It seems only Senator Kavanagh will defend Mayor Kavanagh. The “political power couple” missed the point.

The senator complained about a person who criticized Mayor Kavanagh for the condition of Fountain Hills’ roads. “Setting aside the fact that the roads are not that bad compared to those of other municipalities coming out of the great recession, Mayor Kavanagh was a leader in the fight to get a new road bond passed, after a prior council put up an irresponsibly large bond that the voters rejected. That’s a big accomplishment!”

Really? Let’s dig deeper. The Saguaro road bond only fixed one road. The “irresponsibly large bond voters rejected?” That bond addressed many more needed repairs, not just Saguaro. Now the Mayor backs a property tax. Guess why. To fix the rest of the roads! Irresponsible?

Let’s not stop there. According to the Senator, “Mayor Kavanagh was a driving force behind the development of the downtown, which will generate considerable revenue for the town without burdening struggling families with higher taxes.”

Not one study – nor staff member – has substantiated the claim that downtown development will solve our town’s revenue problems. Now approaching 40 percent vacant commercial space, it may add to the problem.

Again, the Mayor backs a property tax. Guess why. To address revenue shortfalls affecting services that can’t be funded with commercial and residential growth alone. Knowing the rental rates published for Park Place, I wonder just how many young families will really move there.

By the way, are we really going to let the senator convince us that our roads are not that bad compared to others? What a red herring.

Rewriting history is a gallant effort. “Shame” on Mr. Kavanagh. Too bad facts get in the way. Sad, really.