New PebbleCreek Democratic Club officers (left to right): Chuck Veltri, vice president; George Peterson-Karlan, treasurer; Becky Rodes, member-at-large; and John Moore, president (not pictured, Vicki Barber, secretary)
Alisa Moore
As part of their very full Jan. 5 meeting agenda, members of the PebbleCreek Democratic Club elected new officers, honored longtime PebbleCreek resident and city of Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord, and received an update on all the current and anticipated activities at the city of Goodyear from Lori Gray, Goodyear director of economic development.
The membership re-elected John Moore as president and Chuck Veltri as vice president and welcomed new officers George Peterson-Karlan, treasurer; Vicki Barber, secretary; and Becky Rodes as member-at-large for the 2022 year.
President Moore told the membership about the passing of Mayor Lord in December, noting her long history on the council and her commitment to enhancing the growth, beauty, and economic expansion of Goodyear. Among the guests welcomed at the meeting were Joe Pizzillo, Goodyear mayor; Brannon Hampton, Goodyear vice mayor; and Wally Campbell, city councilmember. Councilmember Campbell invited everyone to the remembrance event honoring the late mayor to be held Friday, Jan. 21, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the new City Hall grassy area. Additional parking will be available at the Harkins Theatre.
Lori Gray joined us for the first time since the pandemic hit and shared information and statistics on the newest corporations and companies, retail sites and restaurants, housing developments, educational options, and governmental construction projects to come to Goodyear recently. The job growth is spectacular—2,500 jobs already created in 2022 and 7,100 created from 2019 through 2021, mostly during the pandemic! Homes in Goodyear have increased in value, and there has been lots of growth in housing options, what Lori called “from first to forever homes.” New companies include Shooter’s World and the expansions of Anderson Windows and of Franklin Pierce University, which is adding a physician’s assistant program. With Goodyear estimated to have reached 101,000 in population last year, it was surprising to learn that 99% of its businesses are considered small businesses, which is why the city offers small business programs, builder meetings, and other support for innovative and entrepreneurial economic development. She also detailed the opening of two new fire stations, the Recreation Campus, and the development of Civic Square, where City Hall will be relocating, and which will also boast 100,000 square feet of Class A office space, retail and restaurant space, a two-acre park, and a parking garage. There is a lot going on in Goodyear!
A dozen new members joined the club at the meeting, which continues its unprecedented growth. Meetings are open to anyone—registered Democrat or not. The next meeting is Feb. 2 at the Tuscany Falls Ballroom. The social hour starts at 6 p.m. and the meeting at 7 p.m. For more information on the club, visit pcdemclub.org. We have lots going on and look forward to welcoming new folks!