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Opinion

Bien-Willner: Mayor has shown that having a family is a strength, not disqualification

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At the mayoral candidate forum on June 28 my husband’s challenger suggested that he should not seek re-election because he has a young family so he should step away.

I have not felt a need before now to publicly speak about Jerry’s service, but I found these remarks personally offensive and totally inappropriate. Just imagine if a man running for office had said this about a female incumbent official with a family — that would also be very disappointing and wrong.

Let me tell you a about how my husband has managed to be not only a great mayor, but an exceptional husband and father as well.

I have supported Jerry’s tireless work as a volunteer for the last decade in a variety of roles to make Paradise Valley an even better place to live. I knew that Jerry would conduct himself with honor and integrity, but I have become even prouder as he has tackled our community’s challenges. The way Jerry has made a very positive difference in public service while always attending to our family has been nothing short of remarkable.

For example, when the pandemic and civil unrest emerged in 2020, Jerry proactively took many steps to safeguard our community. When there was chatter about targeting mayors during the height of civil unrest, we moved our children closer to us in a more secure part of our house and coordinated our family’s security plans with PVPD.

Jerry would not consider special security. He wanted officers to be able to protect you and your families while he focused on his duties to us all. Jerry stood strong not only for our family, but for our community. Paradise Valley avoided the harms that other communities suffered.

Jerry addressed these tough challenges the way he approaches all others — steadily and successfully, and without creating needless turmoil, worry or division.

The passion Jerry feels as a father is a driving motivation for his community service. He not only wants to make sure Paradise Valley is a wonderful place to grow up, he has sought opportunities for our children to feel the value and importance of public service. For this reason, Jerry started the town’s first-ever program to publicly involve and recognize students for achievements in community service, academics, and athletics.

And despite his opponent’s remarks, there has never been a time during his public service when we felt like our family was not the top priority.

The thoughtful, kind, hardworking, giving, honest, caring, intelligent, and competent person evident in Jerry’s public service is the same person we know and love at home. Our family is blessed with genuine love and support in every direction, and no political criticism can ever touch that.

My husband’s opponent says that she should be mayor because this is “her time.” I disagree. Our community should have a mayor with a proven track record of positive action and success, and Jerry Bien-Willner lives this every day, both as mayor and as a husband and father.

I am so proud of what he has accomplished and excited for our future, and I hope you will join me and support him as well with your vote in the Aug. 2 town election.