Carpenter emphasizes experience, tourism

Council candidate also advocates
moving county seat to Payson

By Jim Keyworth
Gazette Editor
Former Payson town manager Fred Carpenter figures he’d be a pretty handy guy to have on the town council.

“I’ve been in government for 32 years and I know a lot about what doesn’t work,” Carpenter said . “I’m not saying I know everything, but I certainly know a lot of stuff that isn’t going to work – stuff that’s been tried.”

Carpenter is running against three incumbents, councilors Ed Blair, Su Connell and Mike Vogel. His 32 years of experience in city and town governments includes stints as the first town manager of Prescott Valley, and as town manager of Wickenburg, Buckeye and Hesston, Kansas (30 miles from Wichita).

Carpenter served five years as Payson town manager before he was fired. He still doesn’t know why, but he’s philosophical about the fate of those in his profession.

“It happens in a lot of communities you work in – you wear out your welcome with elected officials,” he explained. “It’s just the way it is. I wore mine out.”

Carpenter estimates the average tenure of a town manager is five to six years, so his stay in Payson was right on target.

“I don’t even know the reasons why they wanted me to leave, but it worked out OK for me because I love Payson, so we decided to make it retirement,” he explained.

Carpenter says his motive for running is simple.

“After 32 years, maybe it’s time to give something back, because you’re not going to get rich as a councilman,” he joked.

He adds that he’s not running against any specific candidate.

“When I decided to run six, eight months ago, I did it because I wanted to run,” he noted. “I didn’t know who was going to run then. I’m not running against anyone.”

But Carpenter has staked out some strong opinions on the issues, including Globe’s stranglehold on Gila County.

“We ought to have the county seat up here, plain and simple,” he said. “It’s silly. Think about it. They have less than half the population we do.

“Payson (was made) part of all three districts just to keep the votes down there. We’ve been outmaneuvered for years.”

“We come out on the short end of a lot of different things. (District 1 Supervisor) Tommie cline martin does her best, but she’s always on the short end of a 2-1 vote.

“(Moving the county seat here) would be economic development of a sort. We’d have more government jobs.”

But Carpenter believes the real answer to Payson’s economic future is a greater emphasis on tourism, particularly through the addition of a new convention center.

“We need to boost tourism,” he said. “Let’s bring people here to spend money and then go home.

“You bring 1,500 people up here for a conference or a convention and they’re going to want to do something. I mention shopping because that’s where the sales tax dollars are.

“People want to come here from the Valley. Payson is easier to get to than Prescott.”

And Carpenter believes Main Street can be a vital part of the mix.

“If we had a viable conference center, it could be turned into kind of like downtown Flagstaff,” he said.

But he doesn’t necessarily agree with those who want to theme Main Street.

“We’ve done enough theming already,” he emphasized. “You can overdo it with the tourists. You can over commercialize. We don’t want to lose our charm.”

As a councilor, Carpenter would emphasize facilitating rather than subsidizing the development of Main Street.

“If you’ve got a good piece of property and a good developer, let’s not get in their way by throwing restrictions at them to make it more difficult,” he said. “Let’s make it easier.”

Water is always an issue in the Rim Country. Carpenter does not hold with those who favor delaying the Blue Ridge pipeline until growth resumes and demand increases.

“True, demand is down, but the problem is if you get the grants, you better go with them when you’ve got them,” he said.

He also thinks the town should facilitate access to Blue Ridge water for smaller, unincorporated communities, particulary those along Houston Mesa Road.

“I think it’s a great idea, because the pipeline is going to run right past you,” he said. “I think the tribe ought to get involved, too.”

Carpenter was town manager four years ago when the great water war erupted between Payson and Star Valley, leading to that town’s incorporation. He joked that it had to be a journalist’s dream because of all the stories it generated.

“It was the gift that kept on giving,” he said with a laugh. But then he turned serious.

Payson can help Star Valley,” he offered. “A pipeline really can go both ways and there’s no way those little places along the (pipeline route) are going to eat up that 500 acre feet (allotted to northern Gila County).”

Carpenter is confident that Blue Ridge will solve the Rim Country’s water issues, but it will come with a cost.

Water is way too cheap in the west,” he noted. “I get a $35 water bill and in the winter a $200 heating bill. People are not careful about water.

“The paradox we’re working with is that to pay for Blue Ridge you’ve got to have money. If you’ve got a bond issue to pay off, you’ve got to have customers.”

Carpenter also emphasized his commitment to citizen involvement, although not to the extent that former mayor Bob Edwards took the concept.

“I don’t know if I’d go so far as to appoint all those volunteer commissions, but if something needs studying, why not a volunteer group to study it,” he said.

And he’s also for diversity in town government, although he wouldn’t directly criticize Vogel for appointing realtor Clark Jones to the Planning & Zoning Commission over incumbent and Edwards holdover Gary Bedsworth.

“In my opinion, you should have disparate voices on the council and commissions,” he emphasized. “You need people like Gary Bedsworth and Hal Baas. You need a breadth of opinions.

“I’m not against anybody, but I’m for diversity.”

In a position paper released to the media Carpenter emphasized that he has no desire to institute radical changes in Payson’s local government. He does, however, support:

O Renewal of the local alternative expenditure limitation (home rule).
O Expansion of the Payson Public Library.
O Construction of the third fire station.
O Upgrading of park facilities and acquisition of additional park land.
O Completion of major street improvements.
O Sensible and well-designed new subdivisions.
O A 4-year college.
O Affordable housing options.

To facilitate his election, Carpenter plans a door-to-door campaign, and he’s looking forward to addressing the Citizens Awareness Committee and other local groups and organizations. He’s also willing to participate in a debate with the other candidates.

Finally, would he consider running for mayor at some point? Carpenter’s answer demonstrated that the sense of humor that got him through 32 years as a town manager is still intact.

“Four years as a councilman, two years as mayor, the state legislature for two years, the state senate for two years, congressman for two years. I’ll only be 82 years old and ready to run for president.”

“Seriously,” he continued, “I have no plans. If I get elected, I’ll serve four years and see what happens.”

And again he emphasized his 32 years of experience.

“I know what I’m getting into, and most people (who run for council) don’t,” he concluded.