Peoria election: Beck, Binsbacher sound off on education, jobs and public safety at Republic debate

Peoria mayoral candidates Bridget Binsbacher and Jason Beck faced off Wednesday to debate how they would tackle some of the city's most pressing issues.

The hour-long debate, sponsored by The Arizona Republic, drew a full house of about 200 people to Arizona Broadway Theatre and was punctuated by occasional applause, a few shouted questions from the audience and some verbal sparring on stage.

Beck is a Peoria business owner and political newcomer and Binsbacher heads the Cactus League and is a former City Council member.

Growth and the local economy dominated the discussion, with Binsbacher and Beck talking about their plans to address infrastructure needs, deal with the nuisances of short-term rentals and draw businesses to Peoria. Candidates also fielded questions about water, education and the 2020 presidential election.

Gloria Pawluk, who lives in the Union Hills area, said she came to the event to learn more about the candidates' plans for the city.

"I just have concerns that we have to start getting more industry here, which creates tax revenue," she said. "That's what we're looking for."

She believes the city has stagnated in recent years. She also said she has concerns about growth, particularly as the state faces water shortages.

Another voter, Juan Mojica of Sun Air Estates, said he wanted to know what the candidates thought about the 2020 presidential election.

"I'm concerned about what's going on in the country, the divisions and stuff. You're starting the grassroots here at the mayoral race," he said.

Early voting begins Oct. 12 and will conclude on Election Day, Nov. 8.

Here’s a look at some of the responses to questions at the debate.

Industry and local economy

Peoria, like much of the West Valley, has exploded with growth. But the city has relatively few large employers. Peoria’s 10 largest public and private employers accounted for fewer than 10,000 jobs, according to the city's 2021 annual financial report.

Peoria leaders have seen hits and misses in their years-long effort to draw medical and bioscience companies — an industry in which many of the city's residents work — and other businesses with lucrative positions.

Binsbacher: Peoria needs to focus on attracting high-paying jobs that fit the needs of the community. "We can open the doors to anything at any time; that's easy. And then you end up with drive-thrus and chains, and all of the things that people don't want." The city has a "very focused strategy" to attract new businesses.

Beck: There's currently "no strategy at all" for attracting jobs and business to Peoria. He said building in the city is a difficult process. "If you want people to actually invest their money in the city of Peoria and bring good jobs to the city of Peoria, you have to get out of their way and work with them to actually find solutions."

A municipal airport

The pair debated whether Peoria should open a municipal airport as a jobs driver for the city.

The possibility was raised about a dozen years ago, but didn't go anywhere with criticism that it would impact airspace requirements of nearby Luke Air Force Base.

Beck: "The airport is one idea of a large economic engine for the city" to capitalize on growth spurred by the nearby construction of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. He pointed out that Scottsdale's airpark is a jobs hub. "Our goal is to try to bring 15 to 20,000 jobs to north Peoria and create an economic corridor ... the diamond is the airport." He said the airport location would be 4.5 miles from any residential area.

Binsbacher: An airport in Peoria could be an option that could help local industry in the future, but would be logistically difficult to pull off. It would have a direct hit on quality of life for residents in the vicinity with planes flying over houses. She also worried about the cost. "The saying in the airport industry is, 'Spend a billion, earn a million.' It takes time." She also noted the plan would require conversations about airspace with Luke.

Water

With cutbacks to Colorado River water allocations, many cities have taken steps to conserve water and reexamine water use.

Beck and Binsbacher weighed in on Peoria's water future and how they will balance attracting jobs with the water demands of new development. Both said they would consider water use by new industry and seek to attract businesses committed to conserving and reusing water.

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Binsbacher: Peoria has enough water to use, but not enough to waste. Peoria is well positioned but must manage carefully and work regionally to be good stewards and to protect the city's water rights. "We want to align with businesses that are conscious of the precious resource and managing properly."

Beck: "Peoria has done an amazing job with water," but the city needs to look to how new technology can assist. Intel is an example of a company that does a good job cleaning and conserving water and Peoria needs to recruit companies with a similar culture.

Education

The Peoria Unified School District, among the largest in the state with some 38,000 students, has failed to get local voter approval for bonds, which are typically how districts pay to build and repair schools. Consequently, the district has been unable to build another high school in the city's growing northern corridor.

While the elected school board governs district operations and building, Beck has campaigned on the idea that the city could play a role in building two new high schools. He and Binsbacher shared thoughts on how the mayor can support local schools.

Beck: The key is to use the mayoral platform to assist. "There's a path to negotiate with the state Legislature to actually bring a high school to north Peoria, but also make sure we actually take care of our community schools in south Peoria."

Binsbacher: "What my opponent is talking about in negotiating deals on behalf of the school, the city is not the legal taxing authority for education. It's not legal." However, the city can continue to share resources, partner and have relationships with K-12 charter and district schools and higher education.

