Here's how 2024 Carefree Town Council candidates answer an election issues Q&A

Carefree voters are deciding who will fill three open Town Council seats in the July 30 election, when the tiny town is guaranteed to get at least one new elected leader.

Carefree Town Council incumbents Vince D'Aliesio and Stephen Hatcher are hoping to retain their seats against four challengers. Specifically, the newcomers are Diane Roth, Lon Johnson, Colleen Rose-Scurti and Nakisa Azizi.

At least one of the challengers will win a seat because Councilmember Michael Johnson is not seeking reelection.

The Arizona Republic asked each candidate about everything from their reason for running to their plan for fiscal management to their opinion on what the biggest issue is that Carefree currently faces.

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Hatcher was the only candidate who did not submit answers. Here’s what the others had to say, in alphabetical order. Some answers may have been slightly edited to meet agreed-to lengths for all.

Vision: Why are you running for Carefree Town Council?

Why are you running for Carefree Town Council? If elected, what will your first priority be?

Vince D'Aliesio: I am running for a final council term. I have served three terms and have been the most involved of all candidates in projects affecting our town's prosperity, image, and development.

Diane Roth: I am running for Town Council because I grew up in a family that believes you should give back to your community. My father was involved in both state and local politics, and he ingrained in me that you should not just be a voter but be involved in the process starting at the local level.

Throughout my 35-year career as a business owner in New Canaan, I was involved in the town by first establishing a merchant association that gave the retailers their own voice, and then serving in the Chamber of Commerce. I also helped establish many town events like a Christmas stroll, garden show, summer of 1969 sale event and many more.

If elected, the first thing I would do is review all the consulting contracts and evaluate what value they bring to town. Over the last few years, the town has spent large sums of money hiring lawyers and consultants without measurable results, including a water tank that has put Carefree residents in debt until 2052. This is a town of 8.8 square miles and 3,600 people. Was that truly the best allocation of our limited resources?

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Lon Johnson: I am running for Town Council to give back to the community by using my business and leadership experience. I have spent the past 43 years in the business community. I am currently Senior Vice President of Sales with Colbert Packaging. Over those years I have run sales and marketing teams, been responsible for building a completely new division within our company and I am a member of Colbert's Board of Directors. If elected, a top priority is to assist with economic development. We have several growth opportunities in our town center and at the northeast corner of Carefree Highway and Cave Creek Road. Since Carefree is over 60% dependent on retail sales tax, it is critical to maintain and grow our business base.

Colleen Rose-Scurti: I am running for Town Council because I see what is happening in our country, our state and even in our small town. I see the direction things are going. I want to preserve our small rural town, its values and its charm. I want to see it be a successful and thriving community while retaining its uniqueness. I want to keep our residents and neighborhoods safe. I also want to bring the residents and the town staff and government together. I feel it has become a bit divisive and we cannot grow and be successful if we are not working together. We can have differing opinions but still be respectful to each other.

Nakisa Azizi: I am running for Carefree Town Council out of a desire to serve the community I call home. As an Arizona native, my priorities are protecting our last remaining open spaces and preserving the semi-rural character of our town. I also believe we must do more to address emerging issues affecting public health and environmental quality, including mounting human exposure to wireless radiation and the deleterious effects of geoengineering on our climate and biosphere. Finally, as a strong supporter of small farms and local businesses, I am actively engaged in improving Carefree residents' access to organic, locally grown foods, as well as composting services and other initiatives to enable Carefree's sustainability and self-sufficiency into the future.

Stephen Hatcher did not respond.

Taxing and spending: Where do the Carefree Town Council candidates stand?

New state policies will affect town budgets. If faced with a deficit, will you support raising taxes to maintain town services or cutting programs? Which specific services and/or taxes would you consider first and why?

D'Aliesio: I am not in favor of a town property tax. We need to continue to find ways to increase retail sales tax for our community. We have two to three parcels in our community that can be developed commercially, which will continue to help our town avoid a property tax. Our town staff wears multiple hats and are very fiscally responsible. There is nothing to realistically cut, in terms of town services, that will still allow us to properly run this town.

