Jan 09, 2025 City Council Meeting 01/09/2024

[ Call to Order and Introduction of Guests]

[00:00:04]

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CHANDLER CITY COUNCIL.

BEFORE WE, UH, DO OUR, UH, ROLL CALL AND EVERYTHING ELSE, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND ACKNOWLEDGE SOME OF OUR GUESTS, OUR SPECIAL GUESTS, ELECTEDS, THAT ARE WITH US.

UM, I HAVE A LIST THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THEY ARE STILL HERE OR ABLE TO BE HERE, BUT, UH, AND IF YOU'LL SAVE YOUR APPLAUSE TO THE END, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MITZI EPSTEIN, OUR ARIZONA STATE SENATOR PATTY CONTRERAS, OUR ARIZONA STATE REP.

AND IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND SO THAT WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE YOU.

JENNIFER GERMAINE, PREVIOUS ARIZONA STATE REP AND JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.

REGINA ANTON, UH, GREG, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR KURT ROERS, UH, CUSD GOVERNING BOARD MEMBER RENEE LOPEZ.

FORMER CHANDLER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, AN ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSIONER TRINITY DONOVAN, FORMER CHANDLER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TAYLOR ROGERS, REPRESENTING THE OFFICE OF SENATOR MARK KELLY AND CHELSEA RIVAS, REPRESENTING THE OFFICE OF REPRESENTATIVE GREG STANTON.

AND UH, ALSO WE HAVE NORA ELLEN, FORMER CHANDLER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.

SHE WAS THERE.

SHE IS.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF HE WAS MADE IT IN JEFF WININGER, ARIZONA STATE REP.

HE WAS HERE.

HE WAS HERE.

GREAT.

HE WAS HERE.

AND THEN FINALLY, WE'RE ALWAYS GRATEFUL FOR OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHAMBER.

UH, TERRY KIMBALL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT IS HERE AS WELL.

WE GOOD.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US AND HELPING US HONOR, UH, OUR OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBER, AS WELL AS BEING HERE FOR THE INSTALLATION OF OUR INCOMING, UH, CLERK.

WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE THE ROLE? MAYOR HARTKE.

HERE.

VICE MAYOR HARRIS.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER ENCINAS.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER ORLANDO.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER POSTON HERE.

WE HAVE A QUORUM.

THANK YOU.

OUR INVOCATION IS GONNA BE, UH, DELIVERED BY DR. RANDY CARLSON FROM FAMILY LIFE RADIO, INTERNATIONAL MINUTE LIFE MINISTRIES.

RIGHT AFTER THAT, THE POSTING OF OUR COLORS FROM CHANDLER POLICE AND FIRE, OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FROM VICE MAYOR HARRIS.

THAT MIGHT BE THE LAST TIME HE HEARS THOSE WORDS.

VICE MAYOR, AT LEAST TONIGHT, .

KEEP SAYING IT.

AND THEN THE SONG THAT AMERICA, THE BEAUTIFUL CHANT BY FIRE, CHANDLER CHANDLER FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH, UH, PIPING DRUMS. SO DR. CARLSON, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

AND THANK YOU, UH, CHRISTINE FOR INVITING ME TO LEAD IN PRAYER TONIGHT.

LEMME JUST SHARE ONE VERSE IF I CAN FROM SCRIPTURE AND THEN LEAD US IN PRAYER.

UH, THE APOSTLE PAUL SAYS THAT I URGE YOU, FIRST OF ALL TO PRAY FOR ALL PEOPLE, AND THAT'S WHY WE BEGIN A MEETING LIKE THIS, THAT WAY.

ASK GOD TO HELP THEM INTERCEDE ON THEIR BEHALF AND GIVE THANKS FOR THEM.

AND THEN WE'RE REMINDED TO PRAY THIS WAY FOR KINGS AND ALL WHO ARE IN AUTHORITY SO THAT WE CAN LIVE PEACEFUL AND QUIET LIVES.

AND I KNOW THAT'S A BIG RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOU ALL HERE.

AND WITH THAT, UM, ALLOW ME TO PRAY, LORD GOD, IN OBEDIENCE TO WHAT I HAVE.

JUST READ FROM YOUR WORD.

I PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE OF CHANDLER THAT THEY WOULD KNOW YOU AS THE ONLY LIVING LORD OF THE UNIVERSE, AND EMBRACE THE TRUTH THAT HUMAN STRENGTH AND WISDOM ALONE IS INSUFFICIENT WITHOUT YOUR HOLY SPIRIT.

I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD PROTECT THE PEOPLE AND THE LEADERS OF THIS GREAT CITY FOR YOUR GLORY.

I PRAY ALSO FOR EACH MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL TONIGHT THAT, UH, ARE BEFORE US, UH, THAT THROUGH THEIR LEADERSHIP DECISIONS, THAT IT WOULD RESULT IN CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT CITY EXPERIENCING PEACEFUL AND QUIET LIVES.

I PRAY THAT THEIR DELIBERATIONS, UH, TONIGHT AND OTHER NIGHTS WOULD HONOR YOU AND THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY.

AND FINALLY, LORD, I PRAY THAT YOUR SPIRIT WOULD BE PRESENT HERE AND ACROSS THE VALLEY AND AROUND THE, AROUND THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

AND I PRAY ALL THIS IN THE MATCHLESS NAME OF THE ONE THAT CAME TO REDEEM OUR FALLEN WORLD FOR HIS GLORY AND OUR BENEFIT.

AMEN.

AMEN.

READY? CUT.

[00:06:44]

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR.

ALL RIGHT, GOOD.

PLEASE BE SEATED

[00:10:09]

COUNCIL NEXT ON OUR AGENDA AS WE HAVE A BRIEF CONSENT AGENDA.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROCEED? MAYOR, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ENC? YES.

[ Consent Agenda Items listed on the Consent Agenda may be enacted by one motion and one vote. If a discussion is required by members of the governing body, the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda for discussion and determination will be made if the item will be considered separately. Proposed Motion: Move to approve the Consent Agenda of the January 9, 2025, Regular Meeting, Items 1 - 3.]

I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR JANUARY 9TH, 2020, 2025.

REGULAR MEET MEETING ITEMS ONE THROUGH THREE.

MAYOR THE SECOND.

THE SECOND.

OH, PLEASE.

OKAY.

WE HAVE A, A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER ENCINA, A SECOND.

SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER POSTON.

UH, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY RECUSALS WITH THESE PARTICULAR ITEMS, SO COUNCIL, AND I BELIEVE YOU SAID WE CAN VOTE USING THESE ITEMS. GREAT, THANK YOU.

PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, NEXT,

[11. Presentation of Gifts to Outgoing Councilmember followed by Remarks]

JUST IF YOU MOVE FORWARD, WE'RE GOING TO, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

JUST STAND IN THE MIDDLE THERE.

