Carefree Truth
Issue #498, July 13, 2016
Carefree Truth will once again be sponsoring a forum for the Carefree Council candidates. Although there are 7 candidates for 7 positions, we felt it would be nice for you to have a chance to meet, talk to, and question your candidates.
The forum will be hosted by the Carefree Resort, 37220 Mule Train Rd., Carefree. It will take place in the Resort's Cholla Room from 6-8 PM on Wednesday, August 3rd. The closest parking is in the lower parking lot. Light refreshments, water, and soda will be supplied free of charge. A cash bar will be available before the Q&A period begins at 6:15, during the intermission at the half way point, and when the formal part of the forum ends at 7:45. During these times, alcohol will be served and you can mingle with the candidates. The Cholla Room does not have a method for accepting credit cards, so you will need to bring cash if you care to buy drinks.
If you would like to eat dinner at the Resort before or after the forum, we highly recommend the Lariat Restaurant. The room is lovely and the food is wonderful.
www.carefree-resort.com
Lariat Restaurant – 480.595.3829
Issue #498, July 13, 2016
Carefree Truth will once again be sponsoring a forum for the Carefree Council candidates. Although there are 7 candidates for 7 positions, we felt it would be nice for you to have a chance to meet, talk to, and question your candidates.
The forum will be hosted by the Carefree Resort, 37220 Mule Train Rd., Carefree. It will take place in the Resort's Cholla Room from 6-8 PM on Wednesday, August 3rd. The closest parking is in the lower parking lot. Light refreshments, water, and soda will be supplied free of charge. A cash bar will be available before the Q&A period begins at 6:15, during the intermission at the half way point, and when the formal part of the forum ends at 7:45. During these times, alcohol will be served and you can mingle with the candidates. The Cholla Room does not have a method for accepting credit cards, so you will need to bring cash if you care to buy drinks.
If you would like to eat dinner at the Resort before or after the forum, we highly recommend the Lariat Restaurant. The room is lovely and the food is wonderful.
www.carefree-resort.com
Lariat Restaurant – 480.595.3829
The 6 candidate letters and pictures that were submitted to Carefree Truth and ran, one each, in the last several weeks of Letters from Readers, are attached so you can conveniently access them all at once. Candidate Jim Van Allen is missing because he chose not to submit a candidate letter to us.
We look forward to seeing you at the forum!
Lyn & Herbert Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Visit our website at www.carefreetruth2.com If you know anyone who would like to be added to the Carefree Truth email list, please have them contact me. Feel free to share Carefree Truth with others on your list. Visit www.carefreeazbusinesses.com to see more info about businesses in Carefree. Please support our merchants.
We look forward to seeing you at the forum!
Lyn & Herbert Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Visit our website at www.carefreetruth2.com If you know anyone who would like to be added to the Carefree Truth email list, please have them contact me. Feel free to share Carefree Truth with others on your list. Visit www.carefreeazbusinesses.com to see more info about businesses in Carefree. Please support our merchants.
Candidates 2016
Les Peterson Announces He Will Run for Mayor of the Town of Carefree in 2016 Election
The Next Few Years are Critical for the Future Economic Sustainability of the Town
Carefree mayor and community leader Les Peterson has declared his candidacy to continue as the mayor of the Town. Les assumed the duties of Mayor in the early spring of 2015, when the previous mayor, David Schwan, resigned due to illness.
“We have made great progress in enhancing downtown Carefree for the enjoyment and utilization of our residents and visitors,” Mayor Peterson said. “We can’t stop now, and the next few years are critical to the Town’s future. Much remains to be accomplished.”
Key town priorities that need to be addressed in the near future include:
1. •Continuing the integrity of Carefree as a beautiful residential-friendly town without the heavy traffic and congestion of many nearby towns.
2. •Attracting a diverse demographic to the downtown area by continuing strategic marketing efforts with dramatic and high quality popular programs such as the Ray Villafane Enchanted Pumpkin Garden exhibit and the Carefree Christmas Festival.
3. •Enhancing and strengthening downtown businesses, including new restaurants and commercial businesses to generate excitement and activity, to fulfill the needs of our residents and visitors.
4. •Selectively encouraging the addition of smaller, high-quality residences close to downtown for Carefree residents who want to remain in Carefree, but feel the need to downsize from their current larger homes.
5. •Achieving the identified priorities within budget constraints while maintaining Carefree’s strong reserves.
