7 19 2014 stsn p39 42 opinion

Community Commentary Letters to the Editor

Elections are opportunities to be heard

BY CHANDLER VICE MAYOR RICK HEUMANN, MESA CITY COUNCILMAN DAVE

CITY COUNCILMAN COREY WOODS

RICHINS AND TEMPE

Campaign signs are peppering Valley street corners signaling the start of a new election season. And for many of us, that means a trip to the mailbox for our early voting instructions.

Approximately 60 percent of Arizona voters are on the Permanent Early Voting List (PEVL). By now, residents who are on that list should have received a postcard in the mail with instructions on how to obtain their early ballot to vote in the Aug. 26 primary election. This is an important moment for those Arizona voters who register as Independents.

Voters who are registered with a recognized party (Republican, Democratic, Libertarian and Americans Elect) will automatically receive their party’s ballot in the mail if they are on the PEVL. Independents on the PEVL will need to take an extra step. The Independent party is not recognized, which has resulted in a misconception that those voters are not qualified to vote in the primary election. This is not the case. Much of this confusion was brought on when the Legislature voted to m ove municipal elections to the fall cycle.

But Independents are absolutely eligible to participate, and we encourage you to do so. Those not affiliated with any political party will not automatically receive a ballot. Voters have a choice; they simply need to respond to the postcard they receive requesting a “City-only” ballot or a partisan ballot of their choice for that election only.

Many people don’t realize that voting in the primary election is extremely important because a City Council candidate has the ability to be elected outright. Or, in the case of the state legislative race, a candidate running unopposed may also be selected outright if he or she receives enough votes. Consequently, voter participation in the August primary is critical to have a voice.

As part of the democratic process, we all have the opportunity and responsibility to participate in elections. With all of the options available, voting has never been easier. In fact, there are a number of early voting sites planned to provide more options for our residents.

If you are a registered voter on the PEVL and did not receive a card in the mail, you can request one through the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office at (602) 506-1511.

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Opposing term limit extension

I strongly oppose extending term limits for Chandler City Council members to three consecutive fouryear terms, from the current two, as approved by this council at its June 26 meeting. I join Councilmembers Jeff Weninger and Nora Ellen in opposing the extension of term limits.

City Hall doesn’t need to become a haven for career politicians. Our democracy is built upon citizen volunteers serving for a limited amount of time and then stepping aside to encourage others to bring fresh ideas and energy to the community. This selfserving act is the third attempt by the council to circumvent the will of the voters. They have voted “no” all three times. How many times do the voters have to say “no” before their elected officials get it?

Tenure in the same elected office is not necessarily a good thing. It can lead to undue influence by those who would benefit from choices made by familiar elected officials. It also creates an uneven playing field for those who would like to serve witness to the incumbent in this council race thus far raising nearly three times the amount of money than all five of the other candidates combined. How is this good for Chandler?

The current (two) consecutive fouryear term policy is working and doesn’t need to be changed to accommodate the career paths of those who currently hold office.

As many of you know, I am a candidate for Chandler City Council and the former mayor of Fountain Hills. My wife and I own a boutique real estate brokerage and property management company located in

downtown Chandler. I have over 30 years of experience as a small business owner and earned a Master’s Degree in public affairs. I have served on numerous boards and commissions in addition to elected office during my 36 years in the Valley.

Jon Beydler Chandler

Against Beydler

It’s an election year again. Soon we will be making decisions about the people we want to represent us and who will be running our great community of Chandler.

To that end, I am writing to warn Chandler voters about a person running for City Council whom I believe is the wrong choice for our community—Jon Beydler. Mr. Beydler briefly served as mayor of Fountain Hills before being recalled. He was so truly awful that his recall became one of the few occasions where an elected official was actually thrown out of office.

I am deeply disappointed that former City Council member Matt Orlando would align himself with this candidate. It says a great deal about Mr. Orlando’s judgment, if he is willing to serve as the campaign chairman for someone who was so controversial that the voters booted him after he hadn’t even served one year in office.

Also, both Orlando and Beydler should be knowledgeable enough about local government to know that the City Council has no authority over public schools. Their campaign signs touting their support of schools are just another example of their attempt to steer voters

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Letters to the Editor

in running my hometown, Chandler, Arizona.

away from Beydler’s past. Chandler is a well-run city. Let’s keep it that way. Say no to Jon Beydler.

Chris McGhee Chandler

Roe a good choice for council

Terry Roe is currently a candidate for the Chandler City Council. In my opinion, Mr. Roe would be the best choice to lead the City of Chandler both now, but most importantly, in to the future. Terry has the qualities that make him my choice, and I would like to share some of his qualities that make him a top candidate.

First, I have known Terry for several years. During that time, I have seen firsthand how he handles himself in a leadership position. He displays fairness, a positive respect of all others, frugality, integrity, honesty, and Terry leads by example. When a job needs to be done, Terry never hesitates to do his part and, in many cases, he pulls more than his weight to see the project appropriately completed.

