RELENTLESSLY LOCAL COVERAGE OF GILBERT AND OUR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES
Over $90M for Gilbert's Classes of 2018 PAGE 16-17
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
INSIDE
This Week
NEWS .......................... 8 The Hale Theater is embarking on an ambitious renovation, expansion.
COMMUNITY ....... 33 Town's top-flight fleet manager has seen it all as Gilbert grew up.
BUSINESS ..............40 Gilbert rents are the highest in the region, study shows.
COMMUNITY.............. 24 BUSINESS ...................40 OPINION .....................48 SPORTS .......................50 FAITH .......................... 53 GETOUT ...................... 54 CLASSIFIED ................ 58
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G NoSun ilb w N ert W ew ee s kl y Sunday, June 3, 2018
Gilbert’s primary election ballot: a full plate of choices BY GARY NELSON GSN Contributor
E
lection 2018 officially began last week – and it will be doozy for Gilbert voters. Just as the field of candidates for statewide office in the Aug. 28 primary election poses an array of choices for both Democrats and Republicans, the municipal and State House primary ballots also offer contests for Gilbert voters to resolve. May 30 was the deadline for candidates to file for the August ballot. The only elections where Gilbert voters won’t get to weigh in on until November involve a few state Senate races. Two Republicans are facing off in District 12, which
covers most of the town. In LD 17, which covers a slice of Gilbert, only one Democrat and one Republican have filed. For Gilbert Town Council, seven candidates – including three incumbents – are vying for four seats. To win outright in August, a candidate would have to exceed a certain percentage of the total vote. Gilbert Town Council members are elected at large and serve four-year terms with no term limits. Seats held by Eddie Cook, Victor Petersen, Brigitte Peterson and Jordan Ray are up for election this year. The candidates: James Candland, who served seven months on the Town Council after being appointed to a vacant seat in 2016. Smallbusiness owner, endorsed by numerous
conservative political figures. Website: votejamescandland.com. Eddie Cook, first elected to council 2011. Active in Republican politics, has focused on long-range planning as council member. Has worked for numerous high-tech corporations. Website: VoteEddieCook.com Jason Cvancara, former vice chairman of the Gilbert Human Relations Commission with a law-enforcement background. Website stresses public safety, low taxes and “family and faith” as key campaign issues. Website: jdcaz.com. Barbara Guy, who presents a long resume of involvement in community and professional groups. Website: bguyfortowncouncil.com. see ELECTION page 5
Gilbert, Higley teachers Digging in for the future getting raises next year BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY GSN Managing Editor
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eachers and other public school staff in Gilbert are in line for significant raises next school year. The governing boards for both Higley Unified School District and Gilbert Public Schools approved salary increases as a result of the education funding increases approved by the Arizona Legislature and Governor Doug Ducey last month. The GPS board approved a 9 percent increase in teacher salaries for the 2018-2019 school year. The plan also includes a five percent raise for administrators, support staff and other professionals, including nurses, social workers, psychologists and speech pathologists. The board considered five plans in total — including one that would have given teachers a 10 percent raise and all other staff a see TEACHERS page 26
(Kimberly Carrillo/GSN Staff Photographer.)
Mayor Jenn Daniels and a group of kids helped turn the first shovels full of dirt at the groundbreaking for the mammoth regional park in south Gilbert last week. Once it's completed, it will be the town's largest park. Town officials haven't been abl to agree on its name, but that won't stop construction. Details: page 4.