“A renewed sense of spirit and momentum is evident throughout Carefree,” Peterson said. “I believe I can continue to effectively lead the town’s efforts to complete the remaining tasks in this revitalization. Our objective is to maintain an enjoyable quality of life for town residents while generating long-term economic sustainability for Carefree.”
“Other Carefree Council members, the town staff and numerous local volunteers and businesses have all worked together during my term to efficiently change the look and feel of the downtown area along Easy Street,” shares the Mayor. “Achieving this is absolutely critical to the long-term economic sustainability of Carefree. The downtown enhancement projects, implemented under my leadership, came from a variety of sources, and the town council worked hard and effectively to maximize the impact of each. Many of our local businesses and civic organizations also made substantial contributions towards implementing these projects, which helped to keep spending below the approved budgets.”
Mayor Peterson attended ASU, receiving B.A. and M.A. degrees. He and his wife, Mary, have resided in Carefree for 20 years. They have been married since 1965, and have two children.
Les received his initial training in marketing and business management at Procter & Gamble. This was followed by working with leading marketing services firms which specialized in strategic planning and marketing program development. Following this initial experience, Les was one of the founders and served as president of a marketing services firm which grew to be the fifth largest in the country. Les worked with more than 180 client companies identifying their key problem areas, developing strategies and managing programs to address the problems identified.
In addition to currently serving as mayor, Les is a director emeritus of New Pathways for Youth, an organization which provides mentoring and life-changing training to over 600 youths from dysfunctional families. He serves as a member of the Paradise Valley Community College Advisory Board, and is a guest lecturer in international marketing at ASU. For fourteen years, Les was one of three “judges” of business proposals submitted in the Cornell University MBA entrepreneurship program, evaluating over 4,000 such proposals. Prior to being elected to the Carefree Town Council in 2012, Les served on the Carefree Planning and Zoning Commission and was the president of the Boulders Homeowners Association.
For additional information, please contact Les Peterson at 480 747-0737
The Next Few Years are Critical for the Future Economic Sustainability of the Town
Carefree mayor and community leader Les Peterson has declared his candidacy to continue as the mayor of the Town. Les assumed the duties of Mayor in the early spring of 2015, when the previous mayor, David Schwan, resigned due to illness.
“We have made great progress in enhancing downtown Carefree for the enjoyment and utilization of our residents and visitors,” Mayor Peterson said. “We can’t stop now, and the next few years are critical to the Town’s future. Much remains to be accomplished.”
Key town priorities that need to be addressed in the near future include:
1. •Continuing the integrity of Carefree as a beautiful residential-friendly town without the heavy traffic and congestion of many nearby towns.
2. •Attracting a diverse demographic to the downtown area by continuing strategic marketing efforts with dramatic and high quality popular programs such as the Ray Villafane Enchanted Pumpkin Garden exhibit and the Carefree Christmas Festival.
3. •Enhancing and strengthening downtown businesses, including new restaurants and commercial businesses to generate excitement and activity, to fulfill the needs of our residents and visitors.
4. •Selectively encouraging the addition of smaller, high-quality residences close to downtown for Carefree residents who want to remain in Carefree, but feel the need to downsize from their current larger homes.
5. •Achieving the identified priorities within budget constraints while maintaining Carefree’s strong reserves.
“A renewed sense of spirit and momentum is evident throughout Carefree,” Peterson said. “I believe I can continue to effectively lead the town’s efforts to complete the remaining tasks in this revitalization. Our objective is to maintain an enjoyable quality of life for town residents while generating long-term economic sustainability for Carefree.”
“Other Carefree Council members, the town staff and numerous local volunteers and businesses have all worked together during my term to efficiently change the look and feel of the downtown area along Easy Street,” shares the Mayor. “Achieving this is absolutely critical to the long-term economic sustainability of Carefree. The downtown enhancement projects, implemented under my leadership, came from a variety of sources, and the town council worked hard and effectively to maximize the impact of each. Many of our local businesses and civic organizations also made substantial contributions towards implementing these projects, which helped to keep spending below the approved budgets.”
Mayor Peterson attended ASU, receiving B.A. and M.A. degrees. He and his wife, Mary, have resided in Carefree for 20 years. They have been married since 1965, and have two children.
