Weekend links roundup, May 20

And now, a few links to political news and views on our community. Hope you're all enjoying the weekend!

1. Happy birthday, Chandler - City hit 94 this week (years, not degrees)

On May 17, 1912, Dr. A.J. Chandler opened the townsite office on Commonwealth Avenue and started the process of selling his 18,000-acre ranch.

2. Chandler activist knows a thing about Wal-Mart fight

Chandler activist and former City Council candidate Chris Stage has some advice for Ahwatukee Foothills residents who want to stop Wal-Mart from building near their neighborhoods: Do your homework.

Wal-Mart announced Thursday that it will build a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market in Ahwatukee Foothills, a store about the same size as most grocery stores, northeast of Desert Foothills Parkway and Marketplace Way.

3. Developer insists high-rise hotel on schedule - Industry expert calls work stoppage 'irregular,' points to funds

The developer of the high-rise hotel being built next to Chandler Fashion Center insists the project is on track, but an expert in construction management calls the type of work stoppage the project has seen in the past month "highly irregular."

"This typically happens when funding sources dry up," said Bruce D'Agostino, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based Construction Management Association of America.

4. Troupe waiting for 'miracle'

The next production by the Ahwatukee Children's Theatre may be its swan song. The troupe, which operates out of a Chandler warehouse, needs about $300,000 or it could be forced to close its doors after nine years in operation.

More on the ACT here.

5. And in a a related story in Legislative District 17, in a race to fill the seat recently vacated by Harry Mitchell: GOP hopeful drops out of Dist. 17 race while blasting own party

Former state Rep. Mark Thompson, a moderate Republican from Tempe, abandoned his bid for re-election Friday, but not before bashing the GOP-led Legislature on his way out of the race.

Thompson, who served in the House from 2002-04, blasted members of his own party for proposing measures he believes would damage Arizona State University and increase state spending by more than $1 billion next fiscal year.

“I just haven’t been very happy with the way Republicans down there (in the Legislature) have been treating ASU,” he said. “They’re talking out of both sides of their mouths. On one side they’re talking about tax cuts and on the other they’re talking about increased spending.”

His departure leaves the the District 17 race slightly less crowded. The district covers Tempe and parts of Scottsdale, Chandler, Phoenix and Mesa. There are four Republicans — including one incumbent — and four Democrats running for one of two seats in the district.

But Thompson wouldn’t speculate whether his decision to drop out hurts his party’s chances to expand its majority in the House. Republicans hold a 38-22 edge over Democrats in the House, but hold only one of two seats in District 17.

“If the Democrats have a strong showing this year, it’s because the Republicans are screwing up,” he said.

Republicans have proposed a $9.9 billion budget for the next fiscal year, which is about $1.1 billion higher than the current fiscal year ending June 30. The increase, Thompson said, goes against Republican values and is financially irresponsible.