see approach to additional residential growth, especially when it comes to committing water resources.

In Oro Valley our mountain views matter. The statistically projectable survey conducted for the Oro Valley Path Forward General Plan indicates that 82% of our residents interviewed by phone prioritized protecting mountain views in our community. Residents who completed a paper survey valued mountain views at 89% and those who took the survey online rated mountain views at 91%. Clearly, our residents believe our viewsheds are one of the most valued assets of our community and they must be protected when considering development and building heights.

Budgets are about what the community values. In Oro Valley, we clearly value public safety, well-maintained roads and recreational amenities. Increasing revenue should not depend on continued development or new taxes. Strategic annexations that would generate more sales tax revenue, looking at operating efficiencies, and increasing tourism are all options to be explored. Proper fiscal management will ensure Oro Valley never needs a property tax.

Saving over 200 acres of the former Vistoso Golf Course was the beginning of a long journey. It will be a long-term effort to restore the former golf course to a recreational property with enhanced Sonoran Desert ambiance. Along with Gayle Mateer, the president of Preserve Vistoso, I am committed to see this project to completion. Although the property is currently growing acres of noxious weeds, when we succeed in the restoration, walking, jogging and bike riding on the six miles of paved paths of Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve will be a beautiful and enjoyable experience.

When the expansion of Naranja Park was on the Town Council agenda, I gathered a group of residents to support this effort. Although my children were past an age to appreciate Naranja Park once it was completed, I supported its development because I knew firsthand how difficult it was to find recreational amenities for children in Oro Valley when we moved here 20 years ago. I will support the continued improvements needed such as shade trees and structures to make this park the hub of family recreation.

Having extensive experience and knowledge of the consequences of living on a closed golf course, I would NOT want to see this devastation come to another golf community.

The current council has worked diligently to make golf a sustainable part of our recreation and tourism portfolio, and I will continue to support that effort.