GOODYEAR ELECTION WATCH 2017
CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR: JIM CAVANAUGH
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Q. Tell me about yourself and why you are running for Mayor.
A. I served in Goodyear as a Planning & Zoning Commissioner from 1996-1999, as a City Councilmember from 1999-2003, and as Mayor from 2003-2010. I resigned in 2010 because I believed that in recognizing the then existent Council makeup and the City Manager, I could no longer make a difference in the lives of our Goodyear citizens. Today, I am running again because I believe the only way Goodyear can realize its exceptional potential is through someone presenting a fresh case to the voting public delineating our existing failures and shortcomings and presenting a realistic and detailed approach to a less costly but more desirable city for the present and future. Prior to my service with the City, I spent 30 years in the USAF. I have a Bachelor of Science Degree from St. Peter’s College, a small private Jesuit school in New Jersey and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from The University of Wyoming. |
BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE
Q. What unique experience can you offer as representative for our All-America City? How many hours a week can you devote to serving on City Council? (Time includes meetings, attending events, and reviewing reading materials.)
A. My fourteen plus years as an appointed and elected official within the City of Goodyear provide significant specific experience in the city’s functions, operations, and personnel. I also have on-the-job experience as a supervisor/commander of similar functions such as finance, police, fire, personnel water, etc. while serving as an officer at several USAF installations. Regarding time on the job; whatever it takes to ensure the continuous safety of our people, reduce the size of government and therefore cut the costs of government, bring high end jobs and industries to Goodyear, and enhance the current and future quality of life including bringing higher education to the City. I never considered my past duty as mayor as other than a full time job. However, as a lesson from that experience, I would include councilmembers in more city related duties including meeting operations, citizen interactions, and economic development.
A. My fourteen plus years as an appointed and elected official within the City of Goodyear provide significant specific experience in the city’s functions, operations, and personnel. I also have on-the-job experience as a supervisor/commander of similar functions such as finance, police, fire, personnel water, etc. while serving as an officer at several USAF installations. Regarding time on the job; whatever it takes to ensure the continuous safety of our people, reduce the size of government and therefore cut the costs of government, bring high end jobs and industries to Goodyear, and enhance the current and future quality of life including bringing higher education to the City. I never considered my past duty as mayor as other than a full time job. However, as a lesson from that experience, I would include councilmembers in more city related duties including meeting operations, citizen interactions, and economic development.
CHANGES AT CITY HALL
Q. Do you foresee making any changes to current city staff management? If so, what changes would you make?
A. I will reduce the size of city government. Department heads will be directed to lay out plans describing in detail how they can reduce the costs of their assigned departments in specific increments and report results to the City Manager, Mayor, and City Council. My overall efforts to improve city government would be intended to free up the City Manager to devote more time to achieving greater effectiveness and cost savings with departments that directly interact with the public.
A. I will reduce the size of city government. Department heads will be directed to lay out plans describing in detail how they can reduce the costs of their assigned departments in specific increments and report results to the City Manager, Mayor, and City Council. My overall efforts to improve city government would be intended to free up the City Manager to devote more time to achieving greater effectiveness and cost savings with departments that directly interact with the public.
FUTURE WATER NEEDS
Q. What are your thoughts on the City of Goodyear’s water needs? Under what circumstances would you approve a water rate hike?
A. As with other cities in the State, Goodyear complies with exceptionally far-sighted water management conservation and replenishment regulations established in the early 1980’s. In the early part of this current century, Goodyear opted to move from sole reliance on ground water to above ground sources such as the Central Arizona Project. We need to continue efforts to seek alternative water sources as well as provide water conservation guidance and recommendations to our residents. We should always be ready to undertake the study of private-public partnerships regarding water distribution and reclamation.
A. As with other cities in the State, Goodyear complies with exceptionally far-sighted water management conservation and replenishment regulations established in the early 1980’s. In the early part of this current century, Goodyear opted to move from sole reliance on ground water to above ground sources such as the Central Arizona Project. We need to continue efforts to seek alternative water sources as well as provide water conservation guidance and recommendations to our residents. We should always be ready to undertake the study of private-public partnerships regarding water distribution and reclamation.