Roth: The voters of Carefree voted down a property tax last year 80% to 20%. I was one of the people sitting at the Post Office educating people on why we did not need a property tax, so I am obviously against raising taxes. I believe there are a lot of things you can do before raising taxes. One being to take a long hard look at our town budget and see where the opportunities for belt tightening are. Towns should operate like households and live within their means. We are a small town that luckily is not overburdened by social services. I believe I am the only candidate advocating that we should find a way to live within our budget.

Johnson: I go back to my first answer — economic development and a thriving retail base. Raising taxes is always an easy answer, however in business when you don't meet your budgeted goals, cuts must be made. In addition to cuts, a strategy to increase revenue is key. Leaving empty retail space and not developing high-opportunity commercial land is the reason additional taxes would be necessary. If elected, I will use the same "hair on fire" urgency to move the needle and add additional revenue.

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Rose-Scurti: New state policies like the state income flat tax and the removal of the residential rental tax do impact town budgets. I do not support raising taxes as Carefree currently has one of the highest sales taxes in the state. I would rather make sure that we are obtaining the right businesses for our town to assure a healthy sales tax revenue. Then, I would make sure that capital improvements and other discretionary expenses were in line with our revenue. In tough times, as families do, our town would need to buckle down and spend wisely.

Azizi: I would not consider raising taxes on residents. Rather, in any situation requiring difficult or complex policymaking, I would consult the townspeople, experts, fellow council members and stakeholders in ascertaining the most beneficial and responsible path forward. That is, I would support creative efforts that engage affected parties to work together toward a collective solution rather than passing the buck to the taxpayer or cutting needed services.

Hatcher did not respond.

Perceptions: What would Carefree Town Council candidates change?

What is the best thing about Carefree that you would never change? Why? What is the first thing that needs changing and why?

D'Aliesio: We have a town of volunteers. We are a prosperous and friendly community comprised of caring residents. Our architecture, art, and desert landscape are among the most beautiful Sonoran Desert landscapes in the world.

Roth: Carefree is a perfect example of a small Sonoran Desert town with wonderful open spaces and I would never change that characteristic. I would first concentrate on the retail part of town since over 60% of our operating budget comes from sales tax. I would focus on the commercial properties that would generate the most sales tax and bolster our downtown merchants.

Johnson: Carefree is an absolute treasure. The open spaces and majestic scenery make Carefree a special place. How many people can walk out of their local grocery store and get the view of Black Mountain that I do? I would never compromise the open spaces and amazing views of the local terrain. The first order of business, as stated above, is enhancing our economic development, with sensible options that meet the local criteria and provide valuable sales revenue.

Rose-Scurti: One of the best things about Carefree is its small-town rural charm. We are a unique community surrounded by the beautiful Sonoran Desert. One of the things I would like to change right away is the relationship between the residents and the town staff (and) government. We can be more successful if we work together.

Azizi: Drawn by the breathtaking beauty of the Sonoran Desert, I, like many others, have long cherished the open space and iconic saguaros that set Carefree apart from the Valley's more urban environments. Sadly, this desert oasis is losing its charm as, along with neighboring cities like Scottsdale and Phoenix, Carefree has been littered with unsightly "5G" transmitters emitting poorly regulated forms of hazardous wireless radiation, despite little to no demand for such technology. Thus, addressing this industrial encroachment on our community and the delicate ecosystems that comprise our unique habitat would be a top priority of mine in office.

Hatcher did not respond.

The big picture: What is the biggest issue facing Carefree?

What is the biggest long-term issue facing Carefree? How would you work to address it over the course of your council term?

D'Aliesio: Fire and police protection, along with water, are our biggest long-term concerns. We are going to have to face increasing costs and need for additional resources as our town continues to evolve. Proper foresight in planning will help us prepare and not ignore the inevitable. We currently have police presence 24/7, but the allocation per shift is limited to one patrol officer. As our community continues to evolve, how will the need for additional police services look? In terms of fire, over 75% of our 911 calls are for medical emergencies. Will we need to bolster paramedic rescue staff? What about the constant threat of desert wildfires, particularly in the dry brush months of late spring-summer-early fall? Can we afford to pay for an increased fire presence if (or) when that time comes?

Roth: The changing nature of retail is our biggest challenge. We need to find a way to get the biggest share of consumer activity that we can. We need to become a destination town, which entails working with the merchants and landlords to have the right retail and dining mixture. We are one of the last remaining walking towns in this country and that can work to our advantage.

