Letters of Support

As Mayor of the City of Casa Grande and as a proud parent of three children who graduated from the Casa Grande Union High School District, I am writing to express my support for the upcoming bond election that seeks to invest in the improvement of the district’s field spaces. Our schools are not just centers for academic learning, they are where young people discover their passions, build character, and learn the value of teamwork and perseverance. For many students, participation in athletics, marching band, and other extracurricular activities conducted on our school fields play a vital role in their personal development and success. Upgrading these field spaces is not simply about aesthetics, it’s about safety, accessibility, and opportunity. It also reflects the pride our community takes in its schools and its young people. This bond measure is an investment in our future and strengthens the connection between our school district, the city, and enhances the quality of life for families. These improvements will serve not only current students but generations to come. I encourage the community to support this initiative and help provide the resources our students deserve.

I have a record of fiscal conservatism that spans over two decades of dedicated service to my city and county. The upcoming CGUHSD Bond Election exemplifies this fiscal conservatism. The District has identified $48 million in essential facility renovations and upgrades needed to maintain safe and healthy school environments. As homeowners, we all understand the reluctance to replace costly items like air conditioners, as these changes are necessary to preserve the value of our homes. Many of us often find ourselves borrowing money or using credit cards for these expensive projects because we do not have the savings to cover them. Currently, the District receives $3.1 million In annual capital funding, which is insufficient to address the $48 million required for necessary renovations and upgrades. This leaves the District in a precarious position, relying on the hope that these outdated systems will not fail. When they do, it leads to emergency repairs that are far more costly. For instance, last year students at Casa Grande Union were sent home for several days while a faulty chiller was replaced. The bond election is a prudent funding option to help our District move forward.

As President of the CGUHSD School Board, I am requesting the community’s support for the CGUHSD Bond Election. The funds generated from these bonds will allow the District to undertake critical projects to maintain and enhance our facilities. If we rely solely on ol,.lr current funding sources for these projects, it will significantly affect our ability to offer competitive salaries and benefits to our employees. Currently, 85% of our Maintenance and Operations budget is allocated directly to wages, benefits, and health insurance for our staff. The District receives $3.1 million per year to maintain our facilities, but our needs assessment has identified approximately $48 million in necessary projects. Serving on the School Board has given me insight into the challenges faced by our educators in a state with one of the lowest per-pupil spending levels in the nation. Education,today demands resilience, and our educators deserve every penny they earn. I admire each and every CGUHSD Educator for their passion and dedication. Understanding the challenges families encounter, we will structure the bonds in three payments over seven years to maintain the current tax rates and not raise your taxes. Please support our educators and the District by voting “YES.”

As a former CGUHSD Board Member and current Casa Grande Councilman, I am proud to support the CGUHSD Bond Election. I am deeply grateful to my hometown for its role in helping me achieve my dream of playing in the NFL. It truly takes a community to support our future generations of students and athletes. The proposal to convert the two football fields from grass to turf wlll save the District approximately two million dollars over a 12-year period. The annual maintenance cost for the current grass fields is about $260,000. The high school struggles to limit field usage because the grass cannot withstand the demands placed on it by the community’ s use of the stadium fields. With turf fields, community groups would have access to the facilities, as they would belong to the community when schools are not using them. The bond funding measure would enable the District to undertake necessary projects that cannot be accomplished without this one-time funding. Additionally, the District faces challenges in maintaining tracks that are severely damaged due to the watering of the grass fields. I encourage everyone to support these essential projects and upgrades to our facilities.

As a resident and former Eloy Mayor, I want to express my support for the CGUHSD Bond, my home district. Born and raised in Casa Grande, my kids and I attended CG Union and received a quality education. I am grateful to the hardworking staff who inspired them to dream big every day.
As a Republican, I evaluate proposals to determine whether they are necessary or examples of unnecessary spending. The $48 million that CGUHSD is requesting is essential for maintaining our aging facilities and ensuring that our students attend safe and healthy schools equipped with relevant technology. I would also like to thank the retired residents of CGUHSD for their continued support through their tax contributions. My children benefited from your generosity, and now it is my turn to support the next generation of students, even though my kids are no longer in school. I appreciate that CGUHSD is managing the debt carefully, ensuring our taxes will not increase since they are retiring the debt from their successful bond issued in 2006. It is worth noting that they are authorized to bond for $170 million but are only asking for $48 million. Please join me in voting “YES.”

As someone who grew in Casa Grande and graduated from Casa Grande Union High School, I take great pride in the fact that I am a Casa Grande Cougar. The foundational skills that I learned during high school helped set me on a path to success. And now as an adult who works for a local youth-serving organization and as a part-time coach at Union, I see the impact that this district has on young people every day. As a community, it is our responsibility to support the work of CGUHSD. This bond will allow the district to improve the learning environment for students while promoting student health and safety. Local voters made the choice to pass bonds that supported students like me when I was in school, and now that I am presented with the same opportunity, I am going to use my voice to rally our community together so that this bond passes. I fully support this bond, and I encourage you to join me by voting YES. We need to support our students and help CGUHSD with their Commitment to Excellence!

I am writing this letter in support of CGUHSD’s effort to pass a bond election. As a resident of Casa Grande for the past forty-three years, I have witnessed the growth of the city and the Casa Grande Union High School District. With the growth comes the challenges of providing the best learning environment for students. The need to upgrade existing facilities by doing necessary repairs, enhancements, and maintenance is a key to provinding a strong learning environment. Spreading the funding out over 20 years will help maintain highly competitive salaries and benefits for staff. Overall, the bond will assist in continuing to keep CGUHSD as a strong learning high school district. As a past City of Casa Grande council member I was often asked by businesses hoping to move to Casa Grande about the high school and its quality and facilities. The high school is the next step before students embark on their life and professional goals. The more prepared the students are the better each student will be able to contribute to Casa Grande and to pay it forward. As a Republican, I evaluate proposals to determine whether they are necessary or examples of unnecessary spending. The $48 million that CGUHSD is requesting is essential for maintaining our aging facilities and ensuring that our students attend safe and healthy schools equipped with relevant technology. I would also like to thank the retired residents of CGUHSD for their continued support through their tax contributions. My children benefited from your generosity, and now it is my turn to support the next generation of students, even though my kids are no longer in school. I appreciate that CGUHSD is managing the debt carefully, ensuring our taxes will not increase since they are retiring the debt from their successful bond issued in 2006. It is worth noting that they are authorized to bond for $170 million but are only asking for $48 million. Please join me in voting “YES.”