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SIERRA VISTA — Five City Council candidates are asking for Sierra Vistans’ votes during the Sept. 2 primary election.
There are three seats on the council up for grabs this year. The candidates running for the nonpartisan positions are Carol Dockter, Dot Greener, Craig Johnson, Rick Mueller and Scott Thompson.
As part of its questions to the candidates, the Herald/Review asked the candidates why voters should choose them.
For Dockter, the reasons include her family values, vested interest in her city of residence for 29 years and “proven leadership and experience in the city through nine years of City Council and city commission involvement.”
  
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“I have demonstrated fiscal responsibility in the budget decisions I have supported and my work with the Strategic Leadership Plan,” she wrote. “I believe in balanced governance and make thoughtful decisions based on citizen input. I support partnerships with Fort Huachuca and throughout Cochise County. I support research and future implementation of best environmental practices including fuel-efficient transportation and water conservation.”
Supporting local education and health organizations as key parts of the city’s infrastructure, faith in citizens’ ability to make Sierra Vista a wonderful place to live and working for them are also her goals.
Three of the candidates — Dockter, Johnson and Mueller — are the incumbents and have each served two four-year terms.
Greener thinks eight years is enough time for a single council member to serve.
“I would give the council a new and fresh perspective. While it is important to maintain a sense of continuity, it is also important to tap into new ideas,” the candidate wrote.
Greener said she has a desire to serve the community and has a sense of it’s history.
“I understand the importance of Fort Huachuca in our everyday lives, and the importance of sound water management policies. I am aware of the tremendous responsibility of managing millions of taxpayer dollars. In my work in public schools, I oversaw a several million dollar budget. I have had various successful leadership roles and am able to work successfully as a ‘team’ player,” she wrote.
Johnson also believes his professional and personal experiences and accomplishments as a councilman will help him continue to serve the city.
“I have an understanding of Sierra Vista from my perspective as a youth growing up in the city, a young adult beginning a career, and a family man raising his children,” he wrote.
He also hopes to continue working toward his vision of a safe community with a strong and balanced economy, quality attainable housing, that utilizes diverse backgrounds and talents of the citizens for the common good, that seeks to provide the most efficient and effective city government and has quality educational opportunities.
“I’m running for council again because there’s still some work to be done, such as implementing the Housing and Airport Task Force recommendations, and projects to complete, such as a new Teen Center and the additional Domingo Paiz fields.”
Mueller said that after almost eight years of service to his fellow citizens, he still believes “the vote of confidence extend to me by the voters to represent them in city affairs, represents a sacred trust.”
And, he said, it’s one he would not violate.
“I am a public servant and proven leader who has demonstrated the ability to act in the best interest of the city in our greater community as a whole. I have shown that I am willing and able to address the long standing tough issues that confront our city and build a better future based on the vision expressed by the public through Vista 2020 and the council strategic plan that supports 2020. I remain committed to ensure the City is as fiscally responsible as possible, a penny of value to the citizen for every taxpayer penny collected and spent,” Mueller wrote.
City Council members are elected at large in a nonpartisan election, but Libertarian values are what Thompson hopes to offer to voters in September.
“Voters should consider voting for me because I represent the principles that this country was founded on. I pledge to voters that I will not vote for any tax increases, that I will work to minimize the current tax burden, that I will not vote to restrict the development of new or existing businesses, and that I will ensure that private property remains private,” Thompson wrote.
REPORTER Laura Ory can be reached at 515-4683 or by e-mail at laura.ory@svherald.com.
Carol Dockter
Sierra Vista City Council
Incumbent
• Age: Not given
• Resident since: 1979
• Family: Husband, Bruce, and children, Debbie, Cindy and Devin.
• Education and/or military service: Bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah, business and music courses from Cochise Community College.