YEAH, JUST AN AWKWARD MOMENT FOR YOU.

BUT STAY RIGHT THERE, .

AND THEN WE'LL JUST CONTINUE WITH ANGEL AND GOING AROUND.

BUT, UH, MARK, WE WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR BEING AWESOME ON COUNCIL, FOR LOOKING AT, UH, REALLY THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT, THE SCOPE, HAVING A PASSION TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE WERE LOOKING FOR OUT FOR A RESIDENCE.

AND YOU'VE BEEN A STRONG VOICE IN THAT.

SO I PICKED UP A COUPLE FUN THINGS FOR YOU.

FIRST, UH, A NICE TUMBLR FROM BURST OF BUTTERFLIES.

AND IF YOU NOTICE, IT'S GOT A MAP OF CHANDLER ON THERE.

OH MY GOD.

AND THAT'S TO REMIND YOU OF WHERE YOU'VE, WHERE YOU'VE COME FROM.

BUT MARK HAS A HABIT OF NEEDING TO BORROW PENS, .

SO I, I FILLED IT WITH PENS.

I LOVE IT.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE.

DANA ALSO REALIZES SINCE YOU ALWAYS BORROW PENS FROM HER, THAT SHE GOT YOU A SEPARATE SET AS WELL.

THESE ARE MY FAVORITE, YOU KNOW? YEAH.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OH BOY.

, I WAS GONNA STAY UP THERE, BUD.

FINE.

SO MARK, OUR CITY HAS BEEN SUCH A SUCCESS STORY, NOT ONLY ACROSS OUR STATE, BUT ACROSS OUR NATION.

AND IT'S DUE TO PREVIOUS LEADERS THAT HAVE GOTTEN US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

AND NOW YOU ARE AMONG THEM.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR DEDICATION, AND YOUR TIME OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.

NOT ONLY TO OUR CITY, BUT TO OUR RESIDENTS HERE.

SO I WANNA THANK YOU.

I WANNA THANK YOUR FAMILY, YOUR WIFE AND YOUR CHILDREN FOR LENDING US YOUR YOUR DAD HERE, UH, FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.

UM, IT, IT'S TRULY SOMETHING THAT'S GREAT SACRIFICE TO GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY.

SO APPRECIATE THAT.

UM, I WANNA SAY WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS SO FAR, AND THOSE YEARS WENT BY VERY, VERY QUICKLY.

AND YOU AND I, WE WENT FROM YOU NOT TAKING A MEETING WITH ME UNTIL I WAS AN OFFICIAL CANDIDATE ON THE BALLOT FOR COFFEE.

'CAUSE YOU WANTED SOMEONE SERIOUS TO SPEAK TO.

SO NOW YOU PICK UP EVERY PHONE CALL.

IF I CALL YOU, RESPOND TO TEXT MESSAGES, AND THEN I'LL INTERRUPT YOU IN YOUR WORKOUT AND WE'LL HAVE CHATS AT THE GYM AS WELL.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU, UM, ALWAYS BEING OPEN, LISTENING TO ME, YOUR GUIDANCE, YOUR ADVICE OVER THESE LAST TWO YEARS.

UM, IT'S BEEN GREAT AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THAT RELATIONSHIP AS YOU CONTINUE TO LEAD OUR COUNTY HERE IN THE GREAT STATE OF ARIZONA.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I'M HERE FOR ANYTHING YOU NEED ON THE CITY, AND I GOT YOU A LITTLE TREAT JUST TO, UH, KEEP UP WITH THE GAINS AT THE GYM.

SO THERE'S THAT FOR YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I APPRECIATE, EXCUSE ME ON THIS SIDE.

HELLO.

LOOK AT YOU STANDING, LOOKING AT ME, HUH? WELL, WE ALWAYS HA HAVE OUR OWN LITTLE CHATS ALL THE TIME.

SO I'M GONNA BE BRIEF THIS EVENING.

I JUST WANTED TO LEAVE YOU WITH SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO REMIND YOU BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS TOLD YOU THAT YOU ARE SUCH AN AMAZING YOUNG MAN AND THAT YOU HAVE A HEART TO SERVE.

BUT

[00:15:01]

AND THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN DO THAT FOR YOU.

AND AS I PUT A BLESSING OVER YOU THIS EVENING TO GO ON TO THE NEXT STEP, I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH SOMETHING THAT WILL CONTINUALLY REMINDED YOU WHY YOU DID THIS.

'CAUSE I'VE ALWAYS TOLD YOU, YOUR WHY NEEDS TO BE SO STRONG THAT WHEN THE TIME COMES AND THAT WHEN EVERYTHING IS FALLING APART, THAT YOUR WHY WILL KEEP YOU THERE AND HELP YOU TO PUSH THROUGH ANYTHING.

AND SO TONIGHT, THIS IS YOUR WHY, MARK STEWART, I WANT YOU TO SEE IT FIRST BEFORE EVERYBODY ELSE SEES.

OH, THIS IS YOUR WHY.

THIS IS YOUR WHY, THIS IS WHY YOU GO DOWN THERE FOR THIS PAINTING, HAS A HISTORY.

NOW YOU CAN SHOW IT.

THANK YOU.

SO ALLERGIES AGAIN.

UM, I WANT EVERYBODY TO SEE THIS, THIS, THANK YOU.

THIS PAINTING HAS A HISTORY.

UM, THE PAINTING WAS, UH, COMMISSION IN HAITI BY A YOUNG PAINTER CALLED ROOSH.

HE'S ONE OF OUR REALLY TOP UPCOMING PAINTER ON THE ISLAND.

AND HE'S PAINTED ALL THE 47 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.

AND SO HE HAS PAINTED THIS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

I DIDN'T KNOW I COULD GET IT HERE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO FLIGHT COMING OUT OF HAITI.

SO WE HAD TO FLY THIS PAINTING FROM PORT-AU-PRINCE TO CAPE PATIENT, FROM CAPE PATIENT TO FLORIDA, FROM FLORIDA HERE.

AND I DIDN'T EVEN THINK I WAS GONNA GET IT HERE UNTIL THIS MORNING.

IT ARRIVED AT MY HOUSE AND I WAS ABLE TO GET IT ALL SET UP FOR YOU.

BUT AGAIN, THIS IS YOUR WHY, MARK, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT MY TIME WORKING WITH CHRISTINE, WE'VE BECOME TREMENDOUS FRIENDS, UM, CONFIDANTS AND SHE'S A VERY SPECIAL PERSON IN MY LIFE.

UM, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

AND, AND, AND I'LL TRY TO SAVE SOME OF THE DOWNTIME WITH SOME SPEECH HERE.

BUT, BUT I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU AND FOR YOUR HEART AND FOR YOUR LOVE OF CHRIST.

IT'S HELPED ME GET CLOSER.

THANKS.