JOB GROWTH
Q. Do you feel the west Valley can benefit from bringing in more jobs and what kind of jobs would be most beneficial? If you answered yes, how would you work to bring those jobs here?
A. Goodyear needs to seek high pay industries for relocation or startup in the City. Although all jobs are important, there are employment categories in which the average pay does not enhance the city itself. Too many of the recent additions to the city do not provide sufficient compensation to enable their employees to reside in Goodyear. We need to attract higher pay industries to Goodyear. You bring in desirable industries by having low and realistic tax rates and less cumbersome, needless regulation. By reducing the size of government we can reduce our property tax rates. That is the first and most important step to attracting business. In addition I would have the Economic Development Department work closer with the Council. Businesses like to see elected officials actively involved in their recruitment. This may include trips to corporate headquarters in the company of Economic Development staff members.
A. Goodyear needs to seek high pay industries for relocation or startup in the City. Although all jobs are important, there are employment categories in which the average pay does not enhance the city itself. Too many of the recent additions to the city do not provide sufficient compensation to enable their employees to reside in Goodyear. We need to attract higher pay industries to Goodyear. You bring in desirable industries by having low and realistic tax rates and less cumbersome, needless regulation. By reducing the size of government we can reduce our property tax rates. That is the first and most important step to attracting business. In addition I would have the Economic Development Department work closer with the Council. Businesses like to see elected officials actively involved in their recruitment. This may include trips to corporate headquarters in the company of Economic Development staff members.
ESTRELLA FALLS MALL
Q. What is your opinion on the status of Estrella Falls Mall construction? What would you like to see happen there and how would you lead to make those efforts a reality?
A. A nationally recognized expert in large scale commercial development needs to present an unbiased appraisal of the future of mall developments within the US. Go from there to continuing to plan a mall at Bullard and McDowell or modify plans to include mixed-use small commercial and multi-family residential.
A. A nationally recognized expert in large scale commercial development needs to present an unbiased appraisal of the future of mall developments within the US. Go from there to continuing to plan a mall at Bullard and McDowell or modify plans to include mixed-use small commercial and multi-family residential.
GOODYEAR TAXES
Q. What is your opinion on Goodyear's tax rate? If you plan to lower or raise taxes, how would you do so?
A. Taxes are too high in Goodyear. Compare the rates with other cities and it is alarming. To cut taxes smartly, you need to reduce the size of the body which consumes the funds provided through taxation, i.e. the government. We also need to seriously consider the value of Community Facility Districts. CFD’s have been institutionalized in Goodyear, and that needs to be reversed. Unfortunately, our citizens and council are unfamiliar with CFD’s and do not realize the relationship between the city and this onerous tax.
A. Taxes are too high in Goodyear. Compare the rates with other cities and it is alarming. To cut taxes smartly, you need to reduce the size of the body which consumes the funds provided through taxation, i.e. the government. We also need to seriously consider the value of Community Facility Districts. CFD’s have been institutionalized in Goodyear, and that needs to be reversed. Unfortunately, our citizens and council are unfamiliar with CFD’s and do not realize the relationship between the city and this onerous tax.
HIGHER EDUCATION
Q. What is your opinion on attracting higher education in Goodyear? How can Goodyear support education on all grade levels?
A. If it were not for a motion made in 2010 by then Vice Mayor Lord and Councilmembers Pizzillo, Sousa, and Osbourne, Goodyear would almost assuredly have at least one and more likely three universities in our city today. This motion took the City Center off of any Council decision-making agenda for at least three years. Universities were the first priority to locate at the City Center. At the time of this horrible motion, we were working to identify and reduce the cost to bring ASU to Goodyear while finding sources of private sector funding to assist in the objective. We passed on not only having excellent educational opportunities for our young men and women but also from bringing in top notch jobs with high pay and high end residential aspirations. Having higher education established within Goodyear would enhance our education quality at all levels in the City. We have to get back in the game, and that may still be possible.
A. If it were not for a motion made in 2010 by then Vice Mayor Lord and Councilmembers Pizzillo, Sousa, and Osbourne, Goodyear would almost assuredly have at least one and more likely three universities in our city today. This motion took the City Center off of any Council decision-making agenda for at least three years. Universities were the first priority to locate at the City Center. At the time of this horrible motion, we were working to identify and reduce the cost to bring ASU to Goodyear while finding sources of private sector funding to assist in the objective. We passed on not only having excellent educational opportunities for our young men and women but also from bringing in top notch jobs with high pay and high end residential aspirations. Having higher education established within Goodyear would enhance our education quality at all levels in the City. We have to get back in the game, and that may still be possible.