Les received his initial training in marketing and business management at Procter & Gamble. This was followed by working with leading marketing services firms which specialized in strategic planning and marketing program development. Following this initial experience, Les was one of the founders and served as president of a marketing services firm which grew to be the fifth largest in the country. Les worked with more than 180 client companies identifying their key problem areas, developing strategies and managing programs to address the problems identified.
In addition to currently serving as mayor, Les is a director emeritus of New Pathways for Youth, an organization which provides mentoring and life-changing training to over 600 youths from dysfunctional families. He serves as a member of the Paradise Valley Community College Advisory Board, and is a guest lecturer in international marketing at ASU. For fourteen years, Les was one of three “judges” of business proposals submitted in the Cornell University MBA entrepreneurship program, evaluating over 4,000 such proposals. Prior to being elected to the Carefree Town Council in 2012, Les served on the Carefree Planning and Zoning Commission and was the president of the Boulders Homeowners Association.
For additional information, please contact Les Peterson at 480 747-0737
JOHN CRANE, CANDIDATE, CAREFREE COUNCIL
John Crane has announced his candidacy to continue as a Carefree Town Councilman. With nearly 4 years of experience on Council and having served more than a year as the current Vice Mayor, he is anxious to continue to build upon our economic development foundation while striking a balance between citizen and commercial interests and fiscal restraint.
John believes local government, as the level of government closest to the people, must be transparent and responsive, and must work.
John Crane is a 27 year resident of Carefree and has enjoyed actively serving the community in various roles. Prior to his appointment to the Carefree Town Council in 2012 and election to Council in 2013, John served on the Carefree Subdivision Committee and as the Vice Chairman of the Carefree Planning and Zoning Commission. John is serving his eighth year as president and board member of the Carefree Foothills Homeowners’ Association, is a Desert Foothills Land Trust board member and is an Arizona Site Steward monitoring Indian archeological sites in the Cave Creek / Carefree area.
John earned a BS degree in Mathematics from Villanova University in 1978 and a MS degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California in 1985. After serving seven years as a nuclear submarine officer, he entered the electronics field. For the past 22 years, as a business owner, he has served as a sales representative for Asian, European, and US semiconductor material and equipment suppliers to customers in North America.
Best regards,
John Crane
Phone: (480) 488-9898
Fax: (480) 488-9848
Cell: (602) 363-1978
Skype ID: jhcrane
John Crane has announced his candidacy to continue as a Carefree Town Councilman. With nearly 4 years of experience on Council and having served more than a year as the current Vice Mayor, he is anxious to continue to build upon our economic development foundation while striking a balance between citizen and commercial interests and fiscal restraint.
John believes local government, as the level of government closest to the people, must be transparent and responsive, and must work.
John Crane is a 27 year resident of Carefree and has enjoyed actively serving the community in various roles. Prior to his appointment to the Carefree Town Council in 2012 and election to Council in 2013, John served on the Carefree Subdivision Committee and as the Vice Chairman of the Carefree Planning and Zoning Commission. John is serving his eighth year as president and board member of the Carefree Foothills Homeowners’ Association, is a Desert Foothills Land Trust board member and is an Arizona Site Steward monitoring Indian archeological sites in the Cave Creek / Carefree area.
John earned a BS degree in Mathematics from Villanova University in 1978 and a MS degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California in 1985. After serving seven years as a nuclear submarine officer, he entered the electronics field. For the past 22 years, as a business owner, he has served as a sales representative for Asian, European, and US semiconductor material and equipment suppliers to customers in North America.
Best regards,
John Crane
Phone: (480) 488-9898
Fax: (480) 488-9848
Cell: (602) 363-1978
Skype ID: jhcrane
Michael E. Farrar is honored to run for Town Council a third term. He is Vice President and Designated Broker of Elliott Homes in Arizona, has more than thirty years of real estate expertise and a list of highly notable accomplishments in residential development and vast experience in transactional commercial brokerage, asset analysis, feasibility and financial analysis, entitlements, and project management.
In addition to his duties as a town councilman, Mike serves on the Regional Council and Economic Development Committee of the Maricopa Association of Governments, Board member of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, member of the Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations, Urban Land Institute, and the Homebuilders Association of Central Arizona.
Farrar has been a full time resident since 2009 and is committed to preserving and nurturing the qualities that make Carefree unique, and which afford a wonderful lifestyle to our citizens, along with great public services and amenities. His goal is to continue to promote respect, honesty, and trust to the partnership between Carefree’s citizens, business owners, and their elected representatives.
