July 31, 2022 | www.santansun.com
Relentlessly local coverage of Southern Chandler
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
City Council races head to the finish line BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor
Ruth Jones’ bid to upset incumbent Mayor Kevin Hartke in Tuesday’s election is a true underdog affair while the race to fill three other seats on City Council pits an incumbent against four challengers. Hartke, after serving two terms on Council and one term as mayor, has name recognition. He also has a huge advantage in campaign finance funds. And he’s the incumbent. Those three
advantages usually lead to victories. However, not always. There have been a handful of cases where a scrappy underdog has been able to pull off the upset, said his challenger. “Don’t count me out,” Jones said after second quarter campaign finance reports were filed through July 16th. Hartke raised only $17,226 in the second quarter of this year, but entered that period with nearly $229,000 in the bank, according to his most recent financial statement. He spent about $28,600
from April 1 through July 16, giving him more than $216,000 going into the final weeks of the primary campaign. Jones raised the least amount of any of the seven candidates on the ballot who are running for a spot on the Council. She reported raising about $8,900 and headed into the final days of the campaign with a balance of $216. “It’s not about the money, it’s never been about that,” Jones said. “The reason why I’m going to win is I’ve gone out and talked to the people who live
here. I’ve listened, and because I’ve done that, they know I care.” In the other council races, incumbent Matt Orlando is seeking a second term while members Rene Lopez and Terry Roe are termed out. Lopez is one of six Republicans seeking the nomination in Congressional District 4 to run against incumbent Greg Stanton. Roe is one of the two Republican candidates for the state House in LD12, which covSee
ELECTION on page 16
Mega development planned for Pecos-Arizona corner BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor
With the City of Chandler nearing buildout, meaning the amount of open space left to develop on is dwindling, the southwest corner of Arizona Avenue and Pecos Road stands out. It comprises nearly 50 acres of open space close to the heart of downtown and sitting just off the Loop 202 freeway, making it perhaps the most desirable open space left to develop in Chandler. And for years it has been empty land.
That could be changing soon. An application has been submitted to the city Development Services Department for a multi-use development that will include a hotel, office and retail space and multi-family housing. Called the Downtown District, the project “is designed as a high-quality mixed-use development that will create vital employment, retail and housing opportunities at the gateway to Downtown Chandler,” wrote Brennan Ray of Burch & Cracchiolo on behalf of developer Meridian West.
This is only an application. It has to go through staff review, neighborhood meetings, the Planning and Zoning Commission, and finally City Council before it can become reality. It is likely the plan will change as it goes through that process. So why did the property sit undeveloped for so long with the city at 93% of buildout? “My understanding is that there were several property owners who were interested in a corner,” said city Planning Manager David de la Torre. “It wasn’t just one proper-
ty owner, it was several property owners. “My understanding is that they couldn’t agree on which way to go, and so there was one … of those partners, [who] bought out the other ones, [it took] a long time to do that. So now that particular property owner is ready to move forward, he submitted plans.” The first of two required neighborhood meetings on the property was scheduled for July 28 – after this newspaper’s deadline – at the Crown Plaza See
PECOS on page 10
Making history
Asylum seekers from border crossings near Tucson and Yuma arrived July 20 at The Grove Church in Chandler, where volunteers help get them food, showers, fresh clothing and help with the next steps in getting to their sponsors around the country. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)
Chandler church extends helping hand to refugees BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor
For some refugees coming to the United States for a better life, a Chandler church is one of the first steps on that journey. The Grove, 2777 S. Gilbert Road, is one of five East Valley churches that host a welcome center for refugees seeking asylum. It is their first stop after turning themselves in at the Southern border and spending time in detention
centers. “We give them welcome, because they don’t know where they’re going, and they’re scared,” said Magdalena Schwartz, pastor of Vineyard Church in Gilbert. The refugees are not in this country illegally. Because they have asked for asylum, they are free to move about in America pending the outcome of a hearing on their request. See
REFUGEES on page 14
Elaine Woods of Chandler is beaming with a sense of pride and accomplishment after the city designated the neighborhood of Southside Village the city’s first historic conservation district. Read what she did on page 4. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)
F E AT U R E D STO R I E S Residents balk at city housing plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . .News . . . . . . . . . . .Page 3 Chandler eatery devoted to avocados . . . . . . . . . . .Business. . . . . . . Page 25 High school sports on live TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sports . . . . . . . . . Page 31 Chandler kids in big musical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .GETOUT . . . . . . . Page 34
More Business . . . . . . . 25 Neighbors . . . . . 28 Sports . . . . . . . . . .31 Faith . . . . . . . . . . 33 GetOut. . . . . . . . 34 Directory . . . . . . 37
