By Councilmember Tom Durham
Adam Kwasman bailed on the Candidate Forum sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce last Monday night. Now he says he’s not coming to next Thursday’s debate, sponsored by the Arizona Digital Free Press, despite earlier saying that he would.
That’s unfortunate because he owes you answers on many of the positions he has taken. Why has he not attended Council meetings? His failure to attend means he lacks critical information on City finances and other subjects.
What does he mean when he brags he was the most extreme member of the Arizona legislature? What will that extremism mean for Scottsdale?
Why has he allied himself with the Goldwater Institute on trying to take away your vote on the future of the Parks and Preserve? He claims to be “resident-friendly” but he tried, and failed, to prevent you from having a vote.
Adam claims the Parks and Preserve can be funded from the General Fund, but 56% of the General Fund goes to police and fire. Will he defund the police and fire? Which of your services will he cut in the name of “fiscal conservatism”? He won’t give you details.
The Goldwater Institute is a HUGE fan of short-term rentals. Will Adam continue to back the Goldwater Institute, instead of residents, on this issue, which is critical to so many Scottsdale residents?
He claims the Council recently gave 25% raises to charter officers, when the facts, readily available to Adam, show the raises were 4-8%.
He wants to fire all of our charter officers. What would happen to our exemplary services when the knowledgeable people concerning those services are gone? Does he have any idea how hard it is to find competent charter officers? Since he doesn’t attend Council meetings, he has no idea what they do.
He wants to impose term limits on charter officers and offer lower salaries than their Valley counterparts. Who would take such a job knowing you are destined to lose the job at the end of the term limit?
Why is he lying when he claims the City Council is housing illegal immigrants? The City has made clear there are no immigrants in Scottsdale’s bridge housing program. But once again, Adam skipped the Council meeting on this important issue.
Adam claims everyone in Scottsdale should live in a single-family home. (Has he checked the prices lately?) He says people who live in apartments “are not part of our community.” This means he thinks the elderly, single mothers with children, young singles, and lower-income workers shouldn’t be living in Scottsdale.
He claims the Council has been fiscally irresponsible when the facts show that Scottsdale has among the lowest taxes in the Valley.
He claims the Council has voted for 20 road diets when the truth is there has been one—and only one. We supported it because local residents wanted it to control dangerous road conditions.
Adam owes you answers, but he’s not willing to give them.