Henderson Mayoral
Candidate
Rick Workman's Letter
to Anthem Opinions
Anthem Opinions
Mr.
Dick Arendt
Anthem Opinions
scaopinions@gmail.com
Anthem Opinions
scaopinions@gmail.com
Sun City Anthem
March
15, 2017
Mr.
Arendt,
Thank
you for the opportunity. Unfortunately, I was not able to review your emailed
invitation until late yesterday, and ask for your consideration to allow me to
address these critically important questions.
First, I must emphatically state that in any of my
statements or activities related to running for a political office, I do not
represent, nor purport to represent, the opinions of any government agency. I am
speaking as a private citizen of our community.
I
served our country for 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, both in the enlisted
ranks and as a Commissioned Officer.
I served as a nuclear weapons technician,
supervisor, and manager.
I inspected U.S. Navy, Army, Air Force, and Marine
units; and NATO units worldwide; and was credited with improving the U.S.
nuclear weapons program.
I commanded all F-117A Stealth Fighter personnel
responsible for the aircraft maintenance, launch, etc., and munitions during the
latter part of Desert Storm.
I’ve
spent the last 23 years serving our local communities, directly leading efforts
to solve and prevent crime, and save lives.
I started the Henderson CSI section
and forensic laboratory (crime lab) in 2000, and am still employed in that
capacity.
It has not been easy, and I am still fighting for all of you… fighting
to keep us all safe.
I
think my experience and successes give me the right to make the statements I
will make here.
Low Taxes
It is
quite apparent and well understood that the City of Henderson has one of the
lowest property tax rates in the state. Many tax payers saw their property taxes
decrease during the long recession and rightfully so because of the steep
decline in stated property values. By the way, I’m not implying that the
recession is completely over yet (but our President Trump is definitely making
huge, positive changes),
Now, while so many are on fixed incomes, or have little to no income, the government wants to make up for lost time.
Now, while so many are on fixed incomes, or have little to no income, the government wants to make up for lost time.
I sat
through briefings during the tenure of former City Manager Jacob Snow, whom our
elected mayor and city council members (including a current candidate for mayor)
lauded and embraced for his role as manager.
One of his efforts included testifying during the State Legislature in 2013, alongside the current mayor, and certainly with the direct approval and full support of the entire council.
Their testimony resulted in the legislature’s approval to remove the 3% annual property tax increase cap, and subsequent removal of that cap in Sec. 23, Section 8.010 of the Charter of the City of Henderson, which is in Chapter 266, Statutes of Nevada.
One of his efforts included testifying during the State Legislature in 2013, alongside the current mayor, and certainly with the direct approval and full support of the entire council.
Their testimony resulted in the legislature’s approval to remove the 3% annual property tax increase cap, and subsequent removal of that cap in Sec. 23, Section 8.010 of the Charter of the City of Henderson, which is in Chapter 266, Statutes of Nevada.
During that taxing (pardon the pun) process in 2013, Snow’s
team provided briefings to numerous departments in the City. They showed
PowerPoint slides explaining the “small” 20-cent increase (from 71 to 91 cents
per $100 in assessment valuation).
That equates to a 28% increase in property taxes!
That equates to a 28% increase in property taxes!
Do you know that only 25% of the property taxes we currently pay go
directly to the City of Henderson?
Don’t worry, if the 2017 State Legislature
has its way in removing property tax increase caps, with the well-known support
of local governments, we’ll pay more. And if they pass the changes to our law
that are now being discussed, and the Governor doesn’t veto them, there will be
no tax increase caps.
In fact, some legislators are promoting the establishment
of mandatory minimum annual tax increases.
Elected officials talk in circles about low taxes, not
supporting tax increases, writing “low taxes” when the text below mentions only
“commerce tax”, etc.
The City of Henderson Comprehensive Annual Budget Report
for Fiscal Year 2015 – 2016, Economic Challenges on page 134 states:
“If a
prolonged economic downturn occurs and annual revenues are unable to support the
costs of essential services, the City will consider several options. These
options would include increasing revenues from existing sources such as property
taxes, or creating new taxing sources and/or service reductions.”
What is very
conspicuously absent in that document, is any mention of cutting costs, cutting
waste, etc.
Why
is it that the first reaction is always to raise taxes?
Believe the rhetoric or
not during this campaign about not raising property taxes. I don’t.
I have
always said that I am willing to pay my share of taxes, but I hate any proposed
tax or tax increase while government officials fail to first cut waste, increase
efficiency, and cut costs.
Try to get a career politician to describe that.
Better yet, try to get one to provide some real-world, concrete, realistic and
relative examples.
How about a firm, and honest, commitment?
Finally, if there is any doubt… no, I will not vote to
increase your property taxes. And I will steadfastly, and very publicly, fight
against it. I realize that persons running for elected office will say that.
Heck, I’m saying it. The difference is that I know where there are millions of
dollars being wasted in the city. I know where we can reduce costs without
reducing services. I know where we can be, and must be, more efficient in our
city government. Much more efficient.
Maintaining a quality retirement lifestyle that provides a
safe environment alongside stable property values.
