This week we feature the final question The Times has posed to the five Town Council candidates.

Hugh Henry: Since I didn't go to Harvard, this question is far above my pay grade.

Mike Archambault: These terms were expressed by citizens during the latest strategic planning process and most likely will be embodied as focal points in the community’s next Strategic Plan that is currently being developed by the Town’s Strategic Planning Advisory Commission (SPAC).

This past year numerous citizens interviewed by SPAC indicated that civility is very important to them. They love the way they are greeted by name at shops around town and at Town Hall.  They enjoy seeing their neighbors as they navigate around town and they want the town to keep on supporting this environment.

Residents want the town to continue to partner with local and outside groups to expand services and opportunities that are offered within Fountain Hills. They want their lives to be continually enriched by a cultural atmosphere.

In short, citizens want our town to sustain the reasons they moved here in the first place.  They want to have opportunities to participate, to share their talents, to belong and to be a valuable asset.  They want to feel as though they are a community shareholder. 

In my opinion these terms describe what makes Fountain Hills such a unique community.

I believe the town’s next Strategic Plan will be a superb guide for years to come and will definitely strengthen our community’s outstanding reputation.

I am proud to say I have been a strong supporter of the town’s first Strategic Plan and look forward to doing whatever it takes to implement our next Plan.

Ginny Dickey: A government that operates in a manner that brings out the best from all involved by showing a genuine desire to collaborate and build.

Participating in a seven-member council, with individual talents, strengths, experiences and knowledge, is the foundation for moving our community in the direction of thoughtful policies.

Appreciating the differences in your colleagues and successfully combining various interests creates a balance that makes you much better as a unit.

You have to treat each other with respect and trust, an example which spreads throughout the organization and the community at large.

It would be a good idea to have a policy or guidance for interaction with constituents and each other. I offered that suggestion for the town, which was useful in state service, and it was accepted at our retreat.

The message will be one of inclusion and appreciation of ideas and creativity, questioning and suggestions.

This sounds a little idealistic, but in these times of seemingly increased incidents of rudeness and shouting, blaming and intolerance, it is a good idea to give renewed attention to the issues of civil behavior, and as indicated by the question, has become formalized among our council goals for 2010-2011.  

Tait Elkie: The governmental philosophy that embodies these terms is what we have here in the United States, a republic. 

In 1787 the framers of the U.S. Constitution joined together, in part, to enrich the lives of one another, form partnerships between the colonies, and also promote civility and the establishment of individual rights and laws for the betterment of society.

It was only after months of spirited debate and numerous compromises that a final draft of the Constitution was completed and sent to the various states for ratification. 

I have always admired our founding fathers for their courage, foresight, and the strength of character shown that successfully brought the colonies together in order to establish the United States.  As an attorney, I take pride in the fact that 24 of the 39 signers of the U.S. Constitution were attorneys or judges.

My education and experience as an attorney, as well as my service as a mediator and arbitrator, have enabled me to develop and hone my negotiation and consensus building skills.  The study and practice of law has also taught me that litigation should never be used as a substitute for civility and essentially doing what is right.

I have taken great strides to build my life and law practice upon a foundation of honesty, trust, and mutual respect. It is my hope that our residents will give me the opportunity on March 9 to serve as a councilmember and apply all that I have learned towards the betterment of our town.

Henry Leger: On Jan. 14, the Town Council and staff engaged in a workshop to formulate council goals that will serve as the foundation for developing the town’s FY10/11 budget.

As a result of this workshop eight goals and corresponding initiatives were developed. These goals reflected values identified in the town’s preliminary updated community-driven strategic plan and place emphasis on the role of civility, mutual respect and civic responsibility to accomplish community priorities.

It is within this context that Mr. Davis articulated the value of civility, respect, and enriched partnerships in his most recent report on council goals. These attributes are paramount for building productive relationships with residents, stakeholders, staff and peer council members.

These healthy partnerships contribute to effective governance – a leadership philosophy that can best be described as “High-Involvement Governance.”

Incorporating community input in municipal governance not only demonstrates mutual respect for others, it enables informed-decision making and builds credibility between the community and its elected officials.

Our Town Council is much more productive and successful at advancing plans that benefit the community when we demonstrate civility with each other and with staff, respecting and benefiting from our differences.

A trademark of democracy, high-involvement governance puts elected officials in touch with the citizenry – a key to building a healthy and sustainable community. It is a leadership philosophy I embrace wholeheartedly in serving the public.