The Chamber of Commerce held a very informative candidate Q&A session last Thursday morning for the upcoming election for two positions on the board of the sanitary district. I am one of the two incumbents running for office.

If you were in the audience, you were made aware of a very significant fact. Between Tom Reski and myself, we have a combined total of 70 years of experience in sanitary districts and wastewater treatment. Our opponents have zero years of experience. You read that right. Competence matters. Experience matters.

Toward the end of the presentation, Councilman Tolis accused the sanitary district of holding up the process of allowing the State Trust Land to go to auction. That assertion is completely baseless. Councilman Tolis is either misinformed or is posturing on this matter.

Later that morning, the Sanitary District Manager called the Director of the Real Estate Division of the State Land Department. He confirmed that the District was not the hold-up. While the State Trust Land is not currently within the boundaries of the sanitary district, the board of directors is committed to providing service to that area when a developer is selected.

District staff met with the town on March 28, 2017, to discuss the district’s ability to treat wastewater from the State Land Trust. (A follow-up letter was sent on May 1, 2017 by the District Manager to the town to help get the ball rolling.)

That information was not forwarded by the town to the Commissioner of the Arizona State Land Trust until August 22, 2017. That delay of nearly five months was not caused by the Sanitary District. I hope this clears up any confusion.

And please take a look at our website, fhsd2017.com. Tom and I respectfully ask for your vote.