Arizona’s founders envisioned municipal elections to be non-partisan. Republican Party activists want that changed (ask John Kavanagh). Over the past decade, they’ve succeeded. Remember when town elections were in March, with run-offs in May? The Republican-dominated Legislature and Governor pushed through a bill in 2013 changing that.

Step one achieved: Move municipal elections to August/November, on the partisan election cycle with all legislative and congressional races. Everyone is on a “partisan” ballot; never mind that now the ballot is two-sided, and municipal elections pushed to the bottom of page two. This affects participation, voter fatigue.

Then, step two achieved: Disable vote-by-mail. You guessed it, fall elections completely wrecked Fountain Hills’ vote-by-mail ordinance. All-mail elections ensured that every voter got a ballot. Not anymore. The Permanent Early Voting List is now complicated, especially if you’re Independent. And everyone else has to show up to a voting location (ask Michele Ugenti-Rita).

Now, step three: Characterize municipal elections as partisan (ask Jay Lawrence). Last year, he introduced a bill requiring all candidates to be identified by party on the ballot. It failed, but that time will surely come soon. Once achieved, carrying a party label becomes their ultimate focus. Don’t you wonder why so many people in Arizona are changing their registration to Independent?

You see, in order to stay in control, Republicans work to keep control by passing legislation that hurts cities and towns. And when they force people to view all election issues as partisan, things like lagoons, lake liners, roads and public safety become partisan. By labeling candidates by party, they try to hold national partisan positions against them, inferring a national agenda affects our local needs.

It’s a false comparison. Don’t let them fool you. Everything with these LD23-named Republicans is just political. It’s hurting Fountain Hills.