OPINION — On his town council candidate Facebook page, Ben Larrabee seems to think only Republicans can be trusted to “steward” money wisely. Larrabee says Gerry Friedel claims that when “Democrats ran the Council,” nothing was saved for the replacement of the aging lake liner. Candidate Larrabee promises “no debt, no taxes, just cash, upfront.”
It's always Republicans to the rescue. Under Friedel's leadership, savings are now squirreled away. As long as Republicans continue applying their financial acumen, $17 million will be available to replace the liner. And Larrabee credits frugal Republicans for finding $7 million. However, evidence disproves this claim.
According to a Nov. 2025 article by Bob Burns in the Fountain Hills Times Independent, the council “set aside money each year earmarked for a liner replacement for Fountain Lake, which is likely to still be several years out.”
