08 October, 2008 Mesa City Council!
It was an exciting City Council meeting Monday, and I'll bet you're sorry you missed it. Judy Morning and I made it, missing the first 45 minutes because, as we've stated before the Council already, ordinary working stiffs with 9-5 jobs just can't make it in time. We were glad we didn't miss the drama surrounding the Rhodes pool, though.

Kudos and congratulations to Council Member Dennis Kavanaugh and Mayor Scott Smith. Both men spoke with eloquence and consideration about a difficult issue and VioPac would like to thank them (as we did personally) for demonstrating real civil service. Thanks, guys.

More detail to follow shortly.

25 September, 2008 Addendum: Pearce, Try 2
Well, here it is the 25th of September and we've not heard word one from our elected State House Representative Russell Pearce. Damn shame too; but it works in our favor because we've been examining his oponnent Judah Nativio, and may even end up endorsing him. Until then, check him out.

12 September, 2008 Pearce, Try 2
Is it really so hard to answer these questions? Here's our second try, to AZ Representative Russell Pearce. This second attempt was generated by meeting Mr. Pearce at the disastrously disorganized potential riot called the Community Forum at Mesa Community College. More on that fiasco is due shortly, but here's a copy of a letter we sent to our State House rep and yet await a reply to.

19 August, 2008 Mesa City Council
Why does nobody want to attend Council meetings? As Americans we hold passionate opinions about whether Obama or McCain will make a better President, people define themeselves by who they support, and sometimes are even willing to riot when their candidate is insulted or disgraced. All this, and yet the place where the actual governing goes on is relatively vacant.

Government is made by those who show up, and the government that affects people the most is made locally. Sure the Presidential race is important, but your local Mayoral race is far more so. This is why I have been trying to get the City of Mesa to move its meeting time later, even by 45 minutes: so working stiffs like me don't have to take off work early to attend.

25 July, 2008 The Senator and Mr. Smith
This is interesting; Rep. Russell Pearce, now making a play for the Senate, endorsed Scott Smith for Mayor of Mesa. Now, however, Mayor Smith is rather interestingly avoiding returning the favor. Mayor Smith says, "I'm evaluating whether I should or want to get involved in the state races. I haven't thought about it, honestly. I've been so busy the last few months. He endorsed me and I have a lot of respect for Russell, but I have other priorities right now."

It's a strange issue; on the one hand it looks like he's not returning a favor granted to him; on the other, he's welcome to his opinions and if he doesn't want do endorse someone his right not to do so is protected. I suppose some will see this as a betrayal; I'd like to think that, instead, the Mayor's position is based more on principle than that.

More in the archives

7 July, 2008 VioPac Meets with Council Member Kavanaugh
updated 10 July 2008

Notes on our first (productive) meeting with Council Member Dennis Kanavaugh can be found here. The highlights of this meeting include some ideas for projects in and around Fiesta Mall, the ownership of the Beirut Property on Southern and Alma School, some suggestions for improving public access to City Council meetings, and miscellaneous issues surrounding the web site and Mesa's new logo.

3 July, 2008 VioPac Meet 'n Beat with Council Member Kavanaugh
Looks like we're getting somewhere. After some initial sabre-rattling from a disappointed irb, we've set up a meeting with Mr. Kavanaugh to discuss what can be done about the corner of Southern and Alma School and the Fiesta Mall area.

You can read what lead up to this meeting here

Here I'll write up our thoughts on Dina Higgins, District 5 (especially her campaign, which at least one of us was impressed with), Dennis Kavanaugh, District 3 (cautiously optimistic), and Mayor Smith (yay! Now don't screw it up.).

"All forms of government are pernicious, including good government."

Ed Ebbey

* Conversations with Dennis Kavanaugh
* Conversations with Russell Pearce
* Mesa City Countil issues
Pretty topic icons to follow