Terry has also demonstrated the highest of moral characteristics in his civic, professional and personal lives. He is the kind of person that I support and will have faith that he will make the best and most prudent decisions

Tom Denny Chandler

Beydler goes all in for public safety

Chandler City Council candidate and former Fountain Hills Mayor Jon Beydler fights hard for public safety and has the scars to prove it. The best public safety is community based. As mayor of Fountain Hills, Beydler stood up to Sheriff Joe Arpaio while attempting to build a community-based police department.

Candidate Terry Roe criticized the Chandler City Council for not eliminating D.A.R.E. in 2010. He also applauded cuts to the Chandler Police Department in 2012. Our first responders deserve more respect than Roe has demonstrated. Maybe this is one reason the voters rejected him in the last two council elections.

Chandler’s residents deserve the best public safety. As the city becomes more densely populated, public safety challenges will increase. Beydler will make sure our first responders have the equipment and support they need. Most importantly, they will get the respect they deserve from the city.

Sheldon Duderstadt Chandler

Community Commentary

Additional information can be found on the Recorder’s website http://recorder. maricopa.gov/web/elections.aspx.

All voters must be registered by July 28 to participate in the primary election. In order to register, voters are required to be a U.S. citizen, a resident of Arizona and at least 18 years old before the statewide general election.

Voter registration forms are available at most government offices, including all City or Town Clerk Offices, U.S. Post Offices, many libraries and the Maricopa County Elections Office. With a valid Arizona driver’s license, you can also register online through the Arizona Motor Vehicle Department’s website at www.servicearizona.com.

This is not a partisan politics issue. In fact, we represent three different political affiliations: Independent, Republican and Democrat. Local elections are an essential component of our cities’—and our nation’s—liberty. Whether voting early or on Election Day at a polling site, we encourage you to research the issues and the candidates and make an informed decision. Don’t miss this opportunity to let your voice be heard.

Chandler Vice Mayor Rick Heumann is an Independent. Mesa City Councilman Dave Richins is a Republican while Tempe City Councilmember Corey Woods is a Democrat.

Community Commentary

The importance of ‘informational text’ in Arizona’s College and Career Ready Standards

BY CINDY PINO

I fully embrace the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards. As a veteran instructor in public education, I see the merits of these standards. As a high school English teacher, I applaud the standards that apply to my content area, the English language arts portion, that ask for more rigor and depth of knowledge in classroom practices, higher text complexity of literature, infusion of textual support in argument essays and the philosophy that all teachers, not just those of English content, support these standards in classrooms across all subjects.

Another important element of English language arts requires the infusion of more informational text into the K-12 curriculum.

“Informational text” is an umbrella term that is comprised of a variety of print and nonprint information: biographies, autobiographies, historical documents, textbooks related to other subjects (i.e., science, social studies and arts) and even items such as charts, graphs and political cartoons. A percentage of how much informational text versus literary text to teach at each grade level is included: in the lower grades the percentage is an even split of 50-50, and by the upper years of high school, the percentage is 70 percent informational text to 30 percent literary text. This percentage has caused concern for some who do not understand how this split in percentage is achieved.

At first glance, some might assume the English class, a vestibule historically set aside for the l ove of literature to be instilled into the youth of America, will no longer be a sacred place reserved to read the classics if a heavier burden is placed on informational text. I assure you, this is far from the truth. The 7030 split occurs across the student’s school day. In reality, the 70 percent

is achieved easily when you consider that a student has typically six or seven classes a day—these students are working with informational text all day long in their classes. Additionally, even if you consider the English class alone, informational text can and should be integrated into curriculum in such a way as to enhance the study of literature. The two can be a beautiful partnership. And, for many teachers, this is simply a continuation of effective curriculum practices they have followed years before Arizona’s College and Career Ready Standards were implemented.

Before my freshman English students read “To Kill a Mockingbird,” we prepare for this literary classic by first understanding key themes of the novel (racism, coming of age) found in real-world situations. Students read explanations of legal briefings such as Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v. Board of Education, as well as analyze images representative of Jim C row Laws and the Great Depression. As we begin to read the book, further moments to infuse informational text occur. We analyze Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech for rhetorical devices and compare these devices to a speech given by one of our heroes in the novel, Atticus Finch, as he tries to persuade an all-white jury of a black man’s innocence. These powerful nonfictional text aids in the better understanding of the setting of the novel and its themes.

Is it a constraint to follow the 70-30 percent ratio of literary vs. informational text? Absolutely not, nor is our curriculum hindered by this “constraint.” It is far the opposite and students benefit by this guideline.

The incorporation of more informational text into the K-12 curriculum is not be feared; rather, it is a guideline that we teachers embrace as a powerful teaching

Downtown’s energy continues to grow

BY MAYOR JAY TIBSHRAENY

I had the opportunity to address the Downtown Chandler Community Partnership at its annual meeting recently and spend a few minutes discussing our vibrant core. And there is no shortage of news coming out of downtown Chandler this past year.

