Grady: Why I disagreed with changing Pinal County open space, trails commission name

A candidate is detrimental to our community.

We, as citizens, should challenge our elected representatives, when we disagree and when we see something detrimental to our freedom, to our community or to our country.

I did just that when Supervisor Serdy unilaterally changed the name of the Open Space and Trails Commission to “Parks.” I was on the OS&T commission when Serdy ordered the change, he asked me about it, I advised he not change the name, he didn’t listen, he said that “Parks” is more indicative of his vision for Pinal. In the October Commission meeting all 10 commissioners voted to censure Supervisor Serdy and the other four Supervisors for this ill advised change.

We wrote in our censure letter:

“Our commission, which represents the voice of the community in matters related to recreational opportunities within the county, finds this decision disheartening and contrary to the principles we uphold.”

“The process leading to this decision has left us feeling disrespected and undervalued.”

“A primary focus of the (OS&T) department is the conservation of open space, a vital resource for our community’s well-being, environmental sustainability, and a driver of tourism in and of itself. The new name does not highlight this crucial aspect of our mission.”

“The term “park” often evokes images of small, neighborhood spaces, which do not align with the regional parks, trails and open spaces managed by the department.”

Serdy’s response, vengeance. Two weeks after that censure I was removed from the commission, no warning, no idea why. In a letter, Serdy stated my idea of OS&T did not match his. I’m happy about that, why shouldn’t I oppose his idea? His vision as his new campaign promises have been stated: more solar farms, more freeways, and no idea how to protect our open spaces from foreign investment, over development, and federal and state greed.

Like a good citizen, I didn’t take it sitting down, I enlisted my fellow past commissioners to petition for the name to be restored, and restored it has been. Officially, the name is now Open Space, Trails and Regional Parks, restoring the vision and the wishes of the Pinal County citizens, to remain rural, to protect and preserve the beauty we enjoy and to honor the Pinal County Master Plan.

I commend my fellow commissioners for sticking to their guns and turning this detrimental behavior to our favor, to protect our open spaces, congratulations. As for me, I have served on the Friends of Lost Dutchman State Park Board of Directors for 14 years, raised thousands of dollars to help the park and avoid closure. We just bought Lost Dutchman State Park a $15,000 vehicle with hard-earned money because we believe in supporting our open spaces and public areas that we all have fought hard for and to keep.

I will continue to fight for our open spaces, my integrity is intact despite the vicious name calling and accusations by Serdy, not a good look for an elected servant. Think when you vote; Serdy is not the guy we want in office. He does not listen — a sign of a dictator — and he cannot take opposition a sign of weakness.