Slechta: Don't support councilmembers who don't support progress

Skillicorn, Friedel, Toth. It seems every time there is an opportunity to move our town forward, these three vote in lock step a big “no.”

I understand that if we are talking big-ticket items, like the roads, they may be cautious and reluctant to voice a need to invest. They seem to prefer that everything is free. Don’t we all? They don't recall – or understand, apparently – the “pay me now or pay me later” Fram motto that means a lot to some of us.

But why would they vote no on a project paid for through a grant and serves to identify a potential profitable service that would bring customers to the Shea Target area? It’s a freebie! It went down on a 3-3 tie. Guess who voted no? Yes, Skillicorn, Friedel and Toth. Seems like the only reasons could be that they don’t want progress or they just want to attack others on the council for political revenge. Or both. I believe both.

These are the same council members who have shown that they don’t care if Target leaves. They voted no on the Target redevelopment project. They voted not to support the town attorney in the lawsuit by ROT, whose goal, I would suggest, was to derail the Target development. Fortunately, it survived on a 4-3 vote and the lawsuit by ROT failed, no thanks to these councilmembers.

These dark efforts are why we must vote for Dickey, McMahon and Corey. Other council candidates running mirror the poor choices of Skillicorn, Friedel and Toth. Don’t be fooled. We already know Friedel is against progress in our town. And council members voting down free opportunities should not be trusted.

Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.