Johnson: Fire and safety are always top of mind. I would like to continue the partnership with Rural Metro and potentially start early negotiations on a contract extension. I would like to work with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office as well and develop enhanced services.

Rose-Scurti: The biggest long-term issue facing Carefree is making sure we have a healthy sales tax revenue. 62% of Carefree’s income comes from sales tax revenue. We are a small town with limited growth opportunities, so we need to be very smart about our development, the businesses we have and making sure that our businesses are growing and thriving. Towns and individuals alike will go through tough times, like we are now. We need to make sure that we plan well so that we can weather through the tough times.

Azizi: As with perhaps every other community in this country and across the globe, the greatest challenge Carefree is likely to face going forward is the illegitimate influence of monied interests on our self-governance and all the downstream effects such corruption entails. It would, therefore, be my priority to resist and expose any such influences on the Town if I am elected.

Hatcher did not respond.

Inspiration: Who shapes the Carefree Town Council candidates' thinking?

Who in public life, past or present, do you admire most? Why? And what lesson do you draw from that person’s experience?

D'Aliesio: Politically, I have always admired Ronald Reagan, primarily for his ability to reach across the aisle and work with bipartisanship for the greater good. While we are a non-partisan dais in Carefree, we still have differing political views and stances about how town services should be delivered. The key to success in our community is for the seven of us to get along and work together for the community, to talk to each other and listen (and) respect each other's views.

Roth: President Ronald Reagan was a politician who understood compromise and working with the opposition, especially Tip O'Neill who helped him achieve his agenda. He understood that optimism beats pessimism any day. I learned from him that you have to include the opposition if you are going to be successful on all political levels. One must listen to all the voices in town and respond with respect.

Johnson: This one is easy. I admire the first president I voted for: Ronald Reagan. I have studied Reagan and had the benefit of watching him first-hand. He had a unique style and grace that resonated with both parties. President Reagan was able to achieve immense success by reaching across the aisle and compromising. He always made both parties feel as if they had a voice and were part of the solution. If elected, I will use those same principals and work towards progress, not gridlock. As a council member, I am going to always listen to the residents' voices.

Rose-Scurti: The person I admire most is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. If we could all live as Jesus lived, with love, patience and respect of everyone, the world would be a better place.

Azizi: After reading Autobiography of a Yogi for the first time years ago, I came to strongly admire the book's author, Paramahansa Yogananda, for his dedication to raising human consciousness through the ancient science of yoga. By way of sincere spiritual seeking, whether in the form of prayer, worship, yoga or meditation, I believe individuals and societies, alike, can overcome any struggle, as "with God, all things are possible" — Matthew 19:26. This understanding of the connection between inner-seeking and the world around me has informed my sense of responsibility toward others and contributes daily to my efforts on behalf of causes greater than myself.

Hatcher did not respond.

Election integrity: Where do the Carefree Town Council candidates stand?

Do you think Arizona elections are fairly run? Do you trust the results? Will you abide by them? Why or why not? 

D'Aliesio: Our elections are managed the best they can be at this time. Greater oversight in ballot collection and counting can always be done with a greater number of volunteers counting ballots.

Roth: I believe the elections will be fair and I trust the results. To have a functioning government, you have to trust the election results.

Johnson: Having come from Illinois, where the motto is "vote early and vote often," I can most certainly say, yes! Arizona voting is run fairly. I do trust the results and will honor them. I have never been an election doubter and, based on the facts I have accumulated, I see no reason to challenge the electoral system.

Rose-Scurti: No, I do not think Arizona’s or the country's elections are fairly run. I think we should go back to paper ballots, voter ID, voting in your local precinct on one day and counting in your local precinct the same day — the way it used to be done.

Azizi: Maricopa County made national headlines in 2022 after a significant number of its voting machines failed on Election Day. To preserve public trust in the electoral process, I believe it is imperative that election officials act with transparency and accountability in administering elections. Equally important to our democracy, however, is the need for more independent and diverse candidates on the ballot in the first place. Thus, I support efforts to further ranked-choice voting, open primaries and clean elections in our state. Lastly, I believe in placing more power in the hands of the people by decentralizing government and increasing local control within municipalities.

Hatcher did not respond.

Reporter Sam Kmack covers Tempe, Scottsdale and Chandler. Follow him on X @KmackSam or reach him at sam.kmack@arizonarepublic.com.