Glendale’s primary election will be half competitive and half prefunctory.
Mayor Jerry Weiers’ bid for re-election turned into a wolkover when potential opponents Jamie Aldama and Paul Boyer did not turn in enough verified signatures to qualify for the ballot. Council member Ray Malnar is not challenged in the Sahuaro District.
Two council races remain undecided and at least one new council member will be seated. Newcomers Luper Encinas and Dianna Guzman are vying for the Yucca District seat now held by Joyce Clark.
Lupe Conchas is challenging Cactus District incumbent and current vice mayor Ian Hugh.
Conchas and Encinas have formed a loose alliance and both are endorsed by the Glendale Chamber of Commerce. Guzman and Hugh are endorsed by the fire and police unions.
The primary election will be July 30. Ballots will be mailed out July 3. Here is the first of four candidate Q&A sessions, this one with Lupe Encinas:
Why did you decide to run for city council? I am running for office because I love to be of service to others. This seat will give me the opportunity to serve at a higher level where I can confront issues first hand. My first priority will be to address concerns that were brought to my attention when I was knocking on doors and talking directly to members of the community. I am certain that I can make a difference by bringing together individual residents, organizations, and the various “moving parts” of the community to continue to guide Glendale forward as it progresses and grows. This vision is very important to me.
What is your most relevant professional experience for serving on the city council? I am the owner of several small businesses, including ones in Glendale. I have become adept at learning what I need to know, and I have proven to be a very fast learner. One of my strongest professional abilities is in finding and preparing skilled employees who keep my businesses running smoothly and profitably. I delegate effectively, but I am also willing to roll up my sleeves and work alongside my employees to get a job completed on time.
What skills can you bring to the council to make Glendale a better place? I do not back away from an unpleasant situation, whether it is a bureaucratic one involving a clash of ideologies, or one involving residents of Glendale that are too often described in a rather euphemistic term – the “unhoused.” Homelessness is one of the biggest urban challenges facing Glendale, our city neighbors, and almost any city in the country. It is a complex problem with no single solution. We need to include more diversity in thinking in our discussions and bring together organizations who are already in the trenches providing assistance to the homeless. Our communities will not be safe until we come up with a collective plan of action to reduce the number of people living outdoors.
What is the most pressing issue facing Glendale today? As most people do, I love our entertainment district. It is a jewel in the crown of the city’s economy. However, our citizens are concerned – even angry – about the seeming neglect of parks, our crumbling streets and the traffic that is created by events at the stadium. Ordinary Glendale residents trying to get to work, pick up the kids at school or go to the bank are often frustrated by apparent disregard for the demands of their daily lives. We cannot forget the population whose tax dollars help finance the good things that Glendale has to offer, not just the local community, but at times the entire country. We have to keep up with the needs of homeowners, businesses, schools, and all the other bedrock elements of a thriving community.
What steps should Glendale take to ensure more affordable housing is available to longtime residents? It has recently been revealed that a handful of management companies control the rent charged by many apartment communities in the Valley. Unfortunately, the outrageous rents being extracted from people simply needing places to live won’t be reversed immediately. However, Glendale must consider what effective measures to take to prevent continued abuse of the public. Runway rent costs aren’t just the problem of the elderly or the poor. They are lowering the quality of life for a broad spectrum of incomes and demographics. Developers, city planners and social services need to talk to each other. Building additional rent-controlled housing isn’t a painless “fix.” Predatory landlords – large and small – need to be held accountable.
The Yucca District is the epicenter of most of Glendale’s growth. What would you do as the councilman to make sure the district grows responsibly? We have to continue to respect and support the ordinary citizen, the hardworking but not influential person who gives the city its strength. It is too easy to associate money with value. The value of our city lies in its people, and what they contribute to it. I will always be vigilant about how small and independent businesses are treated by the systems created to regulate their activities. I am excited about the future of Glendale, and the amazing attractions and enterprises already here, or headed our way. However, I will always be grateful for the ones who put Glendale on the map, and stuck around when things were less promising. I am a longtime Glendale resident. I grew up here, I graduated from Glendale High School, I live here now and my husband and I are raising our family here. I love Glendale. I am proud of Glendale. But I will never forget who helped pave the way for the wonderful years we have ahead of us.
Living in economically volatile times, who can you help the city be fiscally responsible? I will apply my small business measuring stick to a proposed expense. Is this an emergency, or is it something with more flexible timetable? Do we need it? Who will it benefit? Can we afford it? How will we pay for it if there is an economic turn down? I will also insist on transparency. If we are spending our citizens’ money, they have a right to know where their hard-earned money is going.
Richard Smith News Editor | Glendale & West Valley Preps
Richard Smith has been with Independent Newsmedia since 2016, and worked at a Sun City-based news outfit covering the Northwest Valley for 22 consecutive years.
An NAU alum and lifelong Arizona resident, Richard began as a copy editor and page designer at Surprise Today and the Daily News-Sun, then rekindled his love of sports writing by taking the reins on West Valley Preps in 2008.
For most of the mid-2010s he was the Surprise editor and West Valley Preps reporter. Now he’s the West Valley Preps Editor and Surprise Associate Editor.
As COVID restrictions slowly lift, Richard is cautiously optimistic he will visit book stores, football fields and gyms again this fall.
By 
