It has been my distinct honor and privilege to become a colleague and friend of Jack Hastings over the past four years. We both started teaching at Valley Vista High School in Surprise at the same time.
In the last four years of teaching U.S./AZ Government, I have gotten to know Jack as a hard-working and clear-thinking individual with a passion to help others, especially his students.
In our many discussions, several things have become clear to me.First, Jack has a strong knowledge of both the purpose and function of government at all levels. He is passionate about the fact that government, at all levels, those in government receive their power by consent of the governed, which in the current political climate is an extremely critical issue.
Second, and most importantly, Jack has a keen sense of the primary responsibility a public servant has to shoulder the task of providing public safety. I am a retired Los Angeles police detective supervisor, having spent 25 years from 1974 to 1999 with the Los Angeles Police Department.
It has been a source of great encouragement to me to see a man like Mr. Hastings, with a natural sense of community, have such a passion and personal drive to make his community of Surprise a safer place for everyone to live.
There is no doubt in my mind that Jack will provide the support and guidance to bring focus and support to the citizens of Surprise through the police and fire departments.
