Glendale’s Community Newspaper
www.glendalestar.com
Vol. 76 No. 46
Inside This Week
Voters reject $187 million in city bonds BY TOM SCANLON
Glendale Star Managing Editor
NEWS...............8 Holiday Open House coming Nov. 14
NEWS...............9 Glendale police and the case of the stolen ballots
November 12, 2020
The 2020 presidential election will be remembered for razor-thin margins. But in Glendale, voting on city measures was decidedly lopsided. Voters approved the Glendale Unified High School District request for a $130 million bond by a wide margin, with 54% approving, yet soundly rejected four city bond measures totaling $187 million. The largest of the requests was $87.2 million for a parks and recreation bond. This bond would have improved parks by updating playgrounds, restrooms and other infrastructures in need of restoration. The city also requested an $81.5 million bond for street improvements, a $9.9 million bond for landfill and a $9.3 million bond for flood control and drainage. Though city officials insisted the bonds would not raise taxes, voters did not buy
things the city asks for, voters approved Glendale’s request for a franchise agreement with EPCOR Water. It easily passed, with 56% in favor. In federal and state races, West Valley voters were kind to incumbents. Glendale voters approved a $130 school All congresbond—but rejected four city bonds. (Glendale Star photo by Pablo Robles) sional representatives from the the sales pitch. All four bonds lost, with a West Valley were reelected. range of 54% to 61%. In the 6th Congressional District, GlenLast year, Glendale voters shot down dale challenger Hiral Tipieneni—who requests for city council and mayor raises raised $5 million as Democrats hoped to by an even wider margin. “flip” the district—saw an early lead fade But, showing they are not against all SEE ELECTION PAGE 5
PUSD bond rejected, three elected to board BY OLIVIA DOW
Glendale Star Contributing Writer
YOUTH .......... 18 GUHSD dashboard shows few COVID-19 cases
OPINION..................... 10 BUSINESS...................11 SPORTS ...................... 12 FEATURES.................. 13 RELIGION ................... 16 YOUTH........................ 18 CLASSIFIEDS ............. 20
Two newly elected Peoria Unified School District board members and the reelected board president will face a financial challenge. While voters approved a PUSD budget override, they rejected PUSD’s $125 million budget request. That could mean cuts as drastic as closing schools. A competitive election season ended with the filling of three seats on the Peoria Unified school board. Nine were on the ballot for the three open board seats. According to unofficial results, Rebecca Hill, a Peoria mother who homeschools her children, was the top vote
getter, receiving 34,815 votes (15%) as of Nov. 10. David Sandoval, the board president, was reelected with 33,927 votes (14%). Though there may be some votes still to be tallied, as of the Nov. 10 count, William Sorensen will be the third member of the board elected with 32,032 votes (13%). Linda Busam came in fourth, narrowly losing the election with 31,764 votes (13%). Kirk Hobbs was next with 30,526 votes (13%), followed by Davita Solter with 22,416 (9%). Kacie Franklin received 21,263 votes (9%). CJ Williams got 17,534 votes (7%) and Devon Updegraff-Day received 15,182 votes (6%).
Sorensen is a former PUSD teacher and principal at Centennial High School and current assistant principal of La Joya Community High School in the Tolleson Union High School District. He said the district and the board will need to look into sites around the district. “As far as the bond goes, we are going to have to repurpose some sites,” Sorensen said. “And that’s just reality. “There are some elementary schools that are just dying.” Thinking about closing schools “breaks my heart” Sorensen said. He said he is worried about what state funding will look like next year because of COVID-19 and SEE PUSD PAGE 3