CITY SAFETY. GOODYEAR POLICE AND FIRE SERVICES
Q. What is your support level for Goodyear Fire and Police services? What do you feel is an appropriate way to consider funding increases for these departments?
A. Safety and security are the first and foremost responsibilities of municipal government. Representatives of the people of Goodyear need to evaluate response times of fire and police within the City. Times which exceed nationally recognized standards must be identified and studied to determine cause and implement corrective actions. Recognition of problems should result in serious evaluation of creative and affordable options. Alternative measures for the deployment of firefighter and police officer resources must be included in any analysis. Cost effective, safety conscious, and open-minded approaches to the safety and protection of the citizenry permits allocation of limited financial resources to citizen safety without forfeiting essential quality of life issues.
A. Safety and security are the first and foremost responsibilities of municipal government. Representatives of the people of Goodyear need to evaluate response times of fire and police within the City. Times which exceed nationally recognized standards must be identified and studied to determine cause and implement corrective actions. Recognition of problems should result in serious evaluation of creative and affordable options. Alternative measures for the deployment of firefighter and police officer resources must be included in any analysis. Cost effective, safety conscious, and open-minded approaches to the safety and protection of the citizenry permits allocation of limited financial resources to citizen safety without forfeiting essential quality of life issues.
A FUTURE VISION
Q. How do you envision Goodyear 20 years from now?
A. We need to initiate a 50 year planning forecast for Goodyear. Goodyear has approximated 200 square miles in its planning area. Size matters and when your city is currently only about 10-15% built out, the potential is enormous. The key is to take advantage of the situation by planning as early as possible, as far out as reasonable, and continuing the planning unabated throughout generations. Be the best you can be by always being ahead of the game and leaving your city, your state, and your nation better than you found it. A ten year plan (the current State mandate) is good for plans associated with road building and upgrades of water treatment plants. But if you truly want to become a great city in this era, you have to look far out beyond the pedestrian day in and day out. In 50 year planning you don’t worry about money, you worry about quality of life. You document what you want to be and what that entails in physical makeup. You must document the future hopes, and then that document competes over time with annual pay and allowances, road repairs, street lights, promotions, police station enhancements, et.al. The hope for the future is no longer lost in the shuffle with the routine but competes for funding during decades of up and down financial cycles. By planning far out into the future, you can preserve farmland and desert and not interfere with the right to property as envisioned in the 5th Amendment to the Constitution. You can have beautiful areas reserved for high end shopping and places for art, business, and government to exist in a meaningful way. The potential is unparalleled. You don’t need money to kick off the plan, you only need imagination, dedication to other than yourself, and vigor.
A. We need to initiate a 50 year planning forecast for Goodyear. Goodyear has approximated 200 square miles in its planning area. Size matters and when your city is currently only about 10-15% built out, the potential is enormous. The key is to take advantage of the situation by planning as early as possible, as far out as reasonable, and continuing the planning unabated throughout generations. Be the best you can be by always being ahead of the game and leaving your city, your state, and your nation better than you found it. A ten year plan (the current State mandate) is good for plans associated with road building and upgrades of water treatment plants. But if you truly want to become a great city in this era, you have to look far out beyond the pedestrian day in and day out. In 50 year planning you don’t worry about money, you worry about quality of life. You document what you want to be and what that entails in physical makeup. You must document the future hopes, and then that document competes over time with annual pay and allowances, road repairs, street lights, promotions, police station enhancements, et.al. The hope for the future is no longer lost in the shuffle with the routine but competes for funding during decades of up and down financial cycles. By planning far out into the future, you can preserve farmland and desert and not interfere with the right to property as envisioned in the 5th Amendment to the Constitution. You can have beautiful areas reserved for high end shopping and places for art, business, and government to exist in a meaningful way. The potential is unparalleled. You don’t need money to kick off the plan, you only need imagination, dedication to other than yourself, and vigor.