Kelly Teal
Maricopa Monitor
Differing visions for Maricopa’s future came to light last weekend as mayoral and City Council candidates debated how to tackle problems including utility costs, air quality, public transit and economic development.
Eleven people took one another to task Saturday evening at a media-sponsored forum attended by dozens of residents. And over the nearly four-hour event, a theme emerged.
For incumbents, the solution was to stay the course. For most challengers, pushing Maricopa to grow past its “bedroom community” status requires new ideas and action.
Everyone seemed to agree on one topic, however: electricity and water rates in Maricopa threaten to make the city unaffordable.
Anthony Smith, the incumbent mayor running for re-election, said he has been talking with Electrical District 3 and Global Water about their ever-higher prices.
“It’s a crisis situation and I’m working with both utilities,” he said.
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