• Employment background: I have had the privilege of being a “stay-at-home mom” and using my volunteer time to support my husband and children. Prior to having a family, I worked for the Bureau of Reclamation in Salt Lake City, Pictatinny Arsenal at Dover, N.J., and Weapons Command at Rock Island, Ill. I have had temporary jobs in retail.
• Community affiliations: Sierra Vista Symphony Advisory Board, S.A.F.E., St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, and the Chamber of Commerce. Most of my energy is devoted to serving on the City Council and representing the Council on several commissions.
• Previous political offices held: Member of Sierra Vista City Council.
• Contact: 458-1807, dockterbc@cox.net.
What City Council accomplishments had significance to you in the past year and are there any you would have liked to have had a different outcome?
Strategic Leadership Plan, “Our Future Vistas,” was developed in collaboration with our senior staff during four intensive planning days. The plan, which identifies areas outside of the routine day-to-day operations, enables us to more easily budget our tax dollars. The design of several parks and amenities through the public participation process and the completion of the skate park following that process are significant. I am disappointed, though, that the band shell process wasn’t as successful in the design portion. It is back to the drawing board for that.
I am proud that we are fiscally sound, especially when others in the state have had budgetary crises. In fact, we qualified for bonding to pay for necessary capital improvements, such as the Animal Control Center, the third fire station and the addition to our police station. We have been able to pay off much of our previous debt while keeping city taxes among the lowest in the state. A good example is our property tax rate. Last year it was only $0.1319 per $100 assessed value. In other words, a house having a market value of $100,000 and assessed value of $10,000 only paid $13.19 to the city.
What are the top three issues facing the city and what ideas or policies would you support to solve them?
One of my concerns is the possibility that state-shared revenue and our share of the Highway Users Fund (HURF) will be reduced. At least a third of the city’s budget is dependent on state-shared revenue and the HURF funds pay for street maintenance. In the event that happens, we need to be prepared to reduce the budget and adjust the Strategic Leadership Plan accordingly. A past fiscal decision of this difficulty was made early in my first term on the council. Some of our services began to suffer but with prudent fiscal action and professional staff we recovered.
Another challenge is balancing economic needs and environmental responsibilities. I am always watching out for measures and mandates that could negatively impact home ownership and employment opportunities while remembering the importance of our natural resources. I do not believe in passing ordinances unless they can be enforced and are beneficial. I support the preservation of the San Pedro River. We only have until 2011 to negate the deficit of the aquifer, and I support augmentation and reclamation opportunities to accomplish this. This is why I support researching the feasibility of the San Pedro water district and construction of two water reclamation plants in the city. Economically we are tied to the future of Fort Huachuca, and I support working with the fort in providing a good quality of life for civilian and military personnel. Yes, this includes the environment and medical services, housing, recreational facilities, schools and places to shop. I support working with the chamber of commerce and the Economic Development Foundation to bring and retain businesses that fill the middle income gap. Finding the balance between the environment and the economy should be a priority for all.
Gang activity and crime are concerns. Although the Police Department is doing a good job, they need to be bolstered by filling all personnel slots available to them. This should be a priority. I support continuing police-sponsored programs that increase citizen’s awareness of deterrents to being a victim of a crime. The neighborhood watch is also a good program to continue. I support the outreach programs in the schools that teach our children about drugs and how to avoid them. I believe reaching them at a young age is good preventative action. All these measures should help decrease gang activity.
Dorothy “Dot” Greener
Sierra Vista City Council
Candidate
• Age: 63
• Resident since: 1994
• Family: Widow. Significant other, Vic Strokin. Children, Randy and Cathy. Stepchildren, Robin, Tracy and Laurie.
• Education and/or military service: Holds a doctorate in psychology, a master’s degree in educational psychology and bachelor’s degree (magna cum laude) in English comprehensive and secondary education.
• Employment background: School psychologist, director of pupil personnel, elementary principal, assistant to the superintendent for Sheffield-Sheffield Lake Public Schools, Ohio, 1972 to 1985; private practice clinical psychologist from 1976 to 1988 as co-owner of Psychological Associates Center, Grafton, Ohio; Bridge teacher, Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico, Sierra Vista, Norwegian, Cunard and Holland-America cruise lines, 1992 to present.
