November 20, 2022 | www.santansun.com
Relentlessly local coverage of Southern Chandler
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
Rohrs, Serrano win board race as Mesnard takes LD13 BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor
Voters are sending two candidates from opposite sides of the political spectrum to the Chandler Unified School District Governing Board. Kurt Rohrs and Patti Serrano were elected in the Nov. 8 general election, according to unofficial results, with 24% and 23% of the vote, respectively. Rohrs was endorsed by the parental rights group, Purple for Parents. Unlike Charlotte Golla, who also earned their endorsement, he took more hard-core
positions during the campaign. Golla placed third with 20%, followed by incumbent Lara Bruner with 19% and Marilou Estes with 14%. Serrano was backed by liberal activists online who urged voters to cast a single vote on the ballot that allowed up to two votes. She had the endorsement of Arizona List, which describes itself as “a statewide membership network that works to recruit, train, support and elect pro-choice Democratic women running for office in Arizona.” Serrano also is the first Latina elected
to the Chandler board. “Parents won,” Rohrs said. “School board members who represent the concerns of parents were elected in districts all over the Valley. Those concerns will now be addressed.” Purple for Parents saw endorsed candidates win one seat on the Higley Unified and Gilbert Public Schools boards and two on Scottsdale’s board. Serrano was elated with her victory. “This is a moment of joy,” Serrano said. “We are more than proud to have secured our community seat on our
Chandler Unified School Board. This win is a testimony of our community-centered campaign and together, we elected our first Latina school board member in CUSD.” Both will begin in January to work with the three current members, Jason Olive, Joel Wirth and President Barb Mozdzen. Current board member Lindsay Love decided not to seek reelection. She was among those endorsing Serrano with the single-vote strategy. See
ELECTIONS on page 4
Chandler Council OKs non-discrimination ordinance BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor
The advocates for a non-discrimination ordinance gathered outside Chandler City Council Chambers to celebrate even before the Nov. 10 meeting was officially over. Chandler is no longer the largest city in Arizona without an NDO. “I think tonight was a very, very important step forward, and culminates a two-year process,” said Tyler Conaway,
co-founder of Chandler Pride and who chairs the Chandler Chamber of Commerce’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee. “It’s inspiring to be part of a bigger process that’s intended to make Chandler more inclusive, and make everyone feel like they have a place to belong. So, I’m very excited.” Support from businesses may have been the key to adoption. The Chandler Chamber has been
Chandler’s new chicken law could face referendum BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor
The Chandler City Council approved allowing backyard chickens in residential neighborhoods on a divided vote. But the fight may not be over. Les Minkus of South Chandler, who has been leading the opposition to the change, said he and like-minded residents intend to get enough signatures so local citizens can vote on the measure in a referendum. If that fails, then he hopes the new and reconstituted City Council may revisit the issue in January after Angel Encinas and Jane Poston replace Rene Lopez and Terry Roe. “We’re going go for it,” Minkus said after the council’s 5-2 vote Nov. 10. “Let’s see what’s going to happen in January, because they may repeal it, right?” It took years for Council to approve backyard chickens, which was rejected by one vote in 2013. Lopez had made passing the change a priority before he left office. “I can appreciate those that … have concerns about this,” Lopez said. “We’re not breaking ground. Every city around us allows chickens. “It’s not like we have a mass exodus from other cities that are seeking refuge in Chandler because of chickens.”
There are only two scheduled meetings left for the current council. Encinas and Poston are scheduled to be sworn in on Jan. 12. To force a referendum, opponents must collect 5,619 verifiable signatures of Chandler residents in a 30-day window that will start after the measure’s final adoption, scheduled for Dec. 5. That number is determined by the number of votes cast in the last certified city election, which in this case is the August Primary. They need 10% of the 56,181 votes cast in that election to overturn a council decision. That is only one option. In his presentation before the vote, he said both Encinas and Poston indicated they would not support changing ordinances to allow for backyard chickens. Both Lopez and Roe voted in favor. So Minkus is hopeful that combined with the two no votes last week from OD Harris and Matt Orlando, they might be able to repeal the change once the new council is seated. If the change stands, here is how Chandler residents can own backyard chickens: • There is a limit of five hens, no roostSee
CHICKENS on page 12
lobbying hard for the adoption. During the Nov. 10 meeting, Thomas Barr of Local First Arizona called on the Council to pass the the non-discrimination measure. He’s the vice president for business development for the group that supports small businesses in Arizona. “Having worked closely alongside organizations advancing equality for all Arizonans, we’ve seen small business-
es continue to advocate themselves for inclusive policies for the LGBTQ community,” Barr said. “That makes Arizona a great place we’re all proud to call home.” The ordinance prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based on actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity, national origin, See
NDO on page 8
The holiday season arrives
Chandler residents can celebrate the arrival of the holiday season next Saturday when the popular interactive Sugarland exhibit returns to downtown. That exhibit is just the beginning of festivities planned both locally and in the East Valley, as you’ll read on pages 6 and 22. (Special to SanTan Sun News)
F E AT U R E D STO R I E S
More
Businesses hopeful for holiday shopping. . . . . . . . .News . . . . . . . . . . .Page 7
Clip-It . . . . . . . . . 30 Business . . . . . . . .31
Ferguson's opens huge center in Chandler. . . . . . . .Business. . . . .... Page 31 Chandler teams ready for Open fight. . . . . . . . . . . .Sports . . . . . . . . Page 35 Chandler teachers get their wishes . . . . . . . . . . . . . .NEIGHBORS . . . . . Page 38
Real Estate . . . . . 28
Sports . . . . . . . . . 35 Neighbors . . . . . 38 Faith . . . . . . . . . . 42 GetOut. . . . . . . . 44 Directory . . . . . . 46