Inside Mesa

Although the time for requesting early ballots have past, if you have them you can still mail them in or bring them to polling places by Tuesday.About 24,000 ballots have been mailed in, leaving about 15,000 left that haven’t been sent in. Polls show that 18% of the voters are still undecided about the property tax issue and about 17% undecided about the sales tax. Whatever your decision, please vote in this important election on Tuesday!

All Units Stand By…Goodnight SirOn Friday May 5th, 2006 I cried for a man that I have never met, I grieved the passing of a man who gave his life in service to others. I watched as elementary school children lined the fence outside of their school and waived little American flags to honor a man they didn’t know. I watched the young and old line the streets with their hands over their heart, heads bowed as car after car passed them. I watched as other grown men openly wept realizing their own mortality. I watched as the community bid farewell to a fallen hero.Friday I had the honor of attending the funeral services for Officer Rob Targosz a 12 year veteran of the Gilbert Police department. He is the first Gilbert officer to die in the line of duty in that city’s 86 year history. Ironically he died as the result of injuries he sustained after a drunk driver plowed into his motorcycle, ironic because Officer Targosz was a member of the DUI taskforce. As I sat in the chapel and listened to the touching tribute paid to this man by his Captain, friends and family I felt for a brief moment like I was part of something special. You see, when an Officer dies something remarkable happens, like moths drawn to a flame his fellow Officers from around the state and in some instances from other states rally around their fallen brother. There is a bond with these men and women that should be envied by all. After the chapel service I rode with one of his fellow Officers the short distance to the cemetery where he would be laid to rest. This Officer was a man who did not know Officer Targosz but loved him as a brother. As we drove we passed by everyday citizens who in the midst of their hectic lives paused briefly and watched as we passed. As we approached the cemetery we passed under the ladders of two fire trucks extended as if they were the Gates of St. Peter. The graveside services were truly touching, taps was played and the traditional last call was broadcast. This is where my emotions got the better of me, anyone who has ever heard last call will tell you that it rips at your heart.I never knew Officer Rob Targosz, but he is one of my heroes. I don’t know many of the men and women who put on a badge every day and patrol the streets of this nation but I do know that they are all heroes in my book. They have a thankless job that pays just enough to eek out a middle income existence. They deal with some of the worst that our society has to offer. Most of us will never come into contact with them except when we need them and then they will be there. I want to extend my condolences to the Targosz family and thank them for the service of Rob. It takes a unique individual to wear the badge; he was a husband, son, brother and warrior. He will be missed, rest in peace sir you are home now.Of course that is my take.

Recall the commercial about "Sticking it to the Man", referring to sticking it to yourself? Don’t do it!"Don’t Stick it to Mesa", by coming together as a community and contributing to our well being, our health as a community. The best thing you can do for yourself is to preserve our city - public safety able to respond in an appropriate time, crime prevention, police officers ready to assist in auto theft, burgalry, shootings, suicide attempts, domestic violence, accredited crime lab, ID theft, staff support, gang unit, SWAT teams, K-9 police assistance, safety equipment - park rangers contributing to our welfare and assisting police in matters pertaining to parks, swimming pools, cemetaries, ball fields, public lighting, fishing ponds, and school games, drugs used in public parks. Firemen, paramedics, engineers - a team of individuals prepared to rescue children, adults, fires in our neighborhoods, accidents. Time is of the essence, having a facility near by is essential - fund the needs of these critical public safety measures. They all need raises and staff."Don’t Stick it to Mesa", help provide the necessary hours for libraries to serve our community, help build a stable revenue source so streets can readily be repaired, sewers readily repaired, being prepared for the maintenance always necessary as the years go by to the infrastructure. Pay our city staff the wage they deserve, keep up with inflation and cost of living."Don’t Stick it to Mesa", support Williams Gateway Airport, ASU Polytechnic, MCC downtown library, downtown campus, A.T. Still University, new hospitals, new business, eliminating layers of steps before a building project begins, a city auditor, yes on both tax questions - will help safe the day and our future. May 16 is the day to vote. Four votes, YES, YES, YES, YES.