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Opinion

James: Fountain Hills’ town employees are impressive

I’m so impressed every time I listen to staff members report to the Town Council. The Town’s employees work hard to solve our problems on a shoestring budget. …
Opinion

Dover: Concerning local parallels to national politics

I’ve been seeing an interesting, and unwelcome, parallel between our town politics and that of Washington, D.C. Whereas during the years of President Trump’s term of office we saw …
Opinion

Mynars: Schweikert’s vote on George Santos

As a Fountain Hills resident, I must congratulate our District 1 U.S. Congressman, David Schweikert, for his vote to expel New York Congressman, George Santos (a.k.a. the “Serial …
Opinion

Dime: My thoughts on various wars

A terrorist invasion slaughtering innocent people deserves an immediate and conclusive response, including eliminating the terrorists from posing a future threat. No person or nation has the …
Opinion

Lorenz: I am thankful, but also disappointed

I am truly thankful for the great privilege of working with extraordinary Fountain Hills citizens on a topic that is important to our community, education. I volunteered to help facilitate …
Opinion

Cap: We know who is to blame for the 5G moritorium

Concerning 5G, Councilmembers Skillicorn, Toth, Kalivianakis and Friedel put our community in this position in the first place. They implemented the moratorium on improvements to the 5G service based …
Opinion

Plencner: Some thoughts on next year’s elections

“Why have you not written any letters to the editor recently,” a friend asked. “Well, apparently we have fixed everything,” I jokingly replied. If only that were true. …
Opinion

Cap: Councilman Skillicorn is the one being uncivil

Councilmember Skillicorn calling for civility is comical and hypocritical. This man creates drama and chaos, then gets upset when Fountain Hills residents push back and disagree with him. He is …
Opinion

Kirk: Regarding civility, Skillicorn needs to start with himself

Councilmember Allen Skillicorn recently wrote an opinion calling for civility. I’m not sure he knows what that word means. Is it civil for a council member to attack residents on social …
Opinion

Ward: Thank you for supporting the Jewish community

Thank you to Mayor Dickey, Councilman Friedel, the Fountain Hills Times Independent and everyone on both sides who have rallied behind and supported our local Jewish community. Let’s prove …
Take the Civility Pledge

Civility Checklist

How to engage in respectful, honest & civil dialogue about public issues.

Checkmark Take the high road.  Respond to the topic — not the person. Refrain from demonizing others for their opinions. Assume those you disagree with are, like you, genuinely interested in improving the community.

Checkmark Be respectful. Bullying, public humiliation, insults, name-calling, harassment, and threats directed at another person — or that person's race, gender, religion, ethnicity, etc. — have no place in civil discussions. Find ways to respectfully disagree without questioning someone's character or motives.

Checkmark Be truthful. Base your opinions/arguments on facts. Value honesty. Make only accurate statements when making your point and avoid exaggeration and stereotypes. When appropriate, cite your sources of information that others may question. 

Checkmark Don't misrepresent. Always identify your opinions as opinions (not stating opinions as facts). Never misrepresent the views of others or falsely claim your opinions represent someone else. If quoting the words of others, identify and credit the source.

Checkmark Listen  & learn. It's both polite and respectful to listen to those we disagree with (as well as those we support) and be genuine in our attempts to understand their point of view. Expand your mind by thoughtfully seeking out views that don't agree with your own.

CheckmarkLook for common ground. When disagreeing with others, look for even small areas of agreement — which can be the gateway to working together for the greater good.

Checkmark Respect privacy. Keep private things private — whether it involves your own information or those with whom you disagree. Revealing private information about someone else is rude, unethical, potentially harmful and, in many cases, illegal.

Checkmark Set a good example. Practice civil behavior online as well as in public and in your interaction with others. Encourage others to practice these civil behaviors. And it's OK to challenge disrespectful behavior — but be courteous, respectful and helpful in your approach.

Now that you've read the checklist, take the Civility Pledge. 

Your Community Your Voice
Town of Fountain Hills Councilman Allen Skillicorn (Submitted photo)

Skillicorn: Some of this paper’s letters have not been very civil

The Independent Newsmedia titles the opinion section on the company’s website, “Opinions with Civility,” and has a checklist of ways readers’ letters can and should be civil. …

Mikolajczyk: I’m offering another ‘Modest Proposal’

Why do Fountain Hills voters continually vote against supporting vital infrastructure? A 2009 road study warned that our roads will continue to deteriorate. The roads have, yet voters repeatedly …

James: In response to a recent letter about President Biden

Recently, John Thompson wrote that “Joe Biden, is under investigation for money laundering and treason.” What I found when I searched for “Biden treason” was, “Three …

Kissko: Fountain Hills is a great place for young families

In response to a recent opinion depicting Fountain Hills as unsuitable for young families, I offer a contrasting perspective. As a resident since 2021, with a young child and twins on the way, my …

Scott: Councilman Skillicorn’s actions don’t match his words

Councilman Skillicorn is not serving this community. Since his first day on the dais, he's done little except disrupt council (repealing, reinstating and now amending the sign ordinance, or prayer, …
Ryan Winslett (Independent Newsmedia)