THAT'S AWESOME.

YOU JUST SHAVED ONE MINUTE OFF OF YOUR LEAVING SPEECH.

AND IF IT'S ANYTHING LIKE, UH, FORMER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RENEE LOPEZ, IT'S GONNA BE ONE FOR THE AGES.

.

NO, TRULY, UH, MARK, I KNOW THAT AT THE CENTER OF YOUR HEART IS YOUR FAMILY.

UM, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT YOU COME, HIS FAMILY, YOU COME FOR HIS HEART.

AND TRULY, HE HAS BEEN A GREAT REPRESENTATION OF WHAT A GOOD HUSBAND SHOULD BE TO A WIFE AND A GREAT FATHER.

HE SHOULD BE TO HIS CHILDREN.

AND I SEE YOUR SON IS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE, AND YOU'RE DOING SUCH AN AMAZING JOB WITH YOUR FAMILY.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES CHANDLER SO GREAT IS THESE FAMILY VALUES.

AND WHAT I WANTED TO DO IN THE SPIRIT OF THAT, I WANTED TO PROVIDE YOU WITH SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR WIFE AND GET AWAY FROM THE KIDS AND EVERYONE ELSE.

UH, SO EVERYONE KNOWS THAT COOPER HAWK IS ONE OF ONE OF MANY OF MY FAVORITE RESTAURANTS IN THE CITY OF CHANDLER.

MAKE SURE IF YOU'RE GONNA RIDE IT, RIDE IT RIGHT.

IT'S ONE OF MANY NO, BUT I HAVE A, UM, A GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR YOU AND YOUR WIFE TO ENJOY.

YOU SHARED A STORY THAT WHEN YOU WERE SWORN IN, YOU LIKE, I WAS LIKE, WHAT DID YOU DO AFTER YOU, LIKE, I HAD SOME CHICKEN NUGGETS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

.

BUT TRULY, THIS WILL HELP YOU HAVE AN ENJOYABLE EVENING AND A NICE BOTTLE OF WINE.

THAT IS, THAT WINE RIGHT THERE IS, UM, MY FAVORITE, ME AND MY WIFE'S FAVORITE WINE WHEN WE DECIDE TO HAVE WINE.

THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT OUR GO-TO.

SO MARK, CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

O HAS BEEN SUCH AN AMAZING, UH, COLLEAGUE, BUT SO MUCH FUN TO BE AROUND.

UH, AND HE TALKS ABOUT HEART, BUT THERE'S NOBODY THAT HAS A BIGGER HEART FOR THIS CITY THAN THAT MAN RIGHT THERE.

AND, UH, HE LIVES IT EVERY DAY.

SO I'M, I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE'VE GOTTEN TO WORK TOGETHER.

I'LL COME BACK TO YOU, ANGEL, BY THE WAY.

YEAH, .

THANK YOU BUDDY.

SO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO FOR A CENTER.

WE NEED A BASKETBALL CENTER.

JENNIFER, CAN YOU PLAY CENTER FOR US? I DON'T KNOW, BUT MARK, UM, IT'S BEEN GREAT GETTING TO KNOW.

I WORKED WITH WE FOR SIX YEARS.

I WORKED WITH A LOT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS AND WE HAD SOME FRANK AND HONEST

[00:20:01]

AND I THINK IN TODAY'S ENVIRONMENT, MORE SO MARK, WE NEED MORE OF THAT.

AND WE, WE, WE ALWAYS, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD FRANK DISCUSSIONS, WE HAD HONEST DISCUSSION AND WE WALKED AWAY SAYING, I UNDERSTAND MATT, I UNDERSTAND MARK.

AND IT MADE US BETTER.

IT MADE US STRONGER.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND I THINK FEW PEOPLE SAID IT TONIGHT, MARK LEADS WITH A HEART.

UM, THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

EVERY TIME HE MAKES A VOTE, I KNOW IT'S IN HIS HEART.

HE FEELS THAT'S THE BEST THING TO DO.

THANK YOU BUDDY.

WE'RE GONNA MISS YOU, BUT YOU HAVEN'T GONE TOO FAR.

WE NEED A LOT OF STUFF FROM THE COUNTY, SO WE'RE GONNA BE CALLING ON YOU BROTHER.

THANK YOU, SIR.

OH, THIS IS, THIS IS FOR YOU AND YOUR WIFE AS WELL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YEAH, MATT, MATT HAS BEEN QUITE THE HISTORIAN FOR, FOR ME AS WE'VE, UH, AS I, AS I CAME ON BOARD.

AND HE, HE JOINED A LITTLE BIT AFTER ME, BUT HE'S GOT SOME TENURE WITH THE CITY.

SO IT'S BEEN PHENOMENAL THAT HE'S BEEN ABLE TO SHARE WITH ME THE HISTORY OF THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE CITY.

UH, SO MUCH SO THAT YOU DON'T ALWAYS KNOW WHAT YOU'RE WALKING INTO WHEN YOU SIT DOWN, BUT HE'S GOT SUCH A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT HE'S BEEN ABLE TO SHARE WITH ME.

AND SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

MATT.

THANK YOU.

YEAH.

WHAT'S THAT ALL? YEAH, EXACTLY.

EXACTLY.

SO, OH, HI.

HI.

HOW ARE YOU? , .

SORRY, I SNUCK AROUND THE BACK.

SO THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, MARK, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER THIS, BUT I'VE KNOWN YOU MUCH LONGER THAN BEING ON COUNCIL.

OUR FIRST DISCUSSION WAS WHEN YOU CAME TO MY OFFICE RIGHT ACROSS THE WAY, AND WE HAD A VERY LIVELY DISCUSSION ABOUT MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS.

SO WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD THAT IN COMMON.

BUT YOU KNOW, MUCH LIKE MATT JUST SAID, I HAVE ALWAYS APPRECIATED THAT YOU AND I MAYBE DON'T SEE THINGS THE SAME WAY, BUT SO OFTEN WE COME TOGETHER AND HAVE, UH, AN AGREEMENT MAYBE FOR OUR DIFFERENT REASONS, BUT YOU'VE ALWAYS LISTENED TO ME RESPECTFULLY AND GIVEN AS GOOD AS YOU GOT, WHICH IS REALLY WHAT I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED.

SO THAT BEING SAID, I'M A HUGE READER.

I LOVE TO READ.

UM, BOOKS ARE VERY PERSONAL GIFTS THOUGH.

AND, UM, BUT I LOVE TO GIVE THEM, AND I AM CONFIDENT AFTER KNOWING YOU THAT THIS IS ONE YOU'RE GONNA LOVE AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT.

IT'S FROM THE HEART.

SO , IT'S A REALLY GOOD READ, ONE OF THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY.

SO CONGRATULATIONS.

