Four of the six candidates seeking a seat on the town council were available for questions at a forum on July 19. Candidates are vying for three seats with terms beginning in 2019.

The event, organized by the Chamber of Commerce and the Fountain Hills Civic and Cultural Association and sponsored by Salt River Project, was attended by candidates Marcus Bulow von Dennewitz, Sharron Grzybowski, incumbent Councilman Alan Magazine and Mike Scharnow. Gerry Friedel and David Spelich were unavailable.

The candidates were asked how they would address fiscal constraints to maintain quality of life. Grzybowski said the council should carefully look at expenditures to avoid the shiny, nice-to-have items.

“We should spend only on what is needed,” Grzybowski said.

Bulow von Dennewitz said bonding should be considered for major expenses. He said citizens have shown they have a clear preference for knowing exactly how money is being spent and there will be an end to the burden when costs are paid for.

Magazine said there is little choice but to do what they can with available funding.

“Some have called for a reduced budget and less government,” Magazine said. “We do not have an expenditure problem, we have a revenue problem.

“This year we have the lowest budget in five years, and that is without considering inflation.”

Scharnow said that, with a reliance on sales tax and state shared revenues, there will always be the potential for financial instability.

“Bonds are an option, but they can’t be used for ongoing maintenance,” he said.

Transparency on the part of the mayor and council was the second issue discussed by the candidates.

An auditor by profession, Bulow von Dennewitz said he would advocate for an outside auditor to monitor town actions and provide the public with a clear picture of what is happening.

Magazine said he understands the concerns. He said items like the lagoon plan and wayfinding sign project are examples of items that came forward with little notice or discussion involving all council members, let alone the public.

“We need a much stronger partnership between the public and officials to be sure our decisions reflect what the public wants,” Magazine said.

Scharnow, the former editor of The Times, noted that he has spent his career involved in communicating with the public.

He said the challenge with today’s multi-platform environment is getting correct information to the public as quickly as possible.

Grzybowski said, as a council member, her objective will be to listen to the public, but also let people know what she is thinking and how she arrives at her decisions.

“We may not always agree, but you will know where I am coming from,” she said.

Should the town have a strategy for attracting younger families to the community was another question posed to the candidates.

Median home prices in many of the larger Maricopa County communities are at least $100,000 less than the Fountain Hills median, according to Magazine.

“We need to stress the quality of our school system,” Magazine said. “I know there are a lot of naysayers, but our school district is excellent.”

Scharnow said the town should participate in efforts to attract families to live in the community.

“We want the full range of demographics,” he said. “We need to keep our parks safe and fun, encourage family-oriented events and activities and support youth and adult sports activities.

“We also need to support the school district any way we can.”

Grzybowski said she sees some challenges in meeting the needs of younger adults.

“I don’t think [millennials] want the same housing we did, or grew up with,” she said.

She said they like the urban lifestyle with housing upstairs from commercial. The town may want to review zoning to make sure the town can accommodate this type of planning, Grzybowski said.

Bulow von Dennewitz said statistics indicate that a third of homebuyers are 36 years of age and younger.

“Fountain Hills has attributes that we don’t market,” he said. “There is also the perception that the town is too far out.”

He believes these are areas the town can work to improve upon.

One audience member asked about keeping families in town rather than simply working to attract new people.

Grzybowski agreed, saying that as a business owner it is easier and cheaper to keep employees rather than find new ones. She said the town should explore what it can do in this area of retention.

Bulow von Dennewitz said he is advocating an anchor employer in Fountain Hills where people will do some shopping, dining as well as work here.

Spelich, who had to be in court Thursday morning related to his job as an investigator, spoke briefly Wednesday evening at the Tea Party meeting. He also advocates the anchor employer. He said the commercial corridor along Shea should be studied for that including the vacant former Walgreen’s and Target plaza.

Magazine said he hears from a lot of parents complaining that the town does not offer enough for kids to do.

“We have a lot of activities for kids,” he said. “I would encourage parents to get out and explore the activity options available.”

Spelich had additional comments at the Tea Party meeting talking about the town’s reputation as a town of “no” where it is difficult to get past regulation.

Spelich, a former homicide detective, also talked about what he perceives as an increase in crime, and apparent departure of Posse members that reduces the law enforcement presence on the street. He also raised concerns about transparency on the part of the Sheriff’s Office.

When asked about getting along with one another in today’s volatile political environment, all the candidates indicated they see no potential problems working with one another.

They indicated that as members of the community, they interact with citizens regularly by participating in service clubs, church, social activities and even running into people in the supermarket.

“The red and blue designation is one of my biggest pet peeves,” Grzybowski said. “I am friends with most of the candidate, with a couple I have just met through the campaign.

“We will be able to work together on the council.”

“It’s not red or blue,” Scharnow said. “It’s Fountain Hills.”