Neighborhoods. We should not be entertaining higher densities and high rise in areas that have never been planned fot it. My opponents are open to it. We have a General Plan adopted many years ago. People bought homes and live in neighborhoods with the promise that the established neighborhood would remain residential, not turn into some development fantasy land of large buildings. The City Council should have learned a lesson from 24th Street and Camelback, which resulted in the first zoning case opposed by citizen initiative - and defeated. How loud do Phoenix voters have to scream to be heard?

Policing. I have a degree in Criminal Justice and have worked in the field. I am a public safety consultant and done work across the U.S. I am asking is that for those neighborhoods that want it or need it, we bring in neighborhood policing with officers dedicated to that area, not precinct-wide. The job will be to chase down and push out gangs, graffiti, meth labs and drop houses. They are here now in Council District 3 - we simply need more “boots on the ground” with more police. We are short officers each day - we should not have a recruitment problem for getting officers. I retired recently form a national command staff in the military and recruiting issues are not foreign to me - I have worked with them.

There are pools of qualified applicants deserving to wear our Phoenix Police blue uniform proudly. We simply need to expand the efforts outside Phoenix. We pay well, our cost of living is competitive and we are a vibrant city with lots in this great state to offer. We are underselling ourselves.

Light Rail. I do not intend to spend another dime of the taxpayers’ money on this. The portion that got committed by the voters will be done. Anything new needs to be done by a public/private partnership, not tax dollars. It is an unproven transportation system for Phoenix.

Illegal immigration. Phoenix should not be a sanctuary city to anyone. Period. Gilbert has the right idea. If a Gilbert officer has contact with someone due to traffic stop or other call, and that person cannot prove U.S. citizenship, the Gilbert officer takes them in. We have Sheriff who has said he has the room. If someone is here illegally and then on top of it has done something to warrant attention by the police, then we need to do our part and bring that violator in.

From the start, I have advocated that I will champion a city ordinance to simply state that if someone or a business does business with Phoenix (vendor, contractor, subcontractor - and we have lots), then they must make sworn statement to the City they have checked their employees against the Federal system and tell us their employees are here legally. If the business gets caught with a minor violation, the first time there is a fine and warning. The second time, the business loses its right to do business with Phoenix for a period of three years. Phoenix can do its part and supplement the state law passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. A city ordinance here will cover those businesses not taken in by the state law.

Of my 22 years service in the Navy and the intelligece community, three of those years were concerned with counter-narcotics intelligence. I know the border issues from an unique perspective. We not only have a clear and present danger, it has moved to our neighborhoods. No other candidate in this can say they have the experience or insight on the crime issues. It is experience I am bringing to help others.

I have been to more than 5,000 doors in this campaign over the past several months. People have two main issues: protect their zoning and do something about the crime. Do more. Not a study, not talk, action.

I have more than 30 years resume of leading neighbhorhood groups. being involved as a city volunteer on committees and services, helping neighbors get more action to their problems and attaining good results for neighbors and businesses. I have met a payroll and a bottom line.

I have been a corporate executive and lead America’ sons and daughters in defense of this nation as a Senior Enlisted Leader in the Navy. I am a parent and husband and proud of my wife Mindy and her sacrifice and support to my public and military service. I am on my parish council and a lector at my church - simply because I believe in helping others and giving back to my community who has given me so much opportunity.

I am a fiscal conservative with both private sector and public sector budget experience. I am a small business person who has been a large corporate business person. I have led 500 employees in the provision of emergency medical services to multiple Arizona communities. I am the national treasurer and chief financial officer of a national veterans’ group and have been working hard to take care of those who have honorably served our nation.

Gerald Ford said we can disagree without being disagreeable. We need to bring that spirit back to the legislative process and grass roots of our government - city government. It’s not rocket science, it is common sense.

Honor, courage, commitment. I have lived those values for decades and took an oath to them. You expect integrity from your elected officials and your deserve it. I have served this nation and our neighborhoods. I have earned the respect of many, I ask for your vote.

How disappointing! We can all vote as we please and do so in privacy. But to make such a public statement for a liberal when we had a solid Republican challenger, indicates poor judgement to me. I wonder how Maria Baier would feel if a group of Republicans came out publicly for Mapstead? If she had any thought of political aspirations, this was not a wise move. I live in the district and this will be a determiner when I cast my ballot.

Another interesting point is that our oh-so-swell Mayor Gordon, has endorsed a slate in the three districts with contested elections. Nothing like ensuring his leftie efforts are codified. This entire process is a sham.