GO DO A WONDERFUL JOB OFF IN THE COUNTY WILL BE, WE'LL BE TALKING TO YOU OFTEN, AND I, I ALWAYS HAVE APPRECIATED YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

I KNOW MUCH OF IT IS BASED ON THIS.

SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE.

WE'LL KEEP AT IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

TAKE CARE.

THANK YOU.

SO, SO EVERYBODY, THIS IS THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND OTHER, OTHER, OH, WHERE AM I? MY GLASSES, OTHER STORIES ABOUT AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.

AND SO ANYBODY THAT KNOWS ME KNOWS THAT, UH, A LOT OF WHAT I DO, ALMOST EVERYTHING I DO IS IN THE SPIRIT OF WHAT OUR FOUNDERS INTENDED FOR OUR CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC.

AND, UH, I'M JUST, UH, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, JANE.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT? THOSE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAVE ARE THE BEST.

AND, AND YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE THE GREAT THING ABOUT A, A CITY COUNCIL IS VERSUS MAYBE A, A LEGISLATOR OR UM, OR A, OR A PRESIDENT OR WHATEVER THAT MAY BE, IS THAT THERE IS DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT FROM EVERYBODY THAT'S ON THIS BOARD TO GET TO THE BEST DECISIONS, RIGHT? WE SIT IN A ROOM AND WE HASH THINGS OUT.

WE TRY TO THINK ABOUT WHAT'S THE BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO I, I'M SUPER GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

AND JOSH IS ON HIS WAY UP HERE TOO, SO I DIDN'T WANT TO GET IN FRONT OF YOU, BUT I, I DO HAVE A FEW WORDS PREPARED, BUT COMING UP, WE'LL, WE'LL GET THIS.

YEAH.

THANK YOU.

SO YOU GOT HALF MY SPEECH, , WE'RE JUST GETTING IT IN PIECES, RIGHT? YEAH.

WELL, THANK YOU.

UM, MARK, IT IS AMAZING.

WE HAVE COME THIS FAR.

SO THIS IS AN INTERESTING EXPERIENCE FOR ME BECAUSE YOU'RE THE FIRST COUNCIL MEMBER THAT IS LEAVING US, THAT WE'VE BEEN HERE ALMOST THE ENTIRE TIME TOGETHER.

WE STARTED ALMOST AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE CITY OF CHANDLER.

SO YOU WERE, YOU WERE ELECTED RIGHT BEFORE, UH, I WAS HIRED HERE, UM, ALMOST EIGHT YEARS AGO.

SO WHAT AN AMAZING JOURNEY WE'VE HAD TOGETHER, KIND OF GROWING UP WITH THE CITY OF CHANDLER.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, ONE THING I I BRIEF STORY I DO WANNA SHARE ABOUT MARK.

SO MARK WAS PROBABLY ONE OF OUR MOST ENTHUSIASTIC CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WE'VE EVER HAD.

HE CAME IN AS A BALL OF ENERGY.

IN FACT, MATT WAS JUST REMINDING ME THAT, UH, I THINK IT WAS IN YOUR FIRST FEW MONTHS ON THE COUNCIL, WE, WE HAD TO HAVE A LITTLE CHAT WITH YOU BECAUSE, UM, THERE WAS A SIDEWALK THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AND YOU DECIDED TO GO TRY TO REPAIR IT YOURSELF.

AND WE HAD TO REMIND YOU, WE HAVE, WE HAVE CREWS FOR THAT.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE, AND THEY DO THAT EVERY DAY.

BUT IT JUST SHOWED HOW PASSIONATE YOU ARE ABOUT THE CITY OF CHANDLER.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE ALWAYS LOVED ABOUT YOU ALWAYS ENJOYED ABOUT WORKING WITH YOU, IS THE PASSION IS SO CLEAR.

THE COMMUNITY IS ALWAYS TOP OF MIND.

NO MATTER WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, IT WAS ALWAYS A FUN CONVERSATION BECAUSE

[00:25:01]

AND YOU HAVE BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE OF OUR TEAM CHANDLER STAFF, YOU'VE NEVER DOUBTED, UH, THE ABILITY FOR THIS GREAT CITY TO GET AMAZING THINGS DONE.

AND ONE THING I'LL PERSONALLY MISS WHEN WE HAVE ALWAYS, UH, CHATTED IS YOU, WE ALWAYS HAD A TIME FOR A LITTLE BIT OF PERSONAL CHAT TOO.

AND YOU ALWAYS ASKED HOW MY FAMILY WAS DOING, HOW MY KIDS WERE DOING IN NEW SPORTS.

AND I ALWAYS APPRECIATED HOW MUCH YOU, YOU REALLY CARED ABOUT, ABOUT OTHERS AROUND YOU.

AND THAT SHOWS EVERY DAY, UH, AND THE WAY YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY AND, AND EVERYBODY IN YOUR CIRCLE.

SO WE HAVE A LITTLE GIFT FOR YOU HERE, GIVE THAT TO YOU.

THIS IS OUR TRADITION, AS YOU KNOW, HERE AT TEAM CHANDLER.

GET THE OFFICIAL SIGN HERE.

SO, OH, OFFICIAL .

FANTASTIC.

WELL, THIS WILL GO UP IN THE COUNTY, IN MY OFFICE, IN THE COUNTY.

SO, SO THANK JOSH, THANKS BROTHER.

AND I'M NOT GOING FAR, RIGHT? SO, UH, I I STILL LIVE IN CHANDLER.

I HAVEN'T MOVED TO QUEEN CREEK YET.

NO, I'M JUST KIDDING.

I LISTEN, I LOVE CHANDLER AND, AND, AND SERVING ON THE BOARD, AND I DON'T WANT GET IN THE WAY OF SOME IMPORTANT CEREMONIES THAT'S GOING ON HERE.

WE'VE GOT SOMEBODY TAKING OVER, UH, IN MY CHAIR THAT'S, UH, GONNA BE REMARKABLE.

SO I WANNA GET TO THAT TOO.

BUT I DID WANNA SHARE A FEW THINGS.

UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN I RAN EIGHT YEARS AGO, YOU GET THIS IMPRESSION THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GO IN AND CHANGE THE WORLD, RIGHT? YOU'RE GONNA, YOU, YOU GO WITH THIS HEART AND THIS THIS FEVER PITCH TO GO IN AND, AND YOU'RE GONNA, YOU'RE GONNA FIX THINGS, RIGHT? WHAT I QUICKLY REALIZED ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND WHAT I REALIZED ABOUT CHANDLER WAS IT WASN'T BROKEN, RIGHT? THERE WASN'T ANYTHING TO GO SHAKE YOUR FIST AT AND GO TRY TO FIX.

AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM.

