Just as diligently as Ayn Rand searched for the elusive John Galt, I have been trying to contact Mr. Gary Anderson concerning his letter to the editor two weeks ago. He claimed that he would not locate the 25th branch of his multi-million dollar business here employing 200 residents, and stated that the residents, town staff, P & Z, the council and mayor are to blame for that.

As mayor I was very concerned so investigated his claims. Mr. Anderson first stated that he “spoke and listened to almost all of the retail owners in town.” I contacted first the Business Alliance and the Chamber of Commerce, two most likely locations for a potential business owner to start. Neither group had ever heard of him. I spoke to several prominent business owners and some new owners with the same results.

Mr. Anderson then made the claim that 73 percent of all shopping is done outside Fountain Hills. First of all, just “watching the shopping patterns” is certainly not a scientific way to arrive at such a claim. Frankly, if 73 percent of all shopping were done outside of town we certainly would not have three major grocery stores located here. Besides, I know that our residents take pride in their town and do shop here.

“The business retention rate big/small is only 50 percent to comparable sized towns we have looked at” was another phantom statistic mentioned in the letter. Mr. Anderson fails to tell us how he arrived at that figure and what other towns were involved in his comparison.

The next reason Mr. Anderson gives for the town being unfriendly to business is our “ridiculous sign ordinance.” Our new sign ordinance passed several months ago has improved the business community’s ability to advertise their presence, but has also maintained a town that is aesthetically pleasing for the residents.

I don’t know what to make of Mr. Anderson’s claim of “lack of support” from the P & Z Commission, a group of dedicated volunteer residents who give up their time to serve the town.

So who is Gary Anderson and is this the way that an executive of a multi-million dollar corporation decides where to locate?

Mr. Anderson is not listed in the phone book and I can’t find anyone who knows him. The Times contacted him by email with my offer to meet with him but they did not even get a reply. That’s the reason for my response here. I want to let Mr. Anderson know that Fountain Hills is a great place to live, work, and raise a family. We are proud of our town and take exception to it being insulted. If he can’t see the unique splendor that’s here, then he’s probably better off going “onto the next study/town.”