Letters: Cline set herself apart in EPIC interviews

We’ve now been given multiple opportunities both in written and social media, to get to know our candidates, Aly Cline and Wendell Fountain. 

For those not aware, the candidates did interviews on EPIC Networking Series on Facebook, Fountain on June 24 and Cline on June 25. Those interviews are still up, and I invite you to go to that site and listen and to read the comments.  

In addition, both candidates wrote Guest Commentary’s in this paper on June 24 and July 1.

On July 14, a live forum will be hosted, by the Surprise Chamber of Commerce on both the Chamber site and YouTube, for an additional opportunity to observe both candidates, so you can make an informed decision.

I was inspired by two “Letters to the Editor” in the July 8 paper (Mr. Aiken and Mr. Verrill), to add my reasoning for choosing Alyson Cline for the District 2 Council seat.  

Her background and actual work within our city over the years, speaks for itself.  Aly does not need to constantly sing her own praises and pat herself on the back. She has a single goal and that is to serve our community with pride and respect for all.

On the other hand, Mr. Fountain can’t seem to stop talking about himself. Listen to his interview, read his commentary, go to his own website (wendellfountain.com).

After his EPIC Series interview, I commented that he seemed set in his ways and critical of people and systems that didn’t share his narrow-minded vision.  His one line response back was “You are a biased, self-absorbed jerk!”

He continued later by saying, “I didn’t have a clue” and that “I was just jealous of his educational background and real-world experience.” 

He finished by telling me to “grow up and stop supporting candidates (Cline) who are not qualified to serve on our city council!” 

When he ran in 2018, we were hit by two large monsoon storms in August. Those storms took out 1,000 trees in Sun City Grand alone. Damage was severe and, of course, all political signage took a beating. 

There is verification that Mr. Fountain chose instead to claim that he was “of the opinion that it is firefighter union thugs who are stealing them (his signs) because of allegiance to my opponent (Nancy Hayden).” 

He vowed that, if caught, he would press charges to the fullest extent of the law. Now, I don’t know about you, but I’d rather be represented by someone who actually thinks before they respond.

I would rather not have someone on the council who would fly off the handle and be this disrespectful to fellow board members or Surprise administration that he didn’t agree with. I can only imagine his responses to Surprise residents who came to speak before the Council or people from outside our community who would come to give a presentation that was not to his liking.

Higher education is all well and good. But it is not the be all and end all of good leadership.

Leadership should entail a well-rounded package of education and experience certainly. A good leader, however, knows how to use those strengths and can effectively couple them with listening skills, an open mind, humility and respect for others.

Aly Cline is and will be a good leader for District 2 and the city of Surprise.