It started right after Skillicorn was elected. He was pushing council “action” to dismiss the town’s lobbyist. With direction from the town, the lobbyist was our eyes and ears during legislative sessions and worked directly with legislators on issues specific to our town.
Hiring the lobbyist was first developed to address the FAA-proposed re-routing of commercial air traffic over our community on approach and take-off from Sky Harbor and also to address general aviation flight schools that use our world-famous Fountain as an easy landmark to get them back to Falcon Field in Mesa. The Town needed that representation then and still needs someone for us at the legislature.
Cancelling that contract seemingly enabled Skillicorn to assume responsibility and spend time at the legislature testifying on a variety of legislative proposals, often in opposition to the town’s own desires, and the Arizona League of Cities and Towns' official stance. Last election cycle, his signs showed up with just his name, and sometimes “safe neighborhoods” in, of all places, Scottsdale. When challenged because he wasn’t running for any office, a miniscule Trump sticker was added, presumably to claim them as legitimate campaign signs.
He posts divisive social media comments about a wide variety of political/social issues, most recently about the Scottsdale City Council and DEI in general, but also road diets, light rail, guns, schools, taxes, LGBTQ+, you name it.
He seems to think he has become Fountain Hills’ intergovernmental relations representative. Yet he has filed lawsuits against the town, fellow councilmembers (all dismissed with prejudice), bullied town staff and has been censured and sanctioned for ethics violations. We should question his role, his motives, his actions and his opinions. Is he a Fountain Hills councilmember or a wannabe something else?
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