David Morales

Details

Party: Republican

Occupation and employer: Retired copper miner

Education: Bachelor's degree in public management and policy from the University of Arizona

Political experience: Marana Town Council, 1987-1991, Chairman of Marana Volunteer Fire Department, Vice President Pima County Junior Soccer League, President of Marana Friendship League (baseball), Republican precinct committeeman, 1988-2002, state committeeman, 1988-2002, Chairman of District 11, 1990-2000, precinct committeeman 2012-present, state committeeman 2012-present.

Military experience: US Army, November 29-1969-January 19-1972, Rank E-5, Flight Engineer UH-1H helicopter, Vietnam 19 months, over 1500 combat hours flown, earned three rows of ribbons.

How would you use your position on the council to help businesses create jobs in your town? By ending lawsuits with Pima County, and giving back the Luckett Sewer Treatment Plant to Pima County and ending the hegemony Pima County exerts over the Town of Marana. The fighting must stop!

I-10 is a gold mine for Marana but the current council does not see it. The town needs to develop a Business Loop starting on the west side of I-10 at Twin Peaks Road, south to Ina then east to Thornydale, south to Orange Grove then west to the freeway. This will give the town additional sales tax monies which can be used to recruit new business to Marana. Success draws on success. There is no magic wand for creating jobs by government, the private sector creates jobs. The jobs created will require skilled business persons.

What is your strategy for smart growth in your town? Smart growth is a new concept in America and is only about two decades old. Marana is three and a half decades old. The three pillars of smart growth are involving citizens, investing in the environment wisely, and identifying and expanding available capital.

Marana has many transients who do not consider Marana their home. Marana reached its current growth between 2000 and 2007, followed almost immediately by the crash of 2008 - the worst since that of 1929. New construction is securing slowly as it is nationally.

Many in Marana think of our Town as just the center of the village. Even though Dove Mountain, Continental Ranch and Northern Marana are miles apart, they are all part of the Town. Divided by I-10 freeway and surrounded by hills with the north flowing Santa Cruz River and enclosing many acres of open spaces. All of these natural features can be even further enhanced and enjoyed by all.

Only 17% of land in Arizona is taxable while in Pima County only 11% of land is taxable; so taxes are very high for these reasons causing the tax levels on these small areas to be greater than they should be.

In 1988, Marana created the General Plan which contains many Specific Plans within it. What we need to do is to follow the general plan to the letter because it has smart growth written all over it.

What is the most important issue facing your town? Micro-management is not the responsibility of the Council, poorly thought decisions which results in wasteful spending of tax payer money on frivolous lawsuits, and the lack of transparency as the current town council resists open discussions of public concerns and makes critical decisions without the full knowledge of the Marana taxpayers. It doesn’t make sense for the Town to claim the Luckett Waste Water Treatment Plant which Pima County was managing with benefit for the Town. Pima County was returning 100% of the effluent to Marana as well as 90% of the effluent from the Ina Road Treatment Plant. We need to have a "metro government," a concept I am afraid this current council does not understand.