Patricia Moore
At our Sept. 4 meeting our three speakers imparted valuable information.
Supervisor Debbie Lesko explained the role of the Board of Supervisors (BOS). The Elections Department falls under the BOS, with some grey areas. They do pre-tabulation ballot processing by hand counting a percentage of ballots and they also handle in–person voting. The BOS is also fighting in court to remove the federal monitor from ruling over the Maricopa Sheriff’s Department. The monitor has scheduled a meeting that our supervisors will attend on Oct. 21 or 23. We’ll see what happens.
She then explained the issue with the BNSF Railway. The federal government has the rights to the land in Wittman on which the intermodal system will be built. Our state does not have a say. What we do have a say in is the Logistics Park, which proposes to install a 60-90’ tall distribution center that could bring 22,000 trucks and cars per day going in and out of the project onto Grand Avenue in Surprise. It could also impact highway 303 with a massive number of trucks clogging the lanes moving toward Goodyear and beyond. This project does need zoning approval and so we must make our voices heard. BNSF has 5,000 letters of support but most of these people are not in our area. We need to send Supervisor Lesko an email saying we are against this project. Send her your name and address and ask her to vote NO on this. Her address is District4@maricopa.gov.
Arizona Speaker of the House Steve Montenegro spoke about their Majority Agenda. It has three pillars: Preserving the American Dream, Promoting Public Safety, and Protecting Individual Rights. Fentanyl deaths in Arizona are a top concern, yet Governor Hobbs vetoed a bill to designate the cartels terrorist organizations. Now the Republicans have sent this to the voters. It will be a ballot initiative on the 2026 election ballot.
Congressman Paul Gosar reminded us how important our elections are in order to keep the America First agenda on track. He highlighted the need to reform the SNAP program. While the Republicans work toward breaks for middle income families, Medicaid continues to swell. He explained that Arizona is a powerhouse for minerals. Two copper mines will be opening as well as cobalt and manganese mines. He told us why our gas prices are so high. It is because we have no refineries in Arizona. We have to get our gas from California. Gosar is working with President Trump to correct that. In the meantime the congressman is brainstorming ways to pipe gas to Arizona from Texas via El Paso.