• Community affiliations: Sierra Vista Woman’s Club; Citizen’s Police Academy; Cochise County Superior Court arbitrator and mediator; Huachuca Museum Society; immediate past president of the 1200 Club of Greater Sierra Vista; Co-first vice president of Thunder Mountain Republican Women; and past president, third cice president of The Arizona Federation of Republican Women (past president, second vice president, and Region III director).
• Previous political offices held: 10-year Republican precinct committeeman and state committeeman for Sierra Vista; Board of Directors, Chapala Country Club Home Owners’ Association, Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico: 1993 to 1995; Republican Committeeman, Southampton, 1964 to 1966.
• Contact: 378-1045 or dotgreener@yahoo.com
What City Council accomplishments had significance to you in the past year and are there any you would have liked to have had a different outcome?
Overall, the City Council has done an excellent job. The incumbents have served eight years while our Arizona legislators are term-limited after eight years. New ideas are good for any organization, including the city. I am running for a seat. I am not running against anyone.
One of my personal “pet” areas is and has been the animal shelter. I would have liked to have seen a larger shelter built with more funding from the city; however, the new facility is light-years ahead of the abysmally old, unheated and non air-conditioned shelter. Through working with Bob Strain, our shelter no longer sells our pets for medical research. We have made progress!
I know the entire council worked diligently to get through the latest Base Realignment and Closure process. I can only commend their efforts! The retention of Fort Huachuca is crucial to our economy and way of life. I would be in the forefront of assuring that the city continues to do everything possible to keep our military installation open and functioning, and, if possible, expanding.
The council’s leadership role in the Upper San Pedro Partnership goes hand-in-hand with the continued viability of Fort Huachuca. Washington is watching us and has its own perceptions of reality. The difficulty with the water is always complicated by science versus perception. I promise to become well-informed in this area.
What are the top three issues facing the city and what ideas or policies would you support to solve them?
• Declining revenue: With the lagging real-estate market and exploding gas prices (which have precipitated every other cost to rise), budgeting and setting priorities has become significantly more important in the city. Whether to increase bond-indebtedness, raise taxes, or “tighten the belt” will be issues that I believe will face the “new” council. As might be expected, I am extremely conservative fiscally and would pursue all avenues other than any tax increases. Wherever possible, I also would be extremely cautious about saddling a future generation with exorbitant debt.
Most of us, at my age, know that this situation is cyclical and that we will survive this period and that the economy, as always in the past, will thrive again. For this period, however, we must be extremely careful and cautious.
• Policy making: My belief is that the City Council should only be setting policy and should not be interfering with the day-to-day operation of or micro-managing the city. As a Council member, I would unwaveringly adhere to this policy. One of the most important jobs of the Council is to be certain that the very best available personnel are hired to oversee the city operations. It is also the City Council’s job to adequately evaluate those top-level personnel.
• Being a watchdog of taxpayers’ monies: Many years ago, I had issues with the city regarding spending practices … those were taken to the existing Council at the time. While they promised much; in actuality, they did nothing to change obvious financial and time abuses. Somehow, just a few years ago, two of those employees, who had been in high-level positions, were indicted. The only person on the council from that time is Bob Blanchard. I imagine the indictments caused serious re-evaluation of many money-related procedures, as I hoped would have happened earlier. I would be extremely conscious of sound financial management and procedures and believe the council needs to take an active role in assuring the safeguarding and sound use of public monies by setting sound policies and obtaining periodic reports and evaluations of same.
Additionally, three areas of particular interest to me include:
— The city maintaining a continued close partnership with Fort Huachuca.
— In conjunction with the continuance of Fort Huachuca and the quality of our lives here, the city remaining steadfast with all efforts regarding water conservation.