Thanksgiving, updates and our new office

Heading into the Thanksgiving holiday, the staff of the Fountain Hills Times Independent has an announcement to make: We’re moving! We’ve enjoyed our home of the past 16 or so years …

Thompson: Biden’s hold on Democratic party is chilling

The current president, Joe Biden, is under investigation for money laundering and treason. Much evidence has already been revealed including 174 reports of suspicious financial transactions that …

Erickson: Fountain Hills is becoming no place for young families

Fountain Hills has been a wonderful place to call home for the last 10 years, but my family and I recently moved to a different part of the Valley. My wife and I moved here after graduating from NAU …

Ronca: The school bond election outcome

More than 4,100 voters decided that, on average, $100 yearly was worth fixing our school buildings (no matter how many students were in it), protecting our town's kids and providing the necessary …

Brant: Thanks, local stores, for supporting veterans

On behalf of the Marine Corps League Cpl. Phil Yin Detachment #1439 members, thanks to the managers of Bashas’, Safeway and Paul’s Hardware for authorizing our campaign to bring special …
John Kavanagh (Submitted photo)

Kavanagh: Arizona Families Tax Rebate is on the way

As we end a year that was economically challenging for many Arizonans, I'm writing to inform families that in the coming weeks, thousands can expect up to $750 in one-time checks and direct deposits, …

Mynars: Concerning Bidenomics and the new House Speaker

My “10 cents” says that Bidenomics is working. Four basic governmental functions are: regulate business, provide a basic social safety net, promote infrastructure and protect civil …

Hover: Thanks to a fellow shopper for returning my wallet

Last week I inadvertently left my wallet in a shopping cart in Target. A woman found it and turned it in, intact, to Guest Services where I was able to retrieve it. It is with gratitude that I would …

Adler: Some positive signs from town leadership

Thirty-two years in Fountain Hills and I continue to see significant positive change in the ensuing years ahead. Along with in-house fire protection, perhaps we shall see in-house police protection …

Thomas: Update to town’s municipal code goes too far

It was Saturday, Oct. 14, one of those beautiful fall days in Fountain Hills — at least initially. Warm but not hot, with a cloudless, bright-blue sky, with no breeze. As I drove through …

Andrews: The town should purchase former Four Peaks school land

Now that the ballot measure has passed allowing the School Board to sell or lease the Four Peaks property, it has become imminently clear that the most logical next step would be for the town to …

Gay: Defunding our schools is ruining our town

The failure of the school bond election reminded me about who is “ruining our town.” After the misinformation campaign it’s clear to me that people who vote to defund schools ruin …

Plencner: It is time for new leadership in and out of the schools

The bond went down by about 13 points, one point less than the bond two years ago. Those who voted no do not hate children, they do not want to see the schools go away, they are not a bunch of …

Rutkowski: Discussing the proper role of government

What’s the proper role of government? What determines it? How well does government fulfill its role? Does it sometimes fail? Does government ever exceed its authority and …

Mikolajczyk: I have a ‘modest proposal’ for the people of Fountain Hills

In 1729 Jonathan Swift published his “Modest Proposal” to solve the “Irish problem.” Wealthy English with Irish land holdings were starving the impoverished Irish …

Tofoya: Some concerns with the MCSO contract

The Town of Fountain Hills is part of District 7 and provides deputy coverage in the Rio Verde-Tonto Verde, Goldfield Ranch and McDowell Park areas, for which the town receives a credit from MCSO. …

Schweers: Trump’s hold on Republican party is chilling

If today’s America were a movie, it would be totally unbelievable, tragically over the top. The leading presidential candidate for the Republican party is twice impeached and currently …

Scott: Unhappy with the revised sign ordinance

Already the overfly permissive redo of the town sign ordinance is taking off thanks to four members of the council: three newbies and a wild card. Signs in medians, signs on the traffic circle …
Joe Smyth

Smyth: Fixing Arizona's broken primaries

Astoundingly, as few as 8% of registered voters effectively controlled the election of eight of Arizona’s nine members of Congress in 2022.  Eight out of nine! That’s because …

Somo: The Biden administration is doing quite well

I am a staunch supporter of our First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and a free and independent press. However, those freedoms demand responsibility to be truthful and factual. Opinions are …

Wolborsky: Is the MCSO contract good for Fountain Hills?

I have lived many places and Fountain Hills is the safest. The command staff and deputies here are totally first rate and I thank them for making Fountain Hills so safe. This letter is not directed …
Brenda Kalivianakis (Submitted photo)

Kalivianakis: The sign ordinance and its potential abuse

Remember the adages “You can’t put toothpaste back in the tube” or “You can’t unscramble an egg?” Both warn that once something is done, it can’t be undone. …

Dime: Bidenomics propaganda and movements are failing

We’ve seen enough political evilness by totalitarian government leadership to believe it’s real. Watching Bidenomics escort 8 million illegal aliens across the southern border goes …

Giffor: The state isn’t going to help unless it’s a charter school

FHUDS has to go through another bond request election to fund a variety of projects. FHUSD and other districts would not be in this position if the Republican-controlled government had lived up to …

Lloyd: Let’s support the FHUSD bond

There is so much bipartisan support for and information about the FHUSD school bond proposal, that it’s a mystery why there are residents who still oppose it.  I’ve attended …
Opinions with Civility