LIKE WHEN YOU SEE A TURNOUT LIKE THIS FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING INSTALLED OR A FAREWAY FAREWELL CEREMONY, AND YOU SEE BOARDS AND COMMISSION MEMBERS AND CHAMBERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THIS IS WHAT MAKES THIS CITY WORK, IS THE PEOPLE THAT SHOW UP EVERY DAY, UH, TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

AND, AND THE GREAT THING ABOUT THAT IS, IS THAT EIGHT YEARS AGO, I RECOGNIZED THAT IMMEDIATE, I RECOGNIZE THAT WE'VE GOT COMMUNITY INPUT IN JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING WE DO.

AND THAT'S WHY THIS WORKS.

IT DOESN'T WORK LIKE THAT EVERYWHERE.

LIKE, YOU CAN'T GO TO CONGRESS, RIGHT? AND ADDRESS YOUR GOVERNMENT.

YOU CAN'T SEE THEM IN THE GROCERY STORE.

YOU CAN'T SEND THEM AN EMAIL OR A TEXT AND GET THAT BACK LIKE YOU DO FROM THE FOLKS UP HERE.

AND SO I'M GRATEFUL THAT THIS IS THE PATH THAT I CHOSE FOR, FOR GIVING SERVICE, RIGHT? OR, OR GIVING BACK IF I COULD.

AND IT MADE SENSE TO ME.

UM, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IT AT THE TIME.

AND SO HERE'S WHAT I, HERE'S WHAT I WANNA LEAVE YOU WITH.

YOU KNOW, LOCAL GOVERNMENT MATTERS SO, SO MUCH.

AND YOU GUYS THAT ARE IN THE ROOM UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THIS CITY GET IT.

THEY GET THEIR WHY, AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

THEIR WHY IS ABOUT PROVIDING SERVICE TO YOU SO YOU FEEL SAFE AND SECURE IN YOUR HOME.

AND SO THAT YOU FEEL LIKE ALL THE THINGS THAT, THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU MATTER, RIGHT? AND, AND THEY CARE ABOUT YOU.

SO IT'S THE COMMUNITY, IT'S THE STAFF.

AND THEN LASTLY, IT'S THE LEADERSHIP, RIGHT? AND SO WE'VE GOT SOME INCREDIBLE PEOPLE THAT CARE A LOT ABOUT THEIR NEIGHBORS, RIGHT? AND I SAY NEIGHBORS ALL THE TIME BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

WE'RE ALL NEIGHBORS.

YOU KNOW, WE MAY NOT AGREE ON EVERYTHING, BUT MOST OF THE TIME WE DO, RIGHT? MOST OF THE TIME WE HAVE A, WE HAVE, WE, WE, MOST OF THE TIME WE UNDERSTAND, RIGHT? WE UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.

ANYWAY, I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS, YOU KNOW, MY TIME HERE, WHILE IT WAS EIGHT YEARS WENT LIKE THAT.

AND WHAT I GOT TO SEE DURING THAT TIME WAS A COMMUNITY THAT MOVED INTO A COMMUNITY OF INNOVATION, BUT IT NEVER LOST THAT COMMUNITY FEEL.

WE WENT FROM ABOUT 220,000 PEOPLE TO 280,000 PEOPLE.

WE BUILT, UH, NEW SQUARE POPPED UP, INTEL EXPANDED NORTHROP GRUMMAN MOVED HERE FROM UTAH.

WE, UM, ADDED SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE DONE AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF WORK HERE, AND IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE STAFF AND THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THE COMMUNITY.

SO, JOSH, I GOTTA TELL YOU, YOU KNOW HOW TO RUN A SHIP AND, UH, YOU KNOW HOW TO MANAGE ALL OF US AND STILL GET THE THINGS DONE THAT THESE FOLKS WANT TO GET DONE WHEN WE BRING THAT TO YOU AND JUGGLE ALL THOSE THINGS.

AND IT'S REMARKABLE.

AND, UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF FUN WHEN WE'RE DOING IT.

THE THING IS, WELL, YOU DON'T KNOW, IS THAT JOSH AND I WOULD HAVE OUR MEETINGS, WE'D GO OVER THE AGENDA ITEMS, AND ABOUT EVERY THIRD COMMENT WAS A JOKE, AND WE HAD A REALLY GOOD TIME, BUT WE, BUT WE WERE SERIOUS ABOUT THE JOB WE HAD

[00:30:01]

AND SO EVERYBODY UP HERE DOES THE SAME THING.

AND SO WE'VE HAD A GREAT TIME.

I WANNA TELL YOU THIS, UM, THE THE LAST THING I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH AND, AND, AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THAT PHOTO, BUT MY FAMILY IS MY WHY, RIGHT? THEY'RE WHY I DO WHAT I DO.

UM, BUT I ALSO CONSIDER THE COMMUNITY MY FAMILY, RIGHT? AND SO WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

UM, LET'S JUST KEEP PLOWING FORWARD.

CHANDLER'S A GREAT CITY, BUT ALLISON, WHO'S WATCHING HER, I, I MEANT TO MENTION THAT HER, HER MOTHER'S NOT FEELING WELL.

SO SHE'S BACK IN MISSOURI, UH, VISITING WITH FAMILY AND SISTERS AND EVERYBODY'S IN TOWN.

AND, AND, UH, OF COURSE, UM, MY SON'S HERE, COLE.

AND, UH, MY DAUGHTER IS WATCHING AT HOME AS WELL.

SHE'S NOT FEELING WELL.

BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH.

FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I'M JUST GOING TO MARICOPA COUNTY.

SO HOPEFULLY I CAN TAKE SOME OF THAT PASSION AND SOME OF THE GREAT WORK THAT WE'VE DONE HERE IN CHANDLER AND TAKE THAT CULTURE TO MARICOPA COUNTY AND, UH, AND DO SOME GOOD THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME AND LETTING ME SERVE YOU FOR THESE, THESE EIGHT YEARS.

I'M, I'M TRULY GRATEFUL.

I I, DO YOU WANNA SAVE ANYTHING OR? I DID.

I DID WANT TO SAY ONE LAST THING.

MAYOR, YOU'VE BEEN QUITE THE MENTOR TO ME.

AND, AND, AND I GOTTA TELL YOU, BETWEEN YOU HERE ON THE DAAS AND ANGEL AT THE GYM, , UM, THE COACHING HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE, HIM AND THE WORKOUTS.

AND STOP TALKING, START WORKING OUT STEWART AND, AND, AND YOU WITH BEING A MENTOR, UH, AS THE MAYOR AND, AND HELP GUIDING THE CITY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I'M, I'M DEEPLY GRATEFUL AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AT THE, AT THE COUNTY.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU AGAIN.

UH, SUPERVISOR STEWART.

SO I'M GOING TO, TO GAVEL OUT AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO INSTALL OUR NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THEN I'M GONNA GAVEL IN AND WE'LL HAVE A BRIEF MEETING TO, UH, COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON A NEW VICE MAYOR, AND THEN SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND THEN WE WILL CARRY ON TO WHATEVER FOLLOWS THIS GATHERING.

