Clark: Thomasson has the time, skills and passion to be mayor

Like many of you, I’m exhausted by the current election season. I can’t wait to see the rhetoric, commercials and signs go away. Thankfully, the Paradise Valley mayor’s race is nonpartisan and voting for Anna Thomasson is an easy choice for me. 

I’ve known Anna for over 30 years, starting as one of my Valley Leadership Class XII classmates. I’ve seen her volunteer commitment throughout the Valley and in Paradise Valley, watched her serve as councilmember and vice mayor. She is a person of utmost integrity and is “all in” on protecting this community. 

While we are lucky to have two qualified candidates to choose from, there is an important difference. Anna is 100% focused on Paradise Valley, knows the issues and challenges well, and is not afraid to lead on a position. I’ve tagged along as she has literally walked this entire community, engaging with residents. I've watched her walk into council meetings with stacks of notes and detailed analytics that rival the excellent staff’s work. She is thorough and not afraid to speak up and ask tough questions.

While a valued councilmember, Mark Stanton also serves as the full-time president of the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce. As Scottsdale has grown, this growth has resulted in over-development, traffic congestion and more pressure on Scottsdale neighborhoods. We need a mayor who will fight to prevent this happening in Paradise Valley.

Thankfully, Anna and Mark have shown mutual respect, even while others have sought to discredit Anna. I noted how she managed herself during all of this, pushing ahead, walking our neighborhoods and staying focused on town business.   

She is the leader we need to tackle tough issues and collaborate with all parties. I’ve watched her do it. She has the time, skills and passion to protect my investment and our town.

Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.