| Posted: Thu Jan 28th, 2010 03:38 pm |
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51st Post |
qcaz
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azfam wrote: I am curious to know what others thought, but in my mind the front runners are definitely John Alston and Dawn Oliphant. They both had great answers and definitely looked the part of a council person. I plan on supporting both.
For the third spot it is a toss up between Chris Clark and Julia Wheatly. But if I had to choose today I would probably go with Clark.
I thought Toni Valenzuela and Audri Mansour were terrible! Toni wouldn't stop talking about her restaurant, it seemed like that is all she cared about in the town. Plus she looked like she was completely bored at the forum. And there is no way that I want Audri to represent me on the council.
I have no idea where Daniel Hall was. As far as I am concerned he is no longer in the race.
I was impressed by Chris Clark, John Alston and Dawn Oliphant.
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| Posted: Thu Jan 28th, 2010 03:02 pm |
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52nd Post |
| Posted: Thu Jan 28th, 2010 01:43 pm |
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53rd Post |
CSI_QueenCreek
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Queen Creek candidates tackle issues
Amanda Keim, Tribune
January 27, 2010 - 11:39PM
Attracting jobs and getting through the economic downturn were two dominant topics on the minds of six Queen Creek Town Council candidates who met at the first forum of the election season Wednesday night.
Seven candidates are vying for three council seats in the March 9 primary election. Candidate Daniel Hall did not attend Wednesday’s forum, which was sponsored by the Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce. Mayoral candidate Gail Barney, who is running unopposed, was at the forum but didn’t participate.
The economy was the dominant theme that ran through most of the nearly three-hour forum, with every candidate naming it as Queen Creek’s most important issue.
Dawn Oliphant said Queen Creek needs to create and maintain infrastructure to attract new businesses to Queen Creek.
The town also needs to ensure there’s a pool of potential employees ready to be hired, and working with Rio Salado College to bring a communiversity to town and embarking on a branding campaign are two good avenues the town is already using to further that effort, she said.
“We need to create a culture and an environment where businesses are going to be knocking down our door to come here,” Oliphant said.
Chris Clark said the town needs to establish Queen Creek as a destination, creating and promoting events that will attract people to come into the town, spend money and get the town’s name out.
Queen Creek also needs to work with developers to build the infrastructure that will support new businesses, Clark said.
Queen Creek ”needs to find new and creative ways to fund infrastructure, like creating development districts,” Clark said.
John Alston also said infrastructure was important, and said Queen Creek’s sophisticated population could be a selling point to attract businesses.
Attracting more residents would ultimately increase the town’s revenue as more people spent money around Queen Creek, he said.
“We’re still growing,” Alston said. “It’s not as fast as we were growing, but it’s important that we manage that growth.”
Julia Wheatlry said attracting new residents was key to improving Queen Creek’s economic outlook.
“If we manage our growth efficiently, that is going to attract new residents, people who want to live here,” Wheatley said.
And as more people move to the area, jobs and new industries will follow, Wheatley said.
Audri Mansour said she wants to make sure the town is prepared to attract growth when the economy picks up by doing things like creating a junior scholarship program to entice Queen Creek youth to stay in the community.
“Businesses are looking for a pool of potential employees,” she said.
Mansour also suggested engaging citizens to put on some townwide events, since nonprofit groups can frequently put on events for less money than a town can.
Toni Valenzuela said attracting new industry will be important to Queen Creek’s economic future.
“We have to deal with aerospace, health, anything that brings in jobs will help the economy,” Valenzuela said.
Valenzuela said it will also be important to help the small mom-and-pop businesses around town, especially by finding ways to entice residents to shop in downtown Queen Creek instead of going to Gilbert or Mesa to shop.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/149993
Last edited on Thu Jan 28th, 2010 01:43 pm by CSI_QueenCreek
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| Posted: Thu Jan 28th, 2010 01:25 pm |
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54th Post |
azfam
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I am curious to know what others thought, but in my mind the front runners are definitely John Alston and Dawn Oliphant. They both had great answers and definitely looked the part of a council person. I plan on supporting both.
For the third spot it is a toss up between Chris Clark and Julia Wheatly. But if I had to choose today I would probably go with Clark.
I thought Toni Valenzuela and Audri Mansour were terrible! Toni wouldn't stop talking about her restaurant, it seemed like that is all she cared about in the town. Plus she looked like she was completely bored at the forum. And there is no way that I want Audri to represent me on the council.
I have no idea where Daniel Hall was. As far as I am concerned he is no longer in the race.
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| Posted: Thu Jan 28th, 2010 04:33 am |
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55th Post |
CrimeFighter
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So, for those who attended the forum, what was said and which candidates stood out, good or bad?
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| Posted: Thu Jan 28th, 2010 03:45 am |
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56th Post |
GSBill
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I was dead set against this. I must say the Queen Creek Chamber put on a good solid forum. Relative questions. Good organization. Great choice of venues. Rustyn, you did a good job. My concerns were proven to be wrong. Access to the candidates was as easy as stepping up and saying hello when the official forum was over. Nice opportunity for town voters.
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| Posted: Wed Jan 27th, 2010 09:41 pm |
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57th Post |
loli
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The East Valley Tribune is hosting a second candidate forum at town hall on Feb. 11. I believe it starts at 7 pm.
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| Posted: Wed Jan 27th, 2010 07:04 pm |
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58th Post |
UnNamed_Sources
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MuzzledinQC wrote: d**n, I can't make this tonight. Is this going to be videotaped and posted anywhere?
This one isn't going to be videotaped, I wonder if the newspapers will be there.
Jeff Brown got the Tribune to have another one at the town hall in February and it will be on TV and on the internet.
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| Posted: Wed Jan 27th, 2010 02:28 pm |
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59th Post |
MuzzledinQC
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d**n, I can't make this tonight. Is this going to be videotaped and posted anywhere?
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| Posted: Wed Jan 27th, 2010 12:36 am |
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60th Post |
CSI_QueenCreek
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Council candidates to debate Wednesday
Amanda Keim, Tribune
January 26, 2010 - 3:33PM
Queen Creek Town Council candidates will square off in their first forum Wednesday night.
Seven candidates are up for three council seats in the March 9 election. No incumbents are running. There is one candidate for mayor.
The Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce is presenting the forum from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Queen Creek Library's Zane Grey room, 21802 S. Ellsworth Road, Queen Creek.
The East Valley Tribune is also hosting a candidate forum. That forum will start at 7 p.m. Feb. 11 in Queen Creek Town Hall, 22350 S. Ellsworth Road.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/149933
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