SO AT THIS POINT, I, UM, VICE SPARE.

IS YOUR FAMILY ALL HERE YET? NO.

ALL RIGHT.

SO, UH, JENNIFER, WE'RE, UH, JENNIFER HAWKINS, WE'RE GONNA START WITH YOU.

I REALIZE THAT YOU WERE HOPING TO, TO FOLLOW THIS, BUT, UH, ALWAYS GOOD TO PUT NEW COUNCIL MEMBER IS IN THE FIRE AND SURPRISE THEM.

AND IF YOU WANNA INVITE UP WHO YOU WOULD LIKE, AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE, JUDGE, YOU'LL BE RIGHT HERE, OKAY? OH, SURE.

OKAY.

UH, YOU'LL PUT YOUR LEFT HAND ON YOUR BIBLE AND YOUR RIGHT HAND, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE YOU SWEAR IN I JENNIFER HAWKINS, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMN, THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA AND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME, AND I'LL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME AND DEFEND THEM AGAINST ALL ENEMIES AND DEFEND THEM AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.

FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.

AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES.

DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL, MEMBER OF THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL, MEMBER OF THE CITY OF CHANDLER, OF THE CITY OF CHANDLER, COUNTY OF MARICOPA, COUNTY OF MARICOPA, STATE OF ARIZONA.

STATE OF ARIZONA, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.

SO HELP ME GOD.

SO HELP ME GOD, CONGRATULATIONS.

YEAH, THAT'S OKAY.

[00:35:01]

I JUST WANNA TAKE THIS TIME TO SAY A FEW THANK YOUS.

UM, OH, IT'S WEIRD BEING ON THIS SIDE OF IT FINALLY, IF I'M BEING HONEST, BUT I'M SO EXCITED TO BE HERE.

SO I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY FAMILY, FIRST AND FOREMOST.

UH, THEY WERE HUGE IN THIS, OBVIOUSLY WITHOUT THEM, ANYBODY RUNNING A CAMPAIGN KNOWS THAT IT IS SO IMPOSSIBLE AND DIFFICULT TO TRY TO DO SUCH A THING IF THEY ARE NOT ON BOARD AND SUPPORTIVE.

AND THEY HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT THAT.

SO I'M ETERNALLY GRATEFUL.

UM, SO THANK YOU AND I LOVE YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TO SUPPORT ME.

SECONDLY, I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY FRIENDS.

I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THEY HAVE PROVIDED FOR ME.

UM, AGAIN, WITH CAMPAIGNING, THERE IS NEVER A, UH, A CONSTANT FLOW OF IT'S ALL JUST GREAT.

IT'S A LOT OF UPS AND DOWNS.

AND SO THEY WERE THERE TO LISTEN TO ALL OF IT, ALL OF MY QUESTIONS, ALL OF MY SYMPATHIES, PAINS, EVERYTHING.

AND SO, THANK YOU.

UM, AGAIN, COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU.

I ALSO WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO MY CAMPAIGN TEAM.

I HAVE, UH, MANY OF THEM HERE.

AND AGAIN, LIKE WE HAD A GRASSROOTS TEAM THAT JUST WAS ALL OVER CHANDLER, THEY HELPED ME.

THERE'S NO WAY I COULD HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THEM.

AND THEM, ALONG WITH LD 13, ETERNALLY GRATEFUL.

UM, I JUST, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY.

I, I REALLY COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THE, LIKE, THE SUPPORT AND THE CONSTANT, UH, INTERACTION AND JUST DIRECTION AND GUIDANCE THAT I RECEIVE FROM THAT.

I ALSO WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO JESSICA LOPEZ, MY CAMPAIGN MANAGER.

I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

UH, IT MEANS A LOT TO ME THAT YOU TOOK THE TIME AND, AND ENERGY AND EFFORT TO, TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN FOR ME.

UM, ALONG WITH THAT, I ALSO WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO MY DONORS.

I WILL ADMITTEDLY SAY THAT IS PROBABLY THE WORST PART ABOUT ALL OF THIS, BUT THANK YOU.

YOU HELPED ME GET THIS FAR.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, ALONG WITH JESSICA, I ALSO HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU TO A HUGE MENTOR AND HUGE COMPONENT OF MY CAMPAIGN, RENEE LOPEZ.

UH, HE THANKFULLY, UH, ANSWERED ALL MY CALLS, ANSWERED ALL MY QUESTIONS, AND, AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING HIM WITH J ME, JESSICA, AND ALSO CHRISTINE ELLIS.

I, YOU KNOW, ALONG WITH ALL OF COUNCIL, BUT CHRISTINE ELLIS WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING ME IN GUIDING ME AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

UM, ALONG WITH THAT, I HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE CURRENT COUNCIL.

YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL.

YOU'VE BEEN SO WELCOMING.

UH, YOU GUYS PROVIDE A REALLY GREAT CULTURE TO WALK INTO AND I'M SO GRATEFUL.

SO THANK YOU.

AND LASTLY, THANK YOU TO STAFF.

AND I GUESS MORE OR LESS IS, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR ENTRUSTING ME TO GET THIS FAR AND TO HELP GUIDE THE CITY AND MOVE IT FORWARD.

SO THANK YOU EVERYBODY.

I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TONIGHT AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

ALRIGHT, NEXT UP IS TI HARRIS GO RIGHT? OKAY.

THE CAMERA IS RIGHT OVER HERE, SO YOU'RE GONNA OH, OKAY.

GOT IT.

THIS WAY.

YEP.

THANKS.

BYE.

ALL RIGHT.

OVER THERE.

ALL RIGHT, WE THERE? ALL RIGHT.

HEY, MA'AM, I-O-D-E-I-O OD HARRIS, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS AND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA, OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH.

I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME, AND DEFEND THEM AGAINST ALL ENEMIES.

AND DEFEND THEM AGAINST ALL ENEMIES.

FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.

FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.

AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY AND I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE THEIR DUTIES, DISCHARGE THEIR DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL, MEMBER OF THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL, MEMBER OF THE CITY OF CHANDLER, OF THE CITY OF CHANDLER, COUNTY OF MARICOPA, COUNTY OF MARICOPA, STATE OF ARIZONA, OF ARIZONA, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.

SO HELP ME GOD.

SO HELP ME GOD.

THANK YOU.

AMEN.

CONGRATULATIONS, BROTHER.

WELL, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH, UM, FOR BEING HERE.

I'M HERE WITH MY FAMILY, MY, MY WIFE, MY DAUGHTER, IVORY JEREMIAH, AND IVE, UH, WE'RE HERE AND I GOT A COUPLE WORDS.

