In non-partisan races for public office, no credibility is given to party ideologies. The focus is on careful and thorough examination of facts, local issues and the current needs of communities. Instead, decisions should be based on collective concerns of the locals.

Yet in social media this week, mayoral candidate Joe Arpaio is fundraising by asking if you are tired of Democrats winning nationally and in our town. He promotes a conservative agenda.  The emotional buzzwords are there to strike a chord, without content or regard for the fact that he is running in a nonpartisan election. The buzzwords evoke national issues which have no place in hometown politics. The mayor and the town council are serving the issues of the community and political issues, which often divide us by party, have nothing to do with these offices.

This makes me wonder if a candidate who doesn’t even understand the rules of the field, could serve competently. Additionally, he makes a false statement regarding fundraising. Each of us can go on to the town website and review the financial filings of each candidate and PAC. Arpaio has stated that last election he lost because our mayor was funded by out-of-town Democrats.

Let’s look at the facts. In the last election Arpaio spent $207,000 versus Mayor Dickey, who spent about $40,000. Just about 66% of the funds raised by Dickey’s campaign were from in-town donors, versus about 12% of in-town donors for Arpaio. The majority of Arpaio donations came from out of state. Yet he wants you to believe that Mayor Dickey won on the backs of out-of-town donors when that not only wasn’t true, but he outspent her by $167,000!

This is an important election.  Make the right choice.  

Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.