“Effective town government must be open, responsive and responsible and allow all voices to be heard with dignity.”
In his free time he enjoys golf, yoga, judo and can be seen with his lovely granddaughter walking with their wheaten terrier through town from time to time.
Born and educated in Arizona, Michael graduated Cum Laude from Northern Arizona University W.A. Franke College of Business with a Bachelor's of Science in International Economics. He then went on to earn double International MBA's from Thunderbird School of Global Management, and the Helsinki School of Economics in Finland.
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Thank you again for the signatures you collected on my behalf. I most appreciate all you do!
Sincerely,
Mike
In addition to his duties as a town councilman, Mike serves on the Regional Council and Economic Development Committee of the Maricopa Association of Governments, Board member of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, member of the Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations, Urban Land Institute, and the Homebuilders Association of Central Arizona.
Farrar has been a full time resident since 2009 and is committed to preserving and nurturing the qualities that make Carefree unique, and which afford a wonderful lifestyle to our citizens, along with great public services and amenities. His goal is to continue to promote respect, honesty, and trust to the partnership between Carefree’s citizens, business owners, and their elected representatives.
“Effective town government must be open, responsive and responsible and allow all voices to be heard with dignity.”
In his free time he enjoys golf, yoga, judo and can be seen with his lovely granddaughter walking with their wheaten terrier through town from time to time.
Born and educated in Arizona, Michael graduated Cum Laude from Northern Arizona University W.A. Franke College of Business with a Bachelor's of Science in International Economics. He then went on to earn double International MBA's from Thunderbird School of Global Management, and the Helsinki School of Economics in Finland.
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Thank you again for the signatures you collected on my behalf. I most appreciate all you do!
Sincerely,
Mike
Gene Orrico is proud to declare his candidacy to continue as a member of the Carefree Town Council. Gene accepted the post of Councilman in the early Spring of 2015 when positions were vacated due to the illness and resignation former Mayor David Schwan and former Councilman Marty Saltzman.
Gene and his wife Victoria have been full time residents of Carefree since 2011. As a small business owner and resident of Carefree, Gene strongly supports the revitalization of the town while maintaining the unique benefits of residency here. He is an advocate for the enhancement of the downtown area and believes in the use of strategic marketing to help attract a larger and more diverse stream of visitors to Carefree.
Among the many charities and organizations he and his wife have been a part of over the years, Gene is especially proud to have donated hundreds of hours to the Kiwanis Club. He is currently Vice President and member of the Board of Directors of the local chapter, and is also an integral part of the Carefree Kiwanis Acktion Club, which provides programs for autistic young adults.
Gene believes in leadership by doing. His focus is to utilize his unique set of education, skills and experience to vigorously work towards enhancing the lives of all residents and visitors to Carefree by bringing new growth and opportunities to the community.
He is very proud to have been a part of the many new programs implemented in Carefree since taking office. He strongly believes that the Town can continue to offer services to the residents without the need to institute a property tax. His priority as a Councilman is to assist in the achievement of the goals set forth by the Town Council while adhering to the current budget.
Gene and his wife Victoria have been full time residents of Carefree since 2011. As a small business owner and resident of Carefree, Gene strongly supports the revitalization of the town while maintaining the unique benefits of residency here. He is an advocate for the enhancement of the downtown area and believes in the use of strategic marketing to help attract a larger and more diverse stream of visitors to Carefree.
Among the many charities and organizations he and his wife have been a part of over the years, Gene is especially proud to have donated hundreds of hours to the Kiwanis Club. He is currently Vice President and member of the Board of Directors of the local chapter, and is also an integral part of the Carefree Kiwanis Acktion Club, which provides programs for autistic young adults.
Gene believes in leadership by doing. His focus is to utilize his unique set of education, skills and experience to vigorously work towards enhancing the lives of all residents and visitors to Carefree by bringing new growth and opportunities to the community.
He is very proud to have been a part of the many new programs implemented in Carefree since taking office. He strongly believes that the Town can continue to offer services to the residents without the need to institute a property tax. His priority as a Councilman is to assist in the achievement of the goals set forth by the Town Council while adhering to the current budget.
Cheryl Kroyer for Carefree Town Council
Dedicated To Keeping Carefree Carefree
If elected, Cheryl will bring a wide range of business, marketing and communications experience to the Town Council. She is a big fan of the town and would strive to keep the unique character and spirit of Carefree alive while helping to attract new business and finding new ways to help current businesses thrive.
