A Letter to the Editor by Reg Monachino, Councilman, Town of Cave Creek.
As you may know a recall election is scheduled for March 10, 2015. A recall election is a mechanism to remove an official from office before the end of his/her term, when the elected official is guilty of some legal or ethical wrong. Arizona Revised Statutes do not require evidence to bring about a recall, just a sufficient number of signatures on a petition. So in the face of baseless accusations, I am required to defend my conduct for the past 18 months. A defense that will cost the Town thousands of dollars.
The petitions claim that I am “fiscally irresponsible”, I lack “transparency” and in the vaguest of allegations, I “misrepresented” myself. Yet the drumbeat for recall, instigated by the editor of the local newspaper, began even before I was elected. That tells the voters the recall effort is not about the issues but rather the venomous tirades of sore losers who want to reinstate the good ole boy arrangement with Don the puppet master pulling the strings.
During the past year and a half, I and the current Council have delivered on promises made during the campaign of 2013. Starting in June 2013, this new Council acted swiftly to replace the Town’s management, identify inefficiencies in municipal operations, cut spending, reinstate critical infrastructure maintenance, and drive revenues. We have formalized public records requests, given citizens informal weekly access to elected officials, initiated the online broadcast of meetings, and adopted ordinances to protect our rural lifestyle. We have streamlined municipal operations, identified and repaired numerous problems with our water and waste water infrastructure caused by the neglect of previous management, drafted a budget for the next fiscal year with a dramatic $1,000,000.00 reduction in expenditures, and overseen promotions to ensure the success of our local businesses. The result is the most efficient and open administration in the Town’s history by any objective measure.
This reform occurred despite relentless personal attacks, false outrage, and lawsuits drummed up by our opposition to justify a toxic “re-do” recall election effort. The citizens of Cave Creek previously voted against the Property Tax, the Enchanted Canyon destruction of the desert, the violation of the Morning Star and Honda Bow Agreements and the disregard for the Carefree Hwy residents.
Don wants back in power. If his puppets are elected, can you see the hands of the clock turning back to the good old days? Cave Creek deserves better. I would appreciate your vote. You may reach me at 480-200-3913 or rmonachino@mindspring.com .