SO IF MY FAMILY WANTS TO STAY UP HERE WITH

[00:40:01]

IF NOT, YOU CAN GO TAKE YOUR SEATS IF YOU CHOOSE TO.

UM, BUT IT WAS, IS I'M VERY THANKFUL AND I WANNA REALLY START OUT BY EXPRESSING MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO MY WIFE, WHO HAS LITERALLY BEEN A RIDE OR DIE AND SOMEONE WHOM I LOVE.

AND I WANNA MAKE SURE SHE ALWAYS HAVE HER FLOWERS WHILE I'M ON THIS EARTH.

MY WIFE IS ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING WOMEN YOU'LL EVER MEET IN LIFE.

I PROMISE YOU THIS.

AND WHAT MY WIFE DOES IS SUPPORT TO MAKE SURE I STAND STRAIGHT, INTERACT.

AND YOU GUYS MAY HEAR ME ON THE COUNCIL TALKING ABOUT MY WIFE, MY WIFE, MY WIFE.

THAT'S BECAUSE I GOT A GOOD ONE.

AND I THANK GOD FOR HER AND MY CHILDREN WHO HAS BEEN HERE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, MAKING SURE THEY'RE HELPING OUT, DOING WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE AND ALSO MAKING SURE THAT I STAY FOCUSED.

AND MY, UM, MY OLDEST DAUGHTER, SHE WORKS FOR A MAJOR NEWS MEDIA OUTLET, AND I ALWAYS ASK HER, HAVE I MADE NATIONAL NEWS YET? SHE'S LIKE, NAH, NOT YET .

SO IT'S REALLY AWESOME.

BUT I WANNA SHARE SOME WORDS WITH, WITH THE PEOPLE OF CHANDLER.

AND I JUST KIND OF WANNA SHARE MY HEART.

AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU GUYS MAY HAVE KNOWN THE CHALLENGES THAT I FACED DURING MY ELECTION, AND I JUST KIND OF THINK IT'S BEFITTING SINCE IT'S MY MOMENT.

I'M GONNA HAVE MY MOMENT, UM, SO I CAN SHARE AND EXPRESS SOME OF THE THINGS I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU.

SO THIS CAMPAIGN CYCLE LAST YEAR WAS NOT WITHOUT ITS CHALLENGES, A SMALL BUT VOCAL CLAN SOUGHT TO TEST MY RESOLVE AND THE STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THEY QUESTIONED MY CHARACTER, MY SERVICE, SPREADING MISINFORMATION ABOUT ME, MY FAMILY, AND OUR MOVEMENT.

UH, THEIR ATTACK, THEIR ATTACKS ESCALATED INTO A FULL-BLOWN SMEAR CAMPAIGN FILLED WITH A LOT OF HATE AND BIGOTRY.

AND YOU GUYS KNOW IT.

AND CAMP, THE CAMPAIGN SIGNS, MY CAMPAIGN SIGNS WERE DEFACE WITH HATEFUL GRAFFITI, SWASTIKAS, RACIAL SLURS, AND OTHER VIOLENT MESSAGES INTENDED TO INTIMIDATE OR DIVIDE US.

UM, THE THESE ACTIONS WERE NOT JUST AN ATTACK ON ME, BUT ON THE VALUES WE AS A COMMUNITY HOLDS SO DEAR.

BUT AS DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING WOULD SAY, THE ULTIMATE MEASURE OF A MAN IS NOT WHERE HE STANDS IN MOMENTS OF COMFORT OR CONVENIENCE, BUT WHERE HE STANDS AT TIMES OF CHALLENGE AND CONTROVERSY.

SO WE STOOD TALL, WE RESPONDED NOT WITH ANGER, BUT WITH A CAMPAIGN ROOTED IN COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITY AND LOVE.

AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT CHANDLER VOTERS RESPONDED RESOUNDINGLY.

AND TOGETHER WE ACHIEVED A HISTORIC LANDSLIDE VICTORY AND WINNING EVERY DISTRICT AND SECURING THE MOST VOTES OF BY A SIGNIFICANT MARGIN.

AND I'M REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THAT AND THANK YOU, CHANDLER.

BUT AS I STAND HERE WHILE THE VICTORY SUITE, I STILL REMAIN DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ACTION OF THOSE WHO TRIED TO DIVIDE US.

I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT LOSING VOTERS OR EVEN OPPOSITION.

I'M WORRIED ON HOW THEIR ATTEMPTS TO SPREAD HATE AND DISCORD RISK, UNDERMINING THE VALUE SOUL OF OUR COMMUNITY.

MY GREATEST FEAR, MY GREATEST FEAR IS NOT LOSING A VOTE OR FACING OPPOSITION, BUT WATCHING OUR COMMUNITY LOSE SIGHT OF ITS HEART.

A COMMUNITY WITHOUT HEART IS A CITY WITHOUT HOPE.

AND THAT'S THE FEAR WE MUST FACE TOGETHER.

CHANDLER IS A CITY BUILT ON STRONG FOUNDATIONS.

VALUES PASSED DOWN BY FAMILIES LIKE THE DOBSONS, THE RAYS, THE PAYNES, THE WESTBROOKS, THE SAVAGES, THE HARRISES, THE WOODS, THE EARNHARDT, THE MCQUEEN'S, THE MCCALL'S, THE GONZALEZ, AND MANY OTHERS.

THESE FAMILIES HAVE TAUGHT US THE DIGNITY, RESPECT, AND UNITY ARE AN INVESTMENT WE MUST MAKE TOGETHER TO SAFEGUARD OUR HUMANITY FOR TOMORROW.

THIS INVESTMENT IS, IS THIS INVESTMENT IS MORE THAN MORAL.

IT'S A PRACTICAL AND IT'S A MONETARY ONE FOR OUR SENIORS AND FAMILIES.

INFLATION IS AN ABSTRACT STATISTIC.

IT'S A DAILY STRUGGLE.

IT'S THE AGONIZING CHOICE BETWEEN MEDICINE AND FOOD, BETWEEN DIGNITY AND DESPAIR.

AND AS YOUR COUNCILMAN, I WILL NOT ALLOW THESE FEARS TO GO UNANSWERED.

BUT I CAN'T DO THIS ALONE.

I NEED YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.

AND AS A COMMUNITY LEADER, WE MUST

[00:45:01]

WE CAN DO THIS IF WE INVEST IN OUR SCHOOLS AND INVEST IN OUR SENIORS.

SUPPORT BOTH FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES AS WELL AS FAMILY OWNED BUSINESSES.

FIGHT NOT AGAINST EACH OTHER WITH HATE, BUT FOR EACH OTHER WITH LOVE, COMPASSION, AND SHARED AND VISION TO OUR COMMUNITY.

IF WE LEARN HOW NOT TO COME AT EACH OTHER AND NOT LOSE HEART, YOU ARE THE REASON WHY WE ARE HERE.