Cheryl fell in love with Carefree in 1988 and has been a full time resident since 1998. As a resident she is dedicated to keeping the community a great place to live and to play.
Before retiring, Cheryl spent 30 years in the advertising business on a wide range of national consumer goods. She was on the team that introduced American Honda’s Acura brand and worked on businesses as varied as Hunt Wesson foods, Polaroid, Gallo Wines, Porsche Cars and the ‘Got Milk’ campaign among others.
Since moving here, she has been involved in a number of volunteer organizations: She served on the volunteer board of Scottsdale Healthcare for three years and published and edited the hospital’s first electronic newsletter. She has also served on the board of The Arizona Institute for Breast Health as treasurer and public relations manager. For the last three years, Cheryl has worked Wednesdays at the Foothills Foodbank.
In her free time she enjoys golf, yoga, bridge, movies and can be seen walking her golden retriever, Riley, through town every morning.
Cheryl graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Journalism degree.
(Lyn's note: Submitted by Cheryl Kroyer, candidate for Town Council.)
Dedicated To Keeping Carefree Carefree
If elected, Cheryl will bring a wide range of business, marketing and communications experience to the Town Council. She is a big fan of the town and would strive to keep the unique character and spirit of Carefree alive while helping to attract new business and finding new ways to help current businesses thrive.
Cheryl fell in love with Carefree in 1988 and has been a full time resident since 1998. As a resident she is dedicated to keeping the community a great place to live and to play.
Before retiring, Cheryl spent 30 years in the advertising business on a wide range of national consumer goods. She was on the team that introduced American Honda’s Acura brand and worked on businesses as varied as Hunt Wesson foods, Polaroid, Gallo Wines, Porsche Cars and the ‘Got Milk’ campaign among others.
Since moving here, she has been involved in a number of volunteer organizations: She served on the volunteer board of Scottsdale Healthcare for three years and published and edited the hospital’s first electronic newsletter. She has also served on the board of The Arizona Institute for Breast Health as treasurer and public relations manager. For the last three years, Cheryl has worked Wednesdays at the Foothills Foodbank.
In her free time she enjoys golf, yoga, bridge, movies and can be seen walking her golden retriever, Riley, through town every morning.
Cheryl graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Journalism degree.
(Lyn's note: Submitted by Cheryl Kroyer, candidate for Town Council.)
Greetings to all. My name is Dr. Michael J. Krahe and I am running for Town Council. My wife Valerie and I and our two grown children have been year-long residents of Carefree for 8 years. We are transplants from Pennsylvania but are proud to call Carefree our home.
I am a seasoned retired insurance executive with experience in the areas of strategy, human resources and technology. I know how to bring these key business areas together to make a focused approach to align, control, and drive growth and performance. I currently run a professional training organization. I hold a Ph.D. in organizational administration from SUNY-Buffalo and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Gannon University.
I have been involved in town government for the last 4 years being part of some of the revitalization efforts. I have served on the Planning and Zoning Commission for the last 3 years and currently serve as Vice Chair.
Why do I want to serve you on council? Our town is on the verge of tremendous positive growth or it can slide and become a ghost town. The work done thus far, by town council and town staff has been nothing short of fantastic, in my view. However, more needs done and I have the skills to help us keep moving forward together.
I will invite all voices to be heard and respected, work to find common ground, act in an ethical manner for the good of our Carefree and always act in the best interests of our Carefree.
Sponsored by the Committee to elect Michael J. Krahe.
I am a seasoned retired insurance executive with experience in the areas of strategy, human resources and technology. I know how to bring these key business areas together to make a focused approach to align, control, and drive growth and performance. I currently run a professional training organization. I hold a Ph.D. in organizational administration from SUNY-Buffalo and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Gannon University.
I have been involved in town government for the last 4 years being part of some of the revitalization efforts. I have served on the Planning and Zoning Commission for the last 3 years and currently serve as Vice Chair.
Why do I want to serve you on council? Our town is on the verge of tremendous positive growth or it can slide and become a ghost town. The work done thus far, by town council and town staff has been nothing short of fantastic, in my view. However, more needs done and I have the skills to help us keep moving forward together.
I will invite all voices to be heard and respected, work to find common ground, act in an ethical manner for the good of our Carefree and always act in the best interests of our Carefree.
Sponsored by the Committee to elect Michael J. Krahe.