Desert Messenger

12 www.DesertMessenger.com June 17, 2020 SEE CANDIDATES PAGE 13 STARR BEARCAT 2. Seeking re-election to 4-year Quartzsite Council Member position. 3.https://www.facebook.com/ CouncilMemberStarrBearCat 4. As a former La Paz County Con- stable and serving on the Quartzsite Council for the past 4 years, I have extensive training and education in Arizona Open Meeting Law and Best Practices in governing. I also served on the Town of Quartzsite's Planning & Zoning Commission and Municipal Utilities Administrative Committee. I also serve on Western Arizona Council of Governments (WACOG) La Paz County Advisory Council. Attending La Paz Coalition to End Homelessness meetings for the past year, I've advocated for our local homeless population. 5. Over the past 12 years, I been attending and video recording most community events and council meetings. I have received extended education on Open Meeting Law and government best practices. I am Not afraid to ask the Hard Ques- tions and listen for the answers for the solutions. 6. As for the issues that are within the Towns jurisdiction: Affordable housing, jobs, healthy living, and to create a community that is inviting for businesses and visitors to want to come to Quartzsite. It is important to bring Quartzsite into the 21st Century with technology for the entire Com- munity. With modern technology, there's more opportunity for jobs, ed- ucation, health care, new businesses and investments in our Community. With proper planning, we can keep the flavor that benefits the people who make up this unique Community. 7. I will continue to ask the Hard questions and listen to the people for solutions to benefit the majority of the Community in the best way possible. I will uphold my oath, and uphold the Constitution to the best of my ability. The Constitution does apply to everyone, not just the few that use it for a battering ram. BEVERLY CUNNINGHAM Hello, my name is Beverly Cun- ningham and I am running for Coun- cil Member for the next 4 years. Last June the Council appointed me to the Council to fill a vacancy. It has been a privilege and a blessing to be able to work with the Mayor, Town Manager and Council Members in helping our community to grow and become a great community. I have lived in La Paz County since 1981 and lived here in Quartzsite for the last 13 years. My husband and I have worked as managers for the LaMirage RV Park and own our home. I have worked as Business Manager for the Quartzsite Elemen- tary School District for 8 years and Town of Quartzsite as Finance Clerk for 2 years. Both positions gave me the knowledge of Government Fund Accounting and Budgets. I most re- cently worked as Office Manager for Q-Mountain VISTA until I retired this last April. Due to working since I have lived here; I have not done as much vol- unteer work and activities as I would have liked. But I have volunteered at the Quartzsite Chamber of Com- merce and just last week helped at the Food Bank and Carol Closet, which I plan on continuing. Over the years, I have served on the Town of Quartzsite's Health and Develop- ment Services Board, Personnel Ad- visory Board, Public Safety Person- nel Retirement System Board, and Municipal Property Corporation. Some of the issues I see that our town is faced with is better school for our children, affordable hous- ing, and economic development to bring more businesses. If elected I hope to help with these issues. I hope to help our elderly with better resources, such as an assisted living facility, and more health care. I love Quartzsite and our community and hope that you allow me the oppor- tunity to continue to serve as your Council Member. AMBER MYERS Write-in candidate for Mayor Facebook, Myers for Mayor or email me with question at myersformayor2021@gmail.com As a wife, a mom of four, and a resident of Quartzsite for four years, I am a proud American who's very active in our local VFW. I am currently the Auxiliary Sr. V.P. two years running. I have organized many events at our post, such as, Family Freedom Festivals, Fall Events and our Garden Party, with a lot of help from our members. I am a member of our Borderline Riders (former Freedom Rider Sec- retary) who proudly supports this community with our Toy Run every Christmas and Back to School run for our children and teachers. I am a proud supporter of St. Jude and all the work they do. When I moved to Quartzsite, I realized all the opportunities this town has to offer, and some they had passed up. I want more for this com- munity and its people, our neigh- bors, our friends, my children and yours. A stronger community, where your voice matters. My goal is to help us grow. To get more businesses that will help our community. Movie cin- ema and waterpark (splash pad) for the kids. I do want to mention our taxes; we are one of the highest in Arizona despite having a lower population. According to www.sales-tax.com lo- cal towns with three times our pop- ulation have half the sales taxes we do. It's time to look into it. I want more for us as a communi- ty. I will be involved in our commu- nity, our businesses, and travelers because it's important to know how they feel and what they think. Go Vote, let your voices be heard. SAM SAXTON Write-in 4 year membership seat h t t p s : / / w w w . f a c e b o o k . c o m / SamSaxtonforTownCouncil/ 4. Being raised in a small town I have seen firsthand the demise of a community where the leaders had little, to no, foresight or ambition. In my adult life I have studied small town victories and losses. This has given me a very wide spectrum of knowledge to be able to grow a com- munity to its full potential. I am a business owner and operator. I have been in management positions since I was 16, guiding and leading people 3 times my age. This has given me the ability to see a problem and solve it with innovating thinking. It has giv- en me leadership skills that are im- perative when a community looks for guidance. I am a huge proponent of community development and keep- ing the essential things essential. I believe, and have witnessed, towns much like Quartzsite keep the small town feel… but also have a boom- ing economy…proving the ability to "have your cake and eating it too" …can be a reality. I have been a chil- dren's Pastor and dedicated most of my adult life to helping children and teens to become successful adults, an area that needs drastic improvement in our town. I have spent countless hours raising money for children that are less fortunate, giving them opportunities to experience things they never imagined and go places that they never thought possible. 5. I am currently a volunteer di- rector of children's ministry at Quartzsite Southern Baptist Church. We have raised many thousands of dollars for the kids in our commu- nity, giving them opportunities they would have never had. I have volun- teered my singing services around the community at various events. Currently I volunteer my time and fuel to deliver food to children in the community who are less fortunate, making sure they have proper care and essentials. 6. Currently our community is at a pivotal point. We are at a place where we have retirees coming in businesses that have been around for 40 plus years closing. Our com- munity seems to be emaciated and our young families are struggling day in and day out to provide for their families to put food on the table, securing jobs with health care benefits… things that they should be able to do, but they cannot do because the town has neglected and constricted the ability to bring in career jobs. I would propose that we reach out to corporations who provide benefits for all of their employ- ees to come and establish roots in Quartzsite, so that our townspeople can achieve the pursuit of life, lib- erty, and happiness. Our small town government and county governments continued to over reach their restrictions on private property owners. This will continue to cause ripples and waves unrest throughout our community. I would propose that our town gov- ernment and county government pull back the reins on their over- reach of ordinances and stipulations so that private property owners can decide what they want to do on their own land that they pay taxes on. 7. I believe it would be my job and it would be my dedication to listen to our community. It would be my re- sponsibility as a Councilman to lis- CANDIDATES FROM PAGE 11

• Cover