Odds & Starts To The Week

*With the retirement of long-time Maricopa County Supervisor Andy Kunasek, Phoenix City Councilman Bill Gates becomes the prohibitive favorite in the race to replace.  It will be interesting to see if anyone of significance steps forward for what may be a fool’s mission.
*Celebrity pollster Frank Luntz will be making a Paradise Valley appearance this week at a fundraiser benefiting U.S. Senator John McCain.
*Weird and conspicuous that Scottsdale City Councilwoman Kathy Littlefield was the only member of the body not participating in Mayor Lane’s State of the City last week.  It would be very bad form if she intentionally skipped it because her husband Bob has embarked on a long-shot challenge to Lane.
*Construction has started for the highly anticipated Postino’s in downtown Scottsdale. It will be located in one of the area’s most distinctive buildings, across from Scottsdale Fashion Square, in a building recently purchased by Valley billionaire Bill Levine.
*Backers of a possible third, first-class arena in the Valley may not appreciate what abandoning one in Glendale could mean to the market.  The Phoenix area is already saturated with two top notch sports cathedrals not to mention an indoor football facility, numerous spring training stadiums, Wells Fargo Arena at ASU and even the old Madhouse on McDowell.  Pricing between Talking Stick and Gila River Arena is already fierce for special events, concerts and the like.  Without an anchor tenant and screaming businesses next door,  Gila River Arena will be giving away the place creating business havoc for all of the area’s venues.
*Few local elected officials exude such class as Gilbert Mayor John Lewis.  He’s a great catch for the East Valley Partnership, the organization he’ll soon be joining.
*The most powerful opinion piece of the week was this one by Arizona Republic columnist Laurie Roberts. Here is a link.  If you’ve never been to the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center way out Northeast Valley way, go.  There cares one of the most benevolent people in the Valley. She, and the property, are a last refuge for some of God’s greatest creations.  Roberts’ article describes a NIMBY who will live in activist infamy.  Fortunately, people like Maricopa County Supervisor Steve Chucri are stepping up to ensure Dr. Evil aka as Dr. Gortler doesn’t get his way. 
*Canal Convergence has become a wonderful community event at the Scottsdale Waterfront.  It’s now time for it to expand in either direction along the Arizona Canal to evolve from a nice event into a spectacular one.
*Governor Doug Ducey is punting for now on a presidential race endorsement.
*Northeast Valley State Senator John Kavanagh is likely to make a bid for Arizona State Senate President now that the current President, Andy Biggs, will be running to replace Matt Salmon in the U.S. Congress.
*Hopeful news for Scottsdale’s McDowell Road:  Now open for about a year, Mark/Taylor’s massive new apartment complex according to sources, in succinct business parlance, is kicking ass.
*Lastly, spring training returns Wednesday to Scottsdale Stadium.  And all is well with the world.