The Fountain Hills Republican Club (FHRC) held its monthly meeting Saturday, Jan. 20.

The club hosted State Senator John Kavanagh and state representatives Joseph Chaplik and Alex Kolodin.

“With the 2024 session (barely) a week old, Senator John Kavanagh is busily developing, shepherding and promoting key legislation through the Arizona Senate,” FHRC Spokesperson Nancy Plencner said in a press release. “Kavanagh is a veteran of the legislative wars,  and his skills and expertise are greatly needed in order to get bills through in this split government.”

At the club event, Kavanagh reported the Republican House and Senate is held by a slim one vote in the House and the Senate, with Democrat Katie Hobbs as governor, who tends to veto many Republican measures, according to Plencner.

From left, Fountain Hills Town Council candidate Gayle Ashley andTown Councilman Allen Skillicorn attended the Republican Club meeting. (Submitted photo)

Plencner said despite Hobbs’ actions, Kavanagh continues to send bills to her.

“(Kavanagh) is working hard to increase the percentage of Land Trust dollars that can be utilized. Going from 4.9% to 6.9%, Kavanagh wants those additional funds targeted for teacher’s salary increases,” Plencner said. “Currently the Trust Fund money goes to all areas of ‘education’ and not enough finds its way into pay raises for classroom teachers.

“Not to be outdone, the governor is now proposing the percentage be upped to 8.9% which Kavanagh says would bankrupt the Trust Fund.”

Representatives Joseph Chaplik and Alex Kolodin are making an impact as they hold key positions on important committees, Plencner added.

“(Chaplik) is a dynamic speaker, a Conservative who really has the ability to get things done, which is a rare element in government,” Plencner said, adding that the legislature and the governor must agree on and pass a budget by law.

State Representative Joseph Chaplik addresses the Fountain Hills Republican Club. (Submitted photo)

Chaplik told the Republican audience that a one-seat margin makes governing difficult and that the goal in 2024 must be to win at least two more seats in both the House and Senate.

Chaplik also recognizes that the border is the top issue in this coming election, and he is working with Arizona’s sheriffs to craft a border bill similar to what Texas has, Plencner said.

Plencner also said Chaplik is pushing legislation dealing with panhandling or congregating in non-sidewalk areas.

According to Plencner, Alex Kolodin is “laser-focused” on the topic of water.

“He held the audience spellbound with his account of how water is controlled, regulated and the danger the current system brings to the suburbs,” she said.

Kolodin has worked on water issues for eight months and is expected to have a bill establishing a “free market in water,” according to Plencner.

Kolodin is also introducing a bill that allows only U.S. citizens to vote in the primary.

State Representative Alex Kolodin addresses the Fountain Hills Republican Club. (Submitted photo)

“President Biden is all in on taking water and giving it to California. Water needs to be a pocketbook issue for voters, he said. Kolodin, like former Senator Jon Kyl is quickly becoming an expert on water, a critical topic for Arizona, Plencner said.

Members were reminded that in the last election, over 350,000 Republican ballots were not voted/turned in, according to Plencner. The importance of voting the entire ballot was also discussed.

The next meeting of the Fountain Hills Republican Club is Feb. 17, with an 8:30 a.m. registration at the Community Center.

The program is a candidate forum of Town Council and Mayoral race candidates. Members and guests are welcome.