Dear Editor,
Kingman’s “election season “ is heating up the city to take the chill off our collars in our mild winter. While the season may be agreeing with us, the political climate is frigid and raw. As I recall, when I first began communication with the Kingman public a few years ago, one of my first publications was on Water Sustainability. I was addressing at that time the same issues, only now worse, that are at the forefront of concern for the people of Kingman.
Agreed, there are many points of view, but as far as Kingman and the election of the city council, the first thing you must read is the General Plan that was passed suspiciously at the last election. (On that, I followed the vote up to midnight, and the 114-page General Plan, which few read, had not passed. The next morning, it passed by a fraction of a percent. A formal request for recount was filed using the Federal Freedom of Information Act and the AZ Records Request Act, and it was not only denied, but it was also ignored by the Mohave County Elections Department.)
There are only two sides: either you are for uncontrolled growth, or you’re in favor of a more balanced growth with a viable infrastructure. For years, the incumbents have advanced all the planning and zoning changes to usher in an urban nightmare, with small homes on small lots at a high price. This, in effect, makes landowners, home builders, and some tradespeople extremely wealthy. These folks are basically “The Kingman Establishment “. Some of those families have been accused of secretly blocking competition, in keeping with Kingman tradition since 1882.
Historically, and simply said it is the Kingman common man who pays the consequences. I could go into detail about the serious problems with the infrastructure, but merely saying building a new house on a broken, cracked, and leaking foundation is foolhardy, also ignoring the obvious appearance of Special Interest manipulation. The city has spent millions that were set aside to specifically maintain the current infrastructure on pet projects and tourism that promote this uncontrolled and irresponsible growth. In my opinion, our City Council is good at keeping secrets and framing issues that support this abuse, while they plead transparency.
Kingman needs a fresh new city council, people with no strings and no businesses that present, or the appearance of conflict of interest. The people need a council that will at least balance the growth, change the current spending priorities, and begin really serving the best interests of the people who voted for them.
I see the Airport being much like the “Land” port. It will become part of the city. There are a few hundred acres that come with the Airport; these acres must be used for Industry not another housing subdivision.
I am pleased to see all striving to learn more about these IMPORTANT issues. I suggest that you go to the city page and read the 114-page General Plan,
especially the general info. When you look at the city’s spending patterns, this plan has even been used to supersede a city council vote.
As a City Council candidate, my focus would be broad and centered on your quality of life. We must bring more medical providers to Kingman and many youth activities. Senior services are crucial, as are the needs of the average working family. Kingman needs more citizen review teams, more opportunities for the people to vote, more transparency, no strings, and no secrets.
Elliot Chalew
Candidate for City Council
