Gilbert Mayoral Candidate Dave Petersen

Dear Sir,

Having received your telephone elicitation numerous times over the past week, I decided to look into your suggestion to view your campaign videos.
Having done so, I believe this campaign approach to be unique and an effective means to your election bid.

To further my efforts of being an informed voter I request to ask questions in order to ascertain the best person for the position.

"Thanks you for taking the time to become informed."


I'm curious as to your selection process regarding being identified as Mayor Dave in your ad campaign.
Typically, that privilege is afforded to the incumbent, therefore it occurs to me your intent possibly is to mislead the voter.

Would you please direct your reasoning toward utilizing this particular tactic if the intent is other than deceptive?

"I find that being a leader I always set the goal and then act as if it has already happened - speak and perform it into existence. I had no intention of trying to mislead the voter. More of a positive approach to the election than anything else."


Given the current economic conditions, I believe money spent within the community reduces the number of foreclosures, thereby maintaining property values; fuels small business growth through local merchant prosperity, thereby increasing tax revenues; and consequently increases local investment and growth in the community.

Would you consider hiring only Gilbert residents for Town of Gilbert jobs thereby supporting the collapse of future housing prices any further?


"I think putting a condition on employment of having to live in the Town of Gilbert would reduce the quality of the employee thus reducing the quality of service. I always go for the highest qualified person for any position that I have open in my company. The way to fuel small business growth and local merchant prosperity is to lower the cost of doing business. Reducing the sales tax rate, reducing the fees, permits, inspections and just plain government interference in business would go a long way in helping the economy, too. "


Regarding the deteriorating of property valuations, is a program in place to reevaluate the property tax rate considering current valuations are no longer valid?

"The County Assessor's office is responsible for the evaluations of property - They always seem to be about 2 years behind and I am sure they are getting a lot of pressure to re-evaluate the entire county right now."


Given he possibility the items mentioned above may be outside the realm of your authority, as the leading role model and ranking citizen of Gilbert is it your personal position to reinvest back into your community?

Would you tend to agree money that leaves the community has an irreversible effect upon the local community from which it was generated?

" Yes, investing in Gilbert is the name of the game. That's what the general plan is all about - planning on the future growth of the town. I would do all that was legally possible get money to stay in Gilbert."


With respect to the Million dollar Marble, was the procurement based on one individuals decision or was this a town council item?

"That was part of a 4 Million dollar Water Tower Park expenditure that all six council members and the mayor approved. Everything that goes on as part of the town mechanism has to have 4 votes - the mayor leads the rest of the council - but still only has one vote. Interesting that 3 of the people running for election this time voted to spend the money (Berman, Skousen, and Krueger)."

"Thanks for your time and questions
Dave Petersen "

Respectfully, gjf