— The city safeguarding the spending and accounting of taxpayers’ monies.
Craig Johnson
Sierra Vista City Council
Incumbent
• Age: 39
• Resident since: 1974
• Family: Wife, Marcy, and children, Liberty and Zachary.
• Education and/or military service: Bachelor of arts, University of Arizona, masters of education, Northern Arizona University; doctor of education, Northern Arizona University; participant, Army War College Civilian Program, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
• Employment background: University of Arizona South (15 years) associate dean and University South Foundation Inc. (four years) executive director
• Community affiliations: Southwest Fair Housing Commission board member since 2005; president of the Apache Middle School Athletic Booster Club; Team Cochise Education Committee member since 2002; Cochise County Local Workforce Investment board member since 2001; Project Safe Place board member since 2005; Sierra Vista Diamonds girls fast-pitch team coach since 2005; Stallions Baseball Club assistant coach, 2007-2008; and Apache Middle School Site Council member, 2007-2008.
• Previous political offices held: Sierra Vista City Council member since 2001.
• Contact: 803-6772, e-mail: cdj7@hotmail.com
What City Council accomplishments had significance to you in the past year and are there any you would have liked to have had a different outcome?
Some accomplishments over the past year include the completion of the city’s Strategic Plan, “Our Future Vistas;” completion of the Housing Task Force report; completion of the Airport Task Force report; inclusion of the Housing Task Force work into the strategic plan; inclusion of the strategic plan into the budgeting process; consensus to adopt a comprehensive economic development plan in collaboration with the Economic Development Foundation; start of the public input process for a new teen and youth center; continued implementation of the multi-use path system; opening of the Kiwanis Skate and Bike Court; our recycling efforts; continued commitment to enhance our police and fire departments; our water conservation and education efforts; the city’s “All About Water” research and Web site; and keeping an active, engaged Youth Commission.
One outcome that I would like to have seen different is better coordination from the State Trust Land Department to develop the new Domingo Paiz softball field complex at the same time the bike and skate court was completed. I also would have liked to been able to have resolution on the 203 acres next to the Sierra Vista Municipal Airport either through the enhanced use lease or a similar process.
What are the top three issues facing the city and what ideas or policies would you support to solve them?
The three top issues facing the City over the next few years are those “challenges associated with success.” Those challenges include maintaining sustained, responsible growth, creating career opportunities and planning for budget challenges that we face over the next few years.
Planning for budget challenges is an issue that will be facing the city over the next few years. With the recent downturn in the economy, the city will be facing reduced state shared revenue In addition to the economic downturn, the 2010 census may reduce state shared revenue since Sierra Vista has grown at a slower pace than most of the other cities in the state. Continued conservative fiscal planning and continued work on debt reduction are policies that will continue to help in meeting future budget challenges.
To maintain sustained, responsible growth we must be cognizant of the challenges associated with growth. It is important to recognize that the market drives growth. I believe that the city should not mandate or attempt to control the market. The City can continue to ensure sustained, responsible growth by continuing to ensure that the planning and zoning codes are current and applied fairly and continuing to ensure that every development goes through the proper process for approval as required.
As a City Council member, I will continue to work to ensure that as growth occurs, the proper processes and planning and zoning requirements are in place to provide for quality development. As a City Council member, I will continue to work to ensure that our infrastructure can sustain and provide for future growth.
In regard to growth and water, I would continue to advocate expanding and build upon the proactive approach that the city has taken and include an incentive based program for water conservation. If we, as a community, can provide the incentive to conserve water through a combination of public/private initiatives, we will provide choices on how we, as individuals, choose to conserve water. We must continue to examine “best practices” on water conservation and determine if any, a combination, or none of these best practices, is most suitable for Sierra Vista to implement.
A specific area of need to address in order to maintain sustained, responsible growth is our traffic circulation. As a City Council member, I will continue to work to address needs such as traffic circulation on Fry Boulevard, north/south transportation, and issues facing traffic circulation on Highway 92. In addressing some of these issues, we must work with other stakeholders such as the county and state.
