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Really? The Mayor of Superior makes cash withdrawals of our money with a town debit card assigned to him not once, not twice, but eight times? And pays it back – some of the withdrawals were over two years ago – after a new-hire at town hall recently questioned the withdrawals in the bank statements. Are you telling me that the town clerk/manager or the finance person didn’t happen to notice the disappearing unaccounted for and undocumented money over the past two years totaling over $2,300? Have the bank statements not been reconciled in two years? I would ask the manager and finance guy but they both abruptly quit their jobs when things heated up at town hall.
Some of you may remember we had a financial consultant set up a 5 year budget plan for the town finances in the summer of 2013. It was an endeavor that was going to be like a starvation diet plan, but made sense in getting our town finances back on track. As a business owner I shuddered because the mayor and council voted to DOUBLE the town sales tax making us among the highest in the state. That comes out of the pocket of our Superior people who shop local (thank you) and our visitors. In order to be competitive with other towns many of us have offered “tax free” days and paid the sales taxes ourselves. Additionally, the property taxes were raised. I know that everyone who owns property felt that financial slap.
So, while the caboose restrooms were closed due to lack of money, the Senior Center and library hours were cut, light bulbs weren’t being replaced, toilet paper was in short supply at the police station, dogs were running the streets, there were potholes that a small child could disappear into, and on and on and on, the Mayor was helping himself to some of our hard-earned cash.
Going back to Dec. of 2013, the month the raise in the sales tax became effective, the town debit card (not the one assigned to the mayor) seemed to be out running the roads. Starting on Dec. 11th it began its travels at the Family Dollar in Superior and the next day wandered on down to Apache Junction, made a couple of shopping stops, then moved on to the Dollar Tree in Mesa. The town card and its carrier (whoever that was) took the weekend off and then on Dec. 16th went to Walmart in Claypool. On the 17th there was a debit charge in, ready folks?, in Show Low and then back to the Dollar General in Globe. Total -$1,467.85. I call this the traveling debit card. I hope all these purchases were for light bulbs and toilet paper for the town. Oh wait – we can check the receipts, if there are any.
Just take a look at Superior! There are many more people shopping at the stores on Main Street, new businesses on Highway 60, a new clinic, a beautiful historic hotel ready to open, a future mining industry, many new residents and a feeling of renewal for this spectacular town. I care deeply about Superior and all the people who live here – you have made me feel like I’m home. Mayor and council – those of you who have lied, stolen or participated in cronyism in any way in your duties as elected officials, please resign immediately. Mayor Valenzuela I am disappointed and ashamed of your behavior and I can’t abide a liar. Residents of the town of Superior – you don’t deserve, and you don’t have to tolerate this behavior. I am asking you to speak up and step up. We need excellent leadership with a unified Mayor/Council in order to move forward.
/s/ Leslie Martin
Superior Resident
Owner, the Copper Gecko
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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