Chandler news and views roundup - June 7

Four interesting links for you today. In the first, we're told Pentz may be rehired. In the fourth, we hear a local State Senator espouse the idea of a Libertarian Democrat. I thought this was very interesting, given the post on dailyKos today setting forth a Libertarian Democrat model.

Your links:

1. New council may try to rehire Pentz
Ex-Chandler city manager open to returning

Minutes after two outgoing Chandler City Council members vacate their seats to replacements Thursday, a new political mix will try to undo one of their lame duck predecessors' most controversial votes, the April ouster of City Manager Mark Pentz.

Pentz said he is open to the idea, and there appears to be enough votes to bring him back.

2. City grants attract private investors to older areas

Drive south on Arizona Avenue just south of downtown, and amid rundown buildings, an attractive one stands out: Plaza Gomez.

It's named for Mercedes Gomez, a businesswoman who bought the ramshackle, 55-year-old structure and rebuilt it with the help of city grants.

About $55,000 toward the project came from the city's Commercial Reinvestment Program, which began in 2002-03 with the goal of attracting private investment in older shopping centers.

3. 'Sunset on Santan' dawn of SEV traffic relief

Chandler residents eager to celebrate the completion of the eastern portion of the Santan Freeway, and its convenient access to reach Gilbert and Mesa, don't have long to wait.

A big crowd is expected tonight as Gilbert, Mesa and the Arizona Department of Transportation host Sunset on the Santan, a large community party to unveil the latest stretch of Loop 202 from 6 to 9 between Val Vista Drive and Power Road on the freeway. The public entrance is at eastbound Val Vista.

4. Lawmakers deal with the people’s business, then their own

Many state lawmakers list “business owner” as their occupation. Most of them, not surprisingly, are Republicans. But Democrats aren’t excluded. A number of them also watch bottom lines, hire and fire people and wonder why the Legislature itself can’t do a better of job of managing a budget.

...Sen. Ken Cheuvront, D-15, returned to Phoenix in the 1980s to help run a family construction business that dates back to the 1940s. He had been a commodities trader in New York City.

But Mr. Cheuvront, 45, soon had another business in mind, something besides construction...So inspired, Mr. Cheuvront opened Cheuvront’s Wine & Cheese Bar in 1993.

...Mr. Cheuvront’s business experience is backed by a degree from the Graduate School of International Management. And...he regards himself as a fiscal conservative.

That’s not out of keeping with being a Democrat, Mr. Cheuvront adds.

“I’m a libertarian and a Democrat,” he says. “Republicans are no longer for limited government.” He adds: “I don’t see the Republican Party at all as the party of fiscal restraint.”