In addition, quality-of-life issues that are associated with growth must also be addressed. For example, quality-of-life issues such as addressing environmental concerns; providing for quality, attainable housing; and providing opportunities for all segments of our population must be included in our approach to maintain sustained, responsible growth.
The city has been proactive in addressing these areas through collaborative partnerships. As a City Council member, I will continue to provide leadership to seek reasonable, responsible solutions to these issues by seeking collaborative partnerships with public and private entities that are stakeholders in addressing quality of life opportunities.
In terms of economic development, we should now concentrate on helping create “career” opportunities, which I would define as opportunities that are salaried positions which can comfortably support a family of four. In addition to working to create “career” opportunities, the city should continue and strengthen our commitment to retaining and expanding the businesses that call Sierra Vista home. As a City Council member, I would continue to work toward these goals by working closely with the Economic Development Foundation and the chamber of commerce.
Rick Mueller
Sierra Vista City Council
Incumbent
• Age: 54
• Resident since: 1995
• Family: Single
• Education and/or military service: Graduate of Hephzibah High School, Georgia. Attended the University of Nebraska on a four-year Army ROTC Scholarship and graduated with a political science degree with minors in history and English. Graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Graduated with honors from the Defense Language Institute (Greek). Also completed post graduate work in general management.
• Employment background: Paperboy, baby-sitter, bag boy, stock clerk/cashier, hotel clerk, assistant manager, Army officer and city councilman. Retired in 1995 as a U.S. Army field artillery officer.
• Community affiliations: Chairman of the SouthEast Arizona Government Association (SEAGO), co-chairman of the Water and Environment Committee for Team Cochise, vice president and immediate past president of the University of Arizona South Foundation, director at large for the Sierra Vista Historical Society, Sierra Vista Lions Club honorary member, and a member of the Sierra Vista Noon Rotary Club, 1200 Club, Officers Association of America (MOAA), Huachuca Museum Society, Sierra Vista Symphony Association and Friends of the Sierra Vista Public Library. Attends Sierra Lutheran Church.
• Previous political offices: Mayor pro tem and a city councilman for two terms.
• Contact: 459-0958 or mail: Re-elect Rick Mueller, 1940 S. Gnome Trail, Sierra Vista AZ 85635-5665
What City Council accomplishments had significance to you in the past year and are there any you would have liked to have had a different outcome?
The city and council members who serve as city representatives to the Upper San Pedro Partnership were recognized by the Department of the Interior for their work toward resolving the challenges of water conservation. This recognition reflects a continued commitment by the council, and the people of Sierra Vista, to continue conserving, recharging, reusing and augmenting water to preserve a healthy aquifer in a resource constrained environment. The fact that within the city limits, less water was pumped in 2007 then in the first year water was tracked, 2000, while the city continued to grow, also reflects this commitment. Both the Skate and Bike Court and the much-needed Tompkins Park have provided better recreational opportunities for youth of all ages. Although it might have taken too long for some, the completion of the recycling test program will result in greater operating efficiencies and opportunities for additional recycling at low cost to the ratepayer. In the past year more people have been taking advantage of the provisions of the Westside Improvement Overlay District. Although the district has been part of the city development code for many years, I am encouraged now by progress in new residential and commercial development in the West End. The joint city/county clean up of the Fry Townsite also continues to progress and is significant.
What are the top three issues facing the city and what ideas or policies would you support to solve them?
The top two issues are still water and growth. They are intertwined, and they will pose a challenge for the foreseeable future. The key is to find a balance in approaches to resolving both issues without having devastating effects on our local economy or the environment. As stated above current council policies, which have included rebates for conservation, support for community education through Water Wise, approving progressively stricter codes and construction of infrastructure designed to detain and recharge water and partnering with Fort Huachuca and the USPP and other agencies, have been effective. More can be done. The city strategic plan calls for construction of package recharge plants near the ball fields in the city complex and in the Tribute Specific Plan. This will retire some pumping and add recharge capacity to the aquifer. Where effective, detention basins will continue to be constructed, enhancing recharge. Council needs to remain open to new conservation technologies and techniques and amend codes where appropriate and practical.
