Dear Editor,
“Let’s Make A Deal” is a TV game show that originated in the United States in 1963 and has since been produced in many countries throughout the world. Best remembered is celebrity host Monty Hall, who hosted the show in the U.S. for 30 years.
“Let’s Make A Deal” involves selected members of the studio audience, referred to as “traders”, making deals with the host. In most cases, a trader will be offered something of value and given a choice of whether to keep it or exchange it for a different item. The catch is that the trader does not know if they are getting something of equal or greater value or a prize that is referred to as a “zonk”, an item purposely chosen to be of little or no value to the trader. Each choice was nothing less than a probability puzzle.
As I have often written, I see Mohave County and especially Kingman City Leaders managing the city and the good people of Kingman like Game Show Hosts. In real life, it is not a game. The city council might as well be saying to the people, Let’s Make a Deal. At the same time, we have all become aware they have no intention of clearly telling us what that deal is. If you don’t believe me, read the 114-page Kingman General Plan. Behind Door #1, we have uncontrolled urban development on a broken infrastructure and the delusion of Economic Development. Behind Door #2, we have county and city officials enamored with a select group of business stakeholders, and Behind Door #3, we, the people, are subjected to ever-rising costs for water, sewer, trash, housing, and electricity, along with the notice that our taxes will be rising also.
This brings me to yet another iconic TV game show, the 1955 puzzler called “What’s My Line?”, where celebrity contestants must guess the occupation of a specific guest by asking yes or no questions. It would seem we have come to a time here in Kingman where the people can no longer GUESS who the real city council people are from the imposters.
Nostalgic TV shows are fantastic, but in real life, the one show that defines the problems of the Kingman conundrum was the 1956 production of “To Tell The Truth”, with Bud Collyer. Trying to determine who is telling the truth in Kingman politics does not have to be a game.
In the last few years, I have studied Kingman, its people, and its politics. I have been taking notes, not watching TV. There are many solutions to the issues we face in the city of Kingman and Mohave County.
With 2026 being an election year, we, the people, must be extremely proactive so we do not have to play “What’s My Line” and guess who is representing us as Mayor or Councilman. We are only asking new candidates “To Tell the Truth”; no more incumbents who have misled us.
Lastly, let’s “make a deal” between each other as citizens who care about the quality of life here in Kingman. We can insist that the voice of the people be heard by resolving to vote out the games and vote in the truth. In 2026, the people of Kingman will no longer get “zonked”.
Please join my growing group, CAUSE (Citizens Against Uncontrolled Social Environment).
Respectfully,
Elliot Chalew
chalew@gmail.com