Crime –
As so
many of you in Sun City Anthem, and other parts of Anthem and the city know, we
are not immune to crime. We had a lot of burglaries in the Anthem areas, a home
invasion/robbery of a lady who was fast asleep, and other crimes including an
apparent drive-by shooting/murder.
The suspect(s) in the latest of three related
home invasions tied the victim up and stole many of her belongings.
Fortunately,
the CSIs (actually called Crime Scene Analysts in Henderson) and forensic
scientists in the lab solved that, and two related
crimes.
Henderson Police Supervisor’s Association endorsement
(unedited)
“The
HPSA is doing its part in the national attempt to drain the swamp! Leadership
and life experience are key attributes to running an organization. Rick Workman
has shown his commitment to progress the City of Henderson into the future, in a
fair and fiscally responsible manner. Mr. Workman understands the public safety
concerns of our association and will work to limit the effects of density
housing and ad the department in technological advances”.
-
Kevin Abernathy, President; speaking on behalf of the Henderson Police Supervisor’s Association Executive Board
Rape kits
The
City of Henderson does not a forensic laboratory large enough to expand current
operations, nor to add a DNA analysis capability. In southern Nevada, thousands
of rape kits remained untested for years, and thanks to Nevada Attorney General
Laxalt, many of those kits are being sent to a private lab in another state.
Unfortunately, the latest estimates are that the kits won’t all be tested until
2020, a significant change from earlier estimates of completion by July
2018.
More
rapes will be solved and prevented through DNA testing. Current outsourcing of
rape kits to other states is only a short-term fix and significant additional
forensic laboratory capacity is a necessity... lives depend on it!
We need a
new, larger lab in Henderson, and I intend to raise private funds to do it.
I’ve
had discussions with staff of the Nevada State College, in regard to putting the
lab on their campus, and their desire to develop a forensic science program.
Together, we can provide academic and operational training, experience through
internships, and eventual jobs to many in our own community.
Please refer to:
Assembly Bill 55 includes revisions to Chapter 200 of the
NRS, by adding criteria regarding the DNA analysis of sexual assault kits (rape
kits) and tracking their status from the point of initial collection.
I
personally reviewed that bill and submitted several recommendations to
significantly strengthen the legislation including:
1) decreasing the time in
which a forensic laboratory may take to test each kit, providing a recommended
transition period to decrease the mandatory testing times;
2) removing some of
the stated exceptions for mandatory testing of the kits, which, in my opinion
would decrease the number of kits tested for reasons I strongly disagree with;
and,
3) strengthening the requirements for tracking the kits and their
completion of testing/analysis.
Planning and the City of Henderson Planning Commission
Neighborhood master plans and subsequent changes must be carefully and
openly developed, implemented, and maintained. The quality of life and amenities
that sustain economic stability and growth must not be pushed aside for
competing developments that negatively impact residents, businesses, and the
local economy.
A truly open and transparent government provides timely,
relative, detailed, and accurate information; and accepts constructive
feedback.
Henderson Strong (a similar, potential
precursor)
In approximately 2006 or 2007, I was personally involved in the review
process after preliminary maps/drawings had been prepared to demonstrate the
build out a large area in the western portion of Henderson.
Perhaps near the
area where Inspirada is now.
We noted that the plans showed many narrow streets,
cul-de-sacs with small turning radiuses, and multi-level housing.
When asked
about police getting and out quickly, there was discussion about having to back
out (as in the event of a major situation, there are often several first
responders from police, fire, etc., most in vehicles.
Not all fire vehicles
would be able to navigate the turning radius, and many would certainly have to
back out in the best of situations.
We asked that the streets be widened. That
couldn’t be done without increasing costs to the developer(s)… it may mean less
units, or decreasing the size of some.
The single proposal we received initially
was to “add alleys”.
My argument is not about condos versus apartments versus single standing
homes.
My argument has to do with the footprint… in other words, how many people
can we house in one area and be able to provide the proper size and number of
roadways, and provide the critical public safety services such as police, fire
and public works.
Finally
I
have been fighting for you since 2000, and I will continue to do so. I have been
successful in many difficult areas, many of which I had never been challenged
with before.
As your mayor, I will be much more able to facilitate the changes
necessary. I believe that a person’s personal philosophy about government, as
well as their history of difficult challenges, hard work, and success says a lot
about how a person will conduct business when elected to a critically important
position as the mayor’s truly is.
This is a “non-partisan” race, but that only
means that we don’t have members of major parties chosen by those parties to
face off in a final (general) election.
I think it is important for voters to
see all of us for who we are and what we believe in.
That’s why I proudly put my
political party on my signs, ads, and flyers.
I am a lifelong Republican.
I
humbly ask for your vote and your support as your next
mayor.
Rick
Workman
Captain, U.S. Air Force (retired)
Candidate for Mayor of Henderson
Captain, U.S. Air Force (retired)
Candidate for Mayor of Henderson
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Anthem Opinions sends its sincere thank you to Mayoral candidate, Rick Workman, for sending us this detailed answer to the
questions posed in our original article.
Do you have
any comments or questions of Mr. Workman? He has agreed to answer any questions
you might have.
Send them to
us at:
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