Opening this past January, Arizona State University’s (ASU) Innovation Center—in partnership with Tech Shop— is injecting a new energy into downtown Chandler. It is a collaboration that aligns perfectly with the City’s strategic goals and, as importantly, we look forward to seeing the next Intel, the next Infusionsoft—the next “big thing” emerge from that space.

Since I came back to office in 2011, it has been a goal of mine to bring our state universities into Chandler—and to our downtown. The University of Arizona has a presence at the Innovations Incubator in West Chandler and with classes at the Community Center. Couple that with ASU’s arrival, and we have taken a large step forward to provide fresh opportunities to those looking for a superior academic experience. The product of this is a quality workforce that feeds into our local business sector.

This environment of creativity we foster encourages and assists those looking to bring new ideas to the forefront. Companies like Levementum, who continue to expand here in our downtown, recently said it plans to double its 46-member workforce in the next 12 to 18 months. There is a reason that the American Express Open Forum places Chandler among the four Best Places in the country for tech startups. It is because we understand the importance of not only cultivating great new companies and ideas, but keeping them here and helping them develop over time.

Mix in thriving neighborhoods and unique local eateries and commerce, easy access to transportation corridors and solid infrastructure, and you have a perfect formula for a place that businesses actively and aggressively seek out. High-density residential developers are taking an active interest in the downtown area, and our adaptive reuse study could allow a number of older buildings in the area to repurpose into some special new offerings.

So, what makes today’s downtown Chandler so special? It’s a place where people truly want to be—for many reasons. It is has become a foodie destination with recent openings like The Perch, Charm Thai, Bourbon Jacks, The Original Chop Shop, and yes, even Wimpy’s and Pittsburgh Willy’s. The Perch is a great addition with its rooftop bar, and of course, the birds. It really sets a unique vibe to the Wall Street area.

The momentum is creating dynamic redevelopment projects such as the San Marcos Hotel, golf course and club house. Gangplank continues to g row and lend its own unique and creative resources and vibe to the area. This place is so special that seemingly no one wants to leave. The commercial vacancy rate continues to hover at about 2 percent—while Valley averages are in the double digits. And office space is also fairing very well with a 4.4 percent vacancy rate.

All of this paints a portrait of a place that is indeed exceptional. As a Chandler native, I cannot express what it means to see the energy and excitement of this area continue to move in such a positive direction. Have you been downtown lately? Come take a look.

Jay Tibshraeny is the mayor of Chandler.

practice. This partnership allows for the continuation of beloved literature, novels that have stood the test of time, with nonfiction text that helps provide a more in-depth study of the chosen

literature. After all, these standards are designed with the end goal of better preparing our students for college and career, and teaching our students to understand informational text is one more important component for their journey in life beyond high school.

For more information about Arizona’s College and Career Ready Standards, visit www.arizonaaimshigher.org.

Cindy Pino is the English Department chairwoman at Perry High School in the Chandler Unified School District. She teaches ninth- and 11th-grade advanced placement English and is the 2012 AEF Teacher of the Year Ambassador of Excellence.

Progress in the air for Maricopa County

BY DENNY BARNEY

You might have missed it, but Maricopa County achieved a major milestone last month.

For the first time in almost 44 years, the county is meeting federal dust and particulate standards. The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the county’s plan to reduce dust and particulate levels in the air and acknowledged the county had achieved five consecutive years of reduced dust levels which puts us on a path toward achieving “attainment” status.

That’s a big deal. We should be very proud because it is so hard to accomplish given the dry, dusty climate of Arizona, which, along with our expanding population and economic activity, create singular challenges where dust is concerned. Especially for seniors and those who suffer from heart disease, asthma, emphysema and other ailments.

Secondly, meeting the federal standards provides a gigantic sigh of relief for state and local governments. A national standard is a national standard. Failure to meet those measures carries the risk of consequences and sanctions, including the possibility of losing federal transportation funding for our region. The loss of billions of dollars, that Arizona taxpayers have contributed to, would jeopardize our highway investments and shrink our economic prospects.

So, while I’m no fan of the EPA or

its heavy-handed intrusion into local affairs, I am pleased that after so long, Maricopa County gets out from under the federal thumb, at least a little.

This breakthrough is a tribute to a remarkably effective partnership that has developed among state, county and municipal regulatory bodies, health advocates and private industrial partners, including contractors, cement companies and homebuilders.

Through these efforts, more sophisticated forecasting and dust control compliance measures have been implemented. “Rapid response” plans have been developed to alert and control for dirty-air conditions. And programs such as the often unpopular but vital pre-Christmas “no-burn” campaign are all part of the plan to increase public awareness and reduce air pollution.

Significantly, the EPA has also been persuaded to make allowances for the

summer “haboobs” and “exceptional events” which are outside human control. We can’t do much about Mother Nature when she shows her fury. For example, nothing we could have done would have prevented the dust storm that swept through Chandler and the Valley on July 3.

There is a lot more work to do. None of this is easy. It takes time, patience, research and effort. But what you see in the air, is progress.

Denny Barney is a Gilbert resident and chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.