Local Representation and Proximity to Government
- County government currently has only one representative (Goodman) who actually lives in San Tan Valley
- The other four county board members, who live outside the area and rely on secondhand information from Goodman’s office and staff, sometimes still don’t get it right on votes
- City council members would be peers and neighbors of residents, elected directly by the community
- Incorporation would bring government closer to the people, giving residents more control over local decisions
Constitutional Principles and Government Philosophy
- Goodman believes the founding fathers intended for government to be close to the people rather than distant
- Current federal and state governments have become too removed from citizens
- Local municipal government would restore the proper relationship between government and the governed
Johnson Utilities Crisis as Example
- Residents were living in third-world conditions during the Johnson Utilities crisis
- Problems included water shortages, communities without water, schools forced to close due to inadequate water supply
- High nitrate levels in wells posed health dangers
- Raw sewage surfaced in residential neighborhoods, including upscale areas
- Fire hydrants were not adequately charged and some had no water in them, contributing to unsafe conditions for a population of over 100,000 people
Limitations of County Authority
- County had to go through the state Corporation Commission to address utility problems
- Process required convincing other board members and state commissioners who were unfamiliar with local conditions
- Corporation Commissioners only understood the severity after visiting the area in person
- County succeeded through the Corporation Commission after community members came forward to share their stories without fear of retaliation by Johnson Utilities
Municipal Powers and Advantages
- Municipalities have more power than counties in addressing utility issues
- An incorporated city would not have needed to go through the Corporation Commission and could have made decisions themselves to push for changes more directly
- Local government likely would have addressed infrastructure and utility problems much earlier
- Municipal authority allows for faster, more direct action on behalf of residents
Infrastructure and Economic Development Motivations
- Goodman initially ran for office due to deficiencies in roads and infrastructure
- Lack of adequate business development in the area was another concern
- Johnson Utilities became a priority issue after taking office when problems escalated