As Phoenix inches closer to electing its next mayor, four candidates met Wednesday night to debate downtown city issues at Burton Barr Central Library.
Candidates Kate Gallego, Moses Sanchez, Nicholas Sarwark and Daniel Valenzuela discussed topics including public transportation, homelessness, green spaces in the city and affordable housing.
The race for Phoenix’s top office involves four candidates total. Former city council members, Kate Gallego (District 8) and Daniel Valenzuela (District 5), are apparent front-runners in the race otherwise occupied by self-proclaimed political outsiders Nicholas Sarwark and Moses Sanchez.
The race is part of a special election triggered by former Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton who stepped down to run for the House of Representatives.
Read more about the candidates here: Your guide to the Phoenix mayoral race
The debate was hosted by three community groups: Midtown Neighborhood Association, Downtown Voices Coalition and the Phoenix Downtown Neighborhood Alliance. It was moderated by KJZZ City Hall and Central Phoenix reporter Christina Estes.
“I am thrilled that the South Central light rail extension is moving forward,” Gallego said. “I think that today’s vote was a great win for the community.”
Valenzuela also said the extension is the right move for Phoenix. He said he believes the light rail is a tool to revitalize the area
“It’s an economic development tool, which is why I support it,” Valenzuela said.
While candidates Gallego and Venezuela supported the decision to continue light rail construction down Central Avenue, Sanchez and Sarwark did not.
“Folks in South Phoenix were misled when it comes to the light rail situation,” Sanchez said. “I don’t blame them for being frustrated.”
Sarwark, who also spoke at the special session earlier, agreed that the light rail extension will not be beneficial to the community.
“[The] light rail will kill the businesses that are on Central Avenue,” Sarwark said. “That is guaranteed.”
In regards to public transportation as a whole, Sarwark added that “we need to spread out our transportation dollars to benefit the most people in the city possible.”
Homelessness was another primary topic discussed during the debate.
“The reality in the city of Phoenix is that homelessness has spiked 150 percent in recent years,” Sanchez said. “City Hall just hasn’t done enough. We can do better. We will do better.”
Like Sanchez, Sarwark believed that there “isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to the homeless problem.”
During the time they were provided to speak, Gallego and Valenzuela both mentioned that homelessness is an issue that extends far beyond Phoenix.
“This is not a Phoenix problem,” Gallego said. “Every large city and many small cities are facing it as well, and we all have to be at the table to solve it.”
Valenzuela shared a similar sentiment.
“Aside from just pushing homeless people off the capitol lawn, we have to advocate and make sure the state is investing in this issue that is a statewide issue,” Valenzuela said.
Elections for the next mayor of Phoenix take place on Nov. 6.
Contact the reporter at vahill1@asu.edu.
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the date of November’s mayoral election. The article has been updated to reflect it is Nov. 6. The article also mis-stated the number and names of candidates running. It has been updated to reflect the correct candidates.
