Davis: Let’s keep the partisan talk out of local politics

Well folks, it’s happened here. Partisan politics has reared its ugly head right here in Fountain Hills. Although allegedly (and by definition) nonpartisan, our Town Council and mayoral elections have become anything but. 

In her letter of Aug 30, Nancy Plencner contends that the far-left politics of Kamala Harris have infiltrated our Town Council election. In the second paragraph of her letter, she goes so far as to claim that Harris is somehow responsible for the fact that “we now have two astronauts stranded at the space station.” There isn’t enough space here to fact check some of her other somewhat preposterous allegations about the Harris campaign, so I'll move on. Note, however, she makes no mention of the far-right Trump/Vance ticket. 

Regarding partisanship, the signs are everywhere (pun intended) that it has indeed invaded our nonpartisan election cycle. However, in such an election the party membership of our mayor and councilwoman is irrelevant. I don’t know if either of them are Childless Cat Ladies, but that too is irrelevant. 

What is, and should be, relevant are the issues that most directly affect us at the local level. The council has much greater influence in matters such as street maintenance, telecommunications infrastructure, bond issues and the like, than it has regarding inflation, the Green New Deal and the National Space Council. 

Let’s leave the contentious state and national matters out of our Town Council and mayoral races and concentrate on what is best for Fountain Hills. Ginny Dickey and Peggy McMahon have both exhibited exemplary leadership and will undoubtably continue to do so going forward. Let’s stay with these known candidates to lead our town forward in November and beyond.  

Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.