Water is precious here and should be conscientiously conserved.  I am not in favor of metering private property wells.  I do believe coordinating efforts with the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) that manages water for the state is important. I would not be in favor of creating an additional department within the county, because this would duplicate the job ADWR is already doing.  I am not in favor of creating an AMA for Yavapai County. Pulling away rights from the State of Arizona could trigger decades of lawsuits for Yavapai County.  Trying to control the water use does not provide us with more water resources. 

My commitment to city law enforcement and the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office is steadfast and will help them keep us safe.  They are working diligently to keep border trespassers and crime out of our community.  Making sure law enforcement has the personnel and equipment they need to successfully do their important jobs is an absolute necessity to keep us safe locally and from national border issues.  

I encourage thoughtfully planned growth in our community and recognize that growth is important.  Our communities are growing whether we like it or not.  We must direct that growth wisely and carefully considering our future needs.  That includes focused attention to the wise use of our natural resources and water.

I will create opportunities for small businesses to flourish and meet the needs of our citizens.  While tourism and small business are important to our economy, we also need to provide high paying jobs.  To that end I will work to ensure strong opportunities for our citizens to prosper.

I have always believed our citizens deserve to have their issues addressed promptly regarding capital improvements when they are needed.   The people of District 3 should expect to see their taxes put to work where they live as well as across the county.

We must be thoughtful about how the entire community will be impacted when planning and developing new infrastructure projects, such as state highways.  I intend to explore more efficient ways to address the traffic problem in the Village of Oak Creek.  We must provide an alternate route into Sedona that would not be detrimental to the citizens of Red Rock Loop Road.  State Route 179 was originally planned as a four-lane highway. We need to explore whether four lanes or an alternative plan would work better and mitigate the impact on the people in the area.  It appears the State does see the need for improvement. This is a perfect example of why careful balancing of the needs of people whose homes are affected and what works best for the community is so critical.  

The Verde Valley has been affected by mining contamination, resulting in concerns about public health risks. Ongoing testing and remediation efforts are being addressed.  Contamination in the Verde Valley is from decades long copper mining operations. While the mining waste of the past is being addressed, it is of the utmost importance to be cognizant of the health and safety of our citizens.   

There are water toxicity levels associated with mining contamination and processes to restore our waterways. We must bring transparency to the people affected by mining contamination and keep them aware of the process and status of solutions.  As Supervisor I will advocate for the resources to mitigate these health and safety issues. 

Preserving our rural values and self-reliance were concepts formed by our original conservationists, the farmers and ranchers who have practiced and refined both.  We must be diligent to keep these values in our mindset and community plans.