Woodland Lake is an important recreational spot for our citizens. We need a healthy Woodland Lake to support our recreational opportunities, tourism, wildlife, and the natural beauty of Pinetop-Lakeside.
Along with the Town Council and the Public Works Department, Harry will work with our partners at the Show Low-Pinetop-Woodland Irrigation Company, the Arizona Department of Forestry, the Arizona Ground Water Trust, and the Save Our Park organization to discuss solutions to maintain an adequate level of water in Woodland Lake.
We need to protect our lakes, our forests, and all our natural resources.
If elected, Harry will not be a part-time mayor. Our town needs full-time leadership to provide the necessary oversight. Harry does not own a business, nor does he have a career that will distract his attention or require him to be absent from the mayoral responsibilities of our town. Harry is a candidate who will devote 100% of his time to being your mayor.
The mayor’s office at the Town Hall is occasionally occupied but is predominantly used as a conference room. Harry plans to have a daily presence with an open-door policy. He will be easy to locate. You will always be able to reach him to talk about matters of importance to you.
Pinetop-Lakeside deserves a mayor who is present, engaged, and fully accountable. That is exactly what Harry will be, every single day. To be inclusive, our mayor must be present.
Harry will continue to demand fiscal responsibility.
On February 6, 2025, Harry was the only Town Council Member to vote against the purchase of the 2.08 acres of land adjacent to the Town Hall. This land was purchased for $340,000. This money was spent on this land without a need, or a plan for future usage.
Harry cautioned his colleagues in “Executive Session” that the Council should consider future budgetary unknowns before purchasing this “good investment,” but they disagreed and Harry was outvoted during the public vote when the meeting reconvened. Within a few months, the Town was over budget by over a million dollars, and this land still sits empty without a purpose. Decisions like this cannot continue.
Harry will continue to fight against frivolous, negligent spending and the misappropriation of funds in partnership with the Town Manager and the James Vincent Group. Harry will monitor the revenue, income, and expenditures to protect the community and push budget planning to include a 5% reserve for future unknowns and for insurance against the possibility of a fluctuating revenue stream. Responsible governance means planning ahead, not reacting to a crisis.
Some growth is inevitable due to the desirability of new residents' desire to locate to our Town. However, Harry will continue to work with the Planning and Zoning Commission to solicit public comments and opinions to improve the quality of the Town Council's decisions on development proposals. This ensures alignment with our community’s values. Input from the residents must be considered in our actions.
As a former Chair of the P&Z Commission, Harry understands the need for continual review of our zoning designations to ensure they reflect input from residential neighborhoods and align with the Town's Strategic Plan.
Harry will sit in the mayor’s office at the Town Hall with an open door.
He will continue to engage with our citizens by attending Rotary Club events, Pinetop-Lakeside Chamber of Commerce events, local educational meetings and events, and by walking door-to-door into our business storefronts to listen to concerns and develop new ideas. A mayor should be a neighbor, not just a title.
Harry will continue to attend the Pinetop Fire District and the Timber Mesa Fire District Board of Directors meetings and monitor the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal.
Harry will work with the Fire Departments and the Forestry Department in support of their long-term plans to protect and educate our community through Firewise Solutions and Wildfire Prevention.
Harry will continue to attend wildfire Preparedness seminars to ensure that the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside remains at the forefront of community education, forest health, and emergency preparedness. Living in a high-risk fire zone demands vigilance and leadership that takes that responsibility seriously.
