Building Strong Neighborhoods
I know that having a strong community and safe neighborhoods will in turn create safe and strong families, where children will thrive and grow with every possible opportunity to become great members of our society. Mesa is a great place to grow up and I want my kids to stay in Mesa and raise their families here too.
Parks that are safe and fun places for our families to spend time together, Arts and Culture for amazing learning opportunities that you can’t find otherwise, and thriving businesses where our residents can eat, shop and enjoy their time without having to ever leave Mesa, are all keys to building strong neighborhoods.
During my time on council, I have worked closely with our amazing Community Services Department to develop relationships with neighborhood leaders. Staying connected, sharing available resources, and getting neighborhoods involved are all important in order to help Mesa be a thriving community.
We also must find opportunities to encourage new development that will bring creative restaurant and commercial opportunities. We have large shopping centers which have empty storefronts that can be repurposed and reinvigorated. I will continue to work with the city’s economic development department to find ways to encourage this kind of development.
Protecting Public Safety
Mesa is the second safest big city in the country, and we must continue to invest in our Police and Fire services.
Fast response times and good police coverage are critical to making sure Mesa is a safe city for our families.
Mesa has been a nationwide leader in developing innovative ways to more efficiently provide public safety services. Our Real Time Crime Center and Mental Health Crisis Response teams are just two of many examples. I will continue to support these creative and effective solutions to some of our most difficult challenges.
Over the last few years, I have been able to see firsthand what makes our Mesa’s Fire and Police Departments so exceptional. Several years ago, Mesa voters passed a dedicated sales tax to fund additional police and fire fighters. These additional resources help keep response times low and keep up with our growing city. I will make sure that these resources are used wisely, and that our public safety personnel have the training they need to serve our citizens.
Supporting Education Opportunities
My parents were both teachers and it is important to me to support those who lead our children.
Having all six of my kids attend and graduate from Mesa Public Schools has allowed me to experience firsthand how our public education system prepares our children for future success. I am a strong supporter of public schools and I believe in a quality education for every child in Mesa.
I currently chair Mesa’s Education and Workforce Roundtable. The city is a leader in partnering with our school districts and universities and business community to provide the best learning environments, encourage post-secondary education as well as provide diverse career paths. I am proud of our Community Literacy Initiative that was created by the Roundtable in collaboration with many community partners that is helping all kids to build a strong learning foundation.
Keeping Mesa Affordable
As a small business owner and mom of six kids, I know firsthand the challenges of balancing a budget.
The City of Mesa is one of the most affordable cities in the valley - with no primary property tax, no food tax, and one of the lowest sales tax per capita.
Mesa must continue to be an affordable place to live. I will work to keep taxes and utility rates affordable for our residents. This is even more important with the increased costs of living that have affected us all.
The rise in housing costs has negatively impacted Mesa’s residents. We have a limited number of housing options and increasing the housing supply has been and will continue to be a high priority for me. I will stay committed to working with our city planners and the development community to find creative solutions to this problem.