On June 20, I received an email from the Town of Fountain Hills Community Services Department in response to a public information request by John Kavanagh for all correspondence that used nearly fifty key words, including “development agreement,” “inspection,” “mold,” “permits,” and “at-risk.” It asked that I and eight others send “in a timely manner” personal emails and texts to and from certain individuals, all named by Kavanagh.

Some of us, like me, are private citizens and under no obligation to comply. (His request period began January 2015, a month after I left Council.) It is clear this retaliation tactic was intended to intimidate some people for an earlier public information request made to disclose the facts about ongoing building projects, based upon correspondence by Town Commissioners, staff and elected officials.

Why is the Senator alarmed enough to harass these people? Who authorized staff to send the request to private citizens? Why was I listed in this sweeping information request? Is the Senator trying to bully me into not seeking political office?

Some believe the Mayor and several Councilmembers continue to give special treatment to favored groups and businesses. We’ve seen it before – $30K proposed annually to the Chamber for a visitors’ center, $40K to study the “lagoon” (a secret, sketchy plan sprung on the community) and adding more money to the tourism budget than requested; all while neglecting resident-centered needs like roads.

Most alarming is my understanding that some project development fees are well overdue, with the next steps seriously in question. Residents have a right to know who is or isn’t acting in good faith or meeting obligations.

It is unacceptable that we can’t rely on all seven members to consistently maintain rational approaches to spending and ensure equal enforcement of our rules, laws and agreements.