••
THE NEWSPAPER OF AVONDALE, BUCKEYE, GOODYEAR, LITCHFIELD PARK & TOLLESON ho ol Back To Sc Section Inside westvalleyview.com
INSIDE
This Week
NEWS .............. 7 Litchfield Park candidates square off for primary
NEWS ........... 13 Lesko, challengers look for primary votes
Culver’s is coming PAGE
Buckeye candidates explain priorities
BY TOM SCANLON
West Valley View Managing Editor
On Aug. 4, Buckeye will elect a mayor and council districts 1, 2 and 3. All three current representatives—Tony Youngker, Jeanine Guy and Michelle Hess— will be on the ballot. Eric Orsborn resigned from his council position to run for mayor. He is the lone candidate for mayor. Tedy Burton submitted enough signatures to make the ballot and challenge Youngker in District 1. The West Valley View emailed questions to the Buckeye candidates. Three responded:
OPINION ...............18 BUSINESS.............. 20 FEATURES ..............22 YOUTH ..................24 OBITUARIES ...........24 CLASSIFIEDS ..........27 WEST
JEANINE GUY
MICHELLE HESS
Please briefly describe your background including any relevant education and work history.
have watched the city grow. I started working for the city in 1992 as library director. As the city grew, I became community services director, assistant city manager and city manager. I retired in 2010.
Jeanine Guy
Michelle Hess
I have lived in the city of Buckeye for 40 years. This is where I raised my family and
As a resident of Buckeye for over 10 years, our family has dedicated themselves to serv-
TEDY BURTON
ing people, because people are the priority. I have served on the Buckeye City Council since 2012, as representative of the council’s District 3 residents. I am a summa cum laude graduate of Grand Canyon University with a liberal arts degree in theology and received my master’s
Buckeye...continued on page 2
Hughes ‘debacle’ investigation released
West Valley View Managing Editor
“Empire” actor arrested in Goodyear for DV
July 22, 2020
The Voice of the West Valley for 35 years
BY TOM SCANLON
NEWS ........... 16
19
Six months after the investigation was completed, the city of Goodyear provided a copy of the investigation of former Deputy Police Chief Justin Hughes. The investigation found Hughes turned a minor matter into a “debacle”—and violated department policy, turning the issue of undercover officers using unauthorized license plates into something that “went beyond the realm of reasonableness.” After a complaint was filed against Hughes, the city placed him on paid suspension in October. On Jan. 8, the report by investigators Susan Segal and Donald Conrad was delivered to the city of Goodyear. The city refused
to provide a copy to the West Valley View, stating Hughes was on personal leave. Hughes applied for short-term disability and disability retirement. On June 25, his disability claim for the period between Jan. 11 and July 11 was approved. After learning Hughes retired from the city July 10, the West Valley View again asked for the report. It was provided July 14. According to the report, “This investigation was conducted to determine the veracity of four allegations of possible misconduct by Hughes. Those allegations of misconduct include the following: 1. Dispatching a Neighborhood Enforcement Team to locate his wife. 2. Using the resources of the city of Goodyear improperly. 3. Hughes’ interactions and conduct
in connection with the alleged conduct of civilian employee Susan Petty and Goodyear Police Officer Kyle Cluff. 4. Placing his personal interests ahead of the best interest of the city and the Goodyear Police Department.” On Oct. 1, a Goodyear officer pulled over a NET van using an unauthorized license plate. The matter was discussed at a meeting Oct. 2. “The officers found this to be amusing that we pulled over our own officer,” Lt. Scott Benson stated in a memo to Hughes. According to an Oct. 3 memo Hughes wrote to Sgt. Justin Bayer of the Professional Standards Unit, Hughes said he was
Hughes...continued on page 4