YOU ARE THE BLOOD THAT GOES THROUGH THESE VEINS.

CHANDLER PEOPLE IS THE HEART OF THIS COMMUNITY.

AND I'M GLAD YOU SAID HEART BECAUSE I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY.

I'VE SERVED THIS COMMUNITY WITH EVERYTHING I GOT.

AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M HERE TO REPRESENT AND BE A VOICE TO THE VOICELESS.

AND IF YOU EVER NEED THAT CUP OF COFFEE AND IF YOU EVER NEED THAT TEXT MESSAGE, I WILL BE THERE AGAIN.

THANK YOU TO MY SUPPORTERS, THANK YOU TO MY FAMILY, AND THANK YOU TO ALL THAT'S HERE.

THANK YOU.

OKAY, CHRISTINE ELLIS, MAY I HAVE THE TRIBES COME UP? ON EVERYONE.

LET'S GO.

CAN'T WAIT ON US.

LET'S GO.

COME ON SANDY.

GO AHEAD AND COME AROUND HERE BEHIND THE DIRECTION.

YES.

SO I WANT MR. LEON, WHERE'S MS. STALLION? RIGHT HERE.

BRING THE PODIUM.

YES PLEASE.

THANK YOU.

RIGHT HAND THEN PUT YOUR, YES, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.

THERE YOU GO.

BIBLE.

THERE YOU GO.

THERE YOU GO.

I, CHRISTINE ELLIS.

I, CHRISTINE LON DE ELLIS DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION.

THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AND THE CONSTITUTION LAWS, THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH.

THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME.

TO THE SAME.

AND DEFEND THEM AGAINST ALL ENEMIES.

AND DEFEND THEM AGAINST ALL ENEMIES.

FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.

FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.

AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY.

AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES.

DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL, MEMBER OF THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL, MEMBER OF THE CITY OF CHANDLER, OF THE CITY OF CHANDLER, COUNTY OF MARICOPA, COUNTY OF MARICOPA, STATE OF ARIZONA.

STATE OF ARIZONA, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES.

SO HELP ME GOD.

SO HELP ME GOD.

AMEN.

AMEN.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU ALL TAKE THIS AFTERNOON TO BE HERE WITH US.

MAY I SAY FIRST A GREAT THANK YOU TO MY HUSBAND BENJAMIN ELLIS THAT IS STANDING HERE WITH ME THIS EVENING.

AND AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE KURT, WHERE ARE YOU? CAN YOU PLEASE GO GET THAT UH, PAINTING RIGHT BEHIND WHERE MARK IS STANDING AND OPEN IT FOR ME? 'CAUSE I HAVE A FEW WORDS TO SAY.

NOT ONLY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY HUSBAND, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW THAT I BELIEVE THAT IF I DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT THEM, IT WILL BE REMISS OF ME TO DO THAT.

DR. CARLSON AND MS. DINA, CAN YOU PLEASE STAND UP? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

YOU PROBABLY HEARD OF FAMILY

[00:50:01]

AND THIS COUPLED HAVE AFFORDED ME TO BE ABLE TO STAND HERE TONIGHT.

THEY HAVE POURED INTO MY LIFE FOR THE LAST 38 YEARS THAT I'VE LIVED HERE IN ARIZONA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING ME THE WOMAN THAT I AM TONIGHT IN LIVING INTENTIONALLY.

YOU SEE ME WEARING THIS BRACELET ALL THE TIME, THE TIME.

AND THIS ONE STATED THAT ONE THING I DO.

AND EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT I GET UP AND I TELL MYSELF THERE'S ONE THING I DO, I FORGOT ABOUT THE PAST AND I KEEP MY EYES ON THE PRIZE.

YOU HAVE TAUGHT ME THAT SO WELL ALONG THE WAY.

AND FOR THAT, I AM SO GRATEFUL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY, PASTOR BECKY AND PASTOR DAVIS BRIDE DAVIS.

I'M STANDING BEFORE YOU TWO THIS AFTERNOON BECAUSE YOU HAVE ALSO TAUGHT ME LIVING WITH A CLEAN HAND AND A PEW HEART.

GOD WILL ALWAYS HONOR THAT.

LOVING OTHERS BEYOND YOURSELF.

GOD WILL ALWAYS HONOR THAT.

AND SO FOR THAT, I'M GRATEFUL AND I WILL CONTINUE.

I'VE GONE ALL OVER THE WORLD WITH YOU GUYS DOING MISSIONS.

AND SO TONIGHT WE ARE STANDING ON A MISSION THAT IS STRONGER AND BIGGER THAN OURSELVES, WHICH IS THE MISSION OF THE PEOPLE OF CHANDLER.

AND FOR THAT I COVERED YOU'RE COVERING.

AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT TO MY FAMILY AND ALL OF YOU THAT ARE STANDING HERE, MY SISTER SHELA MICHELLE, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING BEEN MY RIDE OR DIE, CALLED YOU MIDNIGHT, ONE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, WHENEVER TIME YOU ARE THERE FOR ME AND FOR THAT I'M GRATEFUL.

AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU.

I COULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT YOU.

WE'VE RUN A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS HERE IN CHANDLER AND WE NEVER LOOK BACK.

BUT THE ONE THING THAT WE LEARNED TO DO ALONG THE WAY, WE TAKE CARE OF GOD'S PEOPLE.

GOD'S PEOPLE WILL TAKE CARE OF US.

MR. LEON AND MS. LATANYA, YOU CAME TO ME YEARS AGO AND YOU WORK FOR ME, MS. LATANYA, AND NOW YOU WORK ALONGSIDE ME.

YOU ARE AN OWNER.

WHEN WE WERE SELLING, WE SOLD TO YOU SO THAT YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND AND YOUR FAMILY COULD STAND WITH ME TONIGHT, MR. LEON, AS THE PERSON THAT WE RUN ALL THOSE SIGNS, EVERY SINGLE SIGN THAT YOU SEEN PUT UP BY ME, THIS MAN WAS BEHIND THAT.

HE PUT THEM UP AND HE ALSO HELPED PUT THEM DOWN.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I WANNA THANK YOU.

ONE OF MY BIGGEST CHEERLEADERS IS MR. GONZALEZ, MY ADOPTED SON, AND HE'S FLYING THROUGH ARIZONA TONIGHT.

HE STOPPED TO BE WITH ME TONIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I ADOPTED YOU AS MY SON.

AND SO TONIGHT YOU REPRESENT SOMEBODY THAT IS VERY CLOSE TO MY HEART.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND TO MY NIECES, MY FRIENDS, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU THAT ARE STANDING HERE WITH ME, MY COUSINS, AND YOU SEE THIS WHOLE GROUP OF PEOPLE HERE WITH ME, THEY MADE ME WHO I AM.

AND SO FOR THAT, I AM GRATEFUL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH ME.