Keeping up with growth

As Peoria grows, residents are increasingly concerned about whether its roads and infrastructure can handle all the newcomers.

Binsbacher: "Peoria has a seat at the table and a voice in these discussions like never before. We've been able to pull our fair share of funding." She pointed to the widening of Happy Valley Road, a new bridge and the Jomax Road interchange. When it comes to interior roads, developers pay to build those within developments and the city looks for ways to make it easier and safer to get around the city as a whole.

Beck: Through relationships with state and federal politicians, Peoria can leverage more sway in conversations about new infrastructure. Highway 74 needs to be expanded. "What we really need to turn Highway 74 into is, essentially, the 303." The city has bonds and works with developers on roads, but needs to work with state legislators and congress members.

Investment in south Peoria

The candidates discussed the needs and investment in south Peoria.

Binsbacher: "There's rich culture and history in our city ... The arts, the activities, the events, it's unbelievable." She said the area is marketable as it never has been before. She said south Peoria has tremendous potential and pointed to investments in Pioneer Park, Rio Vista Park, Centennial Plaza and Osuna Park.

Beck: "Peoria has been built on the backs of south Peoria." He said the city doesn't present south Peoria in the same way as north Peoria and criticized a lack of parks and road maintenance. "It's shameful how we actually take care for it, we need to do better for our citizens."

2020 election

Arizona became ground zero for election denial after the 2020 election. An audit of the presidential results lasted for months and cost taxpayers millions of dollars. While it confirmed Joe Biden's victory and did not turn up evidence of widespread voter fraud, some candidates for office at the federal, state and local levels still question or deny the election results.

Beck and Binsbacher were asked if it was a free and fair election. Both declined to answer the question entirely, but shared some thoughts on the issue.

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Beck: "Our president is Joe Biden, and the reason we know that is because we've got the worst economy since 1929 ... what we need to do is actually make sure that we have a focus on our city."

Binsbacher: "Over, is what it is. The election is over, and we are moving on. We're moving on to 2024. We have a president in place, the election has been certified, and we can continue to look at the past, but let's start to look ahead."

Parks

Peoria has invested in new parks over the last decade, with the second phase of 120-acre Paloma Park in north Peoria scheduled to open in 2023. This year, it plans to spend 7% of its general fund on parks and recreation. By comparison, neighboring Surprise spends 9% of its budget on parks.

The candidates talked about whether Peoria is in balance on park spending.

Binsbacher: Peoria is committed to parks and trails across the city. "It has become part of our identity. It is what will draw businesses and investors to our city. It's amazing." The city spends more than 50% of its general fund on public safety and 9% on parks. "One should not come at the expense of the other ... we have to have a balance of amenities across the city."

Beck: "Investors don't look at our parks ... That's the problem that we have, the culture of that thought process is indicative of how the city is actually run." He said parks add to quality of life and "we love the parks that we have here," but they aren't revenue generators. He also criticized how some of the parks in south Peoria are maintained.

Short-term rentals

Short-term rental properties help drive economic growth and tax revenue, but have become a nuisance for some cities in the Valley. With big tourism events like the Super Bowl coming up in the West Valley, Beck and Binsbacher talked about how to address the issue.

Beck: Short-term rentals are a revenue opportunity for the city, but they need to be regulated and taxed. "I don't believe we should just leave it as it is." Leaders can't let the properties have negative impacts on quality of life for residents. "What happens is we ignore it; we just let it happen. And we can't do that any longer. It's becoming a developing industry."

Binsbacher: The properties are a business and revenue opportunity. "They are not being ignored." Areas with homeowner associations have more rules and enforcement ability than traditional neighborhoods in southern Peoria. "That's where we have to pay special attention to those communities and make sure they are protected."

Public safety

Crime reports from 2010-2020 show Peoria averaged about four homicides annually. Peoria saw an increase in violent crime — driven by aggravated assaults — but a drop in property crime, which makes up the vast amount of all crime in the city.

Here's what the candidates said on the community's safety.

Binsbacher: "Peoria is one of the safest cities in Arizona. It has been consistently. As population has gone up, crime has gone down ... Not once have we ever received any complaints on response times and service from our citizens." She said her opponent painted a dire public safety picture and it was "false information."

Beck: He said Peoria has 1.1 officers per 1,000 residents and neighboring Glendale has 1.6. "We have some of the slowest response times" and residents have complained. Peoria needs to focus on the future of public safety. "The only time this city actually focuses on public safety is when an election is going on."

More on Peoria's election

You can read more about Peoria's mayoral and City Council candidates' positions on key issues at azcentral.com. In addition to the mayoral race, voters will decide competitive council races in south Peoria's Acacia District and north Peoria's Mesquite District.

Sasha Hupka covers Maricopa County and regional issues for The Arizona Republic. Do you have a tip? Reach her at sasha.hupka@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter: @SashaHupka.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Peoria mayoral candidates talk education, industry at Republic debate