Inside Mesa

Mayor Keno Hawker and former lawmaker Mark Killion have the answers you’ve been waiting for. This event is a must!Thursday, April 27th at 5:30 PM come to the Mesa Chamber of Commerce, 120 N. Center: A rally and press conference will begin the evening to support the upcoming election on May 16, questions 1 and 2. A 1/2 cent tax increase and primary property tax controlled by a cap and state regulations.At 7:00 PM, a forum will convene at the Mesa City Council Chambers, 54 E. 1st Street. Those participating on the panel will speak from opposite viewpoints. *Read more on the speakers below.Those for: *Mayor Keno Hawker and former lawmaker *Mark Killian. Two conservatives supporting taxes? Yes. This must tell you the city is in need of addtional revenue in order to sustain the city budget, to keep pace in providing services, meet the needs of the citizens of Mesa and the increasing population growth.Those against: Community Activist *Jan Hibbard and *Councilmember Tom Rawles. Two viewpoints that appear to want to stop Mesa’s potential and the ability to attract business, claims that the city government is responsible for the unsuccessful management of the last 50 years. Everyone will want to attend! Come hear the speakers, their reasoning, educate yourself on the issues and come prepared to take advantage of an opportunity to submit questions and get answers. *Mayor Hawker has received many awards in recognition of his excellent work and management skills: A Mesa councilmember for 10 years, on his 2nd term as Mayor of Mesa, Chair of the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Regional Council, Treasurer of the Williams Gateway Airport Authority, member of the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association, Valley Metro Rail, Regional Public Transportation Authority, National League of Cities Finance, Administration and Intergovernmental Relations Steering Committee, MAG Transportation Policy Committee and ex-officio member of the City of Mesa Economic Development Advisory Board.*Mark Killian - A long time Mesa resident and well respected member of our community with many accomplishments: The former Director of the Arizona Department of Revenue and served as a member of the Mesa 2025: Financing the Future committee. He served as an elected official in the AZ House of Representatives for 14 years as Majority Leader and Speaker of the House. Served as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and Public Institutions committee. *Jan Hibbard, CPA Business, Mesa and Secretary / Founder VBO, and *Councilmember Tom Rawles, General Councel Johnson Stewart Materials, LLC - some views of each: promote "if you want it, pay for it yourself", keeping the status quo of 1945, minority voice, blame instead of moving forward in meeting the needs of today and our future. Seems to deny the reality of our present budget crisis. Descenting voices of the past — (Riverview Project, freeways, Proposition 300, Williams Gateway Area house developer, downtown development, abolishing food tax losing 9 Million a year).

Mesa is in danger of losing valuable funding to repair 54 arterial streets unless we vote YES on May 16.Mesa is eligible to receive $585 Million in regional funds to repair Mesa streets. However, we must match those funds with $251 Million local funds. Mesa doesn’t have those funds. The answer lay in the May 16 vote to increase taxes.

Mesa deserves to be the same safe family oriented city it has been. We can help. Safe streets are one of those areas that must be maintained to keep our city and our families safe. Clearly, the safety of Mesa is at risk unless we vote YES on questions 1 and 2.