expansion possible. “The Town of Marana’s dedication to keep Sargent here and help us expand has been vital,” he said. Before becoming the first at the Marana event to hop into the F-35 cockpit simulator, Honea, a U.S. Navy veteran, said Sargent not only “creates wealth in the region that passes through our school districts, our fire districts and the town, but it also brings our friends and neighbors here and gives them a place to work doing something that is really of benefit to our community.” Honea said it is important that Southern Arizonans support the F-35 and the aircraft’s deployment to TIA. “Bringing the F-35 here is important because it would create jobs and put wealth in our community,’’ he said. Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild and the Tucson City Council have yet to take a position on the issue – which is a sore spot among Tucson business leaders backing the F-35 at TIA. “Our country, our city and Tucson International Airport all need the F-35 and the 162nd Fighter Wing,” said Bill Valenzuela, owner of W.G. Valenzuela Drywall and the state chairman emeritus for the National Committee of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. “Takeoffs and landings by the 162nd Fighter Wing are included with local commercial air traffic at TIA in determining the amount of funds allocated by the federal government for airport improvements,’’ he said. Varney said that if the F-35 is deployed for flight training by the 162nd Fighter Wing, it would result in an infusion of more than $175 million in federal construction dollars at TIA to make improvements in preparation for F-35 flights. He said that would create 1,800 to 2,100 new jobs. Despite vociferous opposition to the F-35 at three public hearings regarding the possible deployment of the aircraft in Tucson, both Valenzuela and Varney maintain the vast majority of Tucsonans support the F-35 and the aircraft’s deployment at TIA. Varney said that if sentiments at the three public meetings are any indication, “there is widespread community support for the F-35, including (among) residents currently living or working in the flight paths at TIA.”
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