Specifically as to growth, the council must continue West End and Fry renovation and redevelopment, approve design standards for commercial districts and be vigilant in monitoring new development to ensure it continues to reflect the voter approved guidelines in Vista 2020.
The third is more short term, but just as serious. Decreasing revenue, owing to the overall downturn of the economy, state budget shortfalls, expected cuts in state shared revenue for both the 10 percent income tax decrease and for our population growth not keeping pace with the rest of the state, will provide challenges to maintaining the city service levels the public expects in Sierra Vista. Budget cuts should not be as deep as they were in 2001 and 2002. They likely will, however, be sustained over a longer period, especially if the economy has a slow recovery. The most likely effect will be to street maintenance, which has already suffered due to a tripling of the cost of petroleum-based asphalt. A proven council that has provided guidance to our excellent city staff in the previous revenue restrained period is critical to maintaining service levels.
Scott Thompson
Sierra Vista City Council
Candidate
• Age: 28
• Resident since: 2002
• Family: Wife, Tracy; children, Adam, Christian and Colin.
• Education and/or military service: Active-duty Army from 2001 to 2004; associates of applied science in intelligence operations, Cochise College; and full-time management student at the University of Phoenix.
• Employment background: Instructor/operator for General Dynamics unmanned aircraft from 2005 to present.
• Community affiliations: Libertarian Party chairman for Cochise County.
• Previous political offices: Commissioner, Sierra Vista Arts and Humanities Commission
• Contact: (520) 208-3719, scott@thompson4council.com, www.thompson4council.com.
What City Council accomplishments had significance to you in the past year and are there any you would have liked to have had a different outcome?
The City Council has made great strides in reducing the city’s debt over the past few years, which allows the use of taxpayer money more efficiently. In contrast, the City Council has made growth expansion within the city difficult due to impact fees, taxes, licensing fees, rental tax, etc., which all create a huge burden on our citizens.
What are the top three issues facing the city and what ideas or policies would you support to solve them?
• Community growth and water — Our area is serviced by private, non-municipal water companies that currently have their pricing set with the Arizona Corporation Commission. Our local water companies are aware of the limited resources our community has and as such will work with the ACC to establish rate increases based off of supply. Increased rates, although never desired, may be the best way to conserve our water supply in the community; leading to the increased usage of refrigerant-based AC units, water-free landscaping, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and alternative water collection techniques. Also, creating a stronger rebate program in the community for rainwater collection programs, low-flow toilets, refigerant-based AC units, and water-free landscaping will give new and existing homeowners and builders an incentive to practice water conservation in our community.
• Community businesses — In order to foster growth local businesses need to be able to supply the population with ample goods and services at reasonable prices. Currently our city’s businesses are confronted with expensive licensing requirements, impact fees, a construction contracting tax, and a rental tax, which all translate into more expensive goods and services for our citizens. I am looking to eliminate these taxes so that our community can grow and prosper despite the economic burdens our country is currently facing. Without community growth our city remains economically dependent on Fort Huachuca, which is a threat to our community’s longevity. We need a self-sufficient economy and a city that stands behind it.
• Community activities — Our community needs activities for our children and adults alike. The city is spending a large portion of our tax dollars for additional Parks and Leisure facilities and services that go unused by a vast majority of the population. The city should not have a vested interest in our leisure activities, but instead foster an environment in the city that allows business activities to prosper. Our city has many entrepreneurs that would fill the needs of our families much more efficiently than the city. If the need is presented, our entrepreneurs will fill it.
Mommy wrote on Aug 6, 2008 10:00 AM: