Jean Stockton’s View
Laws Can Be Changed Through Political Representation
- Stockton emphasizes that laws are not permanent and can be rewritten when different people come into power
- Current laws reflect the influence of those currently in control over lawmakers
- Change becomes possible when new people gain political influence and can work with lawmakers to pass different legislation
- Without representation, communities remain subject to the status quo
Need for Local Government Voice and Representation
- San Tan Valley needs an incorporated town to represent the entire community’s interests
- Local representatives require a unified voice from the community to introduce relevant bills
- Without incorporation, the community lacks the political structure needed to influence lawmakers
- Maintaining the current approach will simply produce more of the same outcomes
- While more of the same might be acceptable in some cases, it becomes problematic when dealing with growing population without corresponding government services
Public Safety and Service Requirements
- The projected population of 320,000 people will need increased government services
- San Tan Valley requires proactive police patrols rather than reactive law enforcement
- The current sheriff’s office operates reactively, responding to calls after incidents occur
- A municipal police department would provide the proactive community policing that’s needed
Political Representation at Multiple Levels
- San Tan Valley needs a voice at the county level
- The community requires a voice when working with other municipalities
- State-level representation is necessary for broader policy influence
- Multiple levels of government representation are essential for effective advocacy
Economic Development and Business Incentives
- Businesses seeking to locate in the area go to incorporated municipalities first
- San Tan Valley is either ignored or placed last on developers’ lists without municipal status
- When residents express desire for businesses like sit-down restaurants, unincorporated areas can only offer customer support
- Other towns like Queen Creek can offer their own business, San Tan Valley’s business, plus an incentive
- Incorporated communities have a triple advantage: local customer base, regional customer base, and municipal incentive
- Unincorporated areas can only offer customer base, putting them at a significant competitive disadvantage
- Without incorporation, San Tan Valley loses potential restaurants and businesses to neighboring incorporated towns