Land reform proponents confident of win on Prop. 106
by Barry Cohen

SCOTTSDALE – Scottsdale Mayor Mary Manross used a quote made famous by former U.S. President Harry Truman to describe the tactics employed by supporters of Proposition 105.

“If you can’t convince them, confuse them,” Manross told a crowd of about 75 people on Sept. 6  at the kickoff meeting for “YES on Prop.106"at The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess.          

Two competing land reform measures, Prop. 105 and 106, will go before voters this fall. Both propositions, if passed, will affect the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Daisy Mountain in New River bordering Anthem, and several areas surrounding Cave Creek, including land near the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area, Continental Mountain and Maricopa County’s Cave Creek Regional Park.               

Manross said proponents of state land reform have been knocked down repeatedly in the past but “this time we’re going to win.”

Prop. 105, which is backed by developers and cattle ranchers, would preserve about 43,000 acres of state trust land. It also could provide protection for an additional 400,000 acres, but in order for that to happen that state legislature would have to approve protection for each additional parcel.

Prop. 106, backed by conservationists, would prevent the state from auctioning 694,000 acres of undeveloped state trust land to developers. Also known as “Conserving Arizona’s Future,” Prop. 106 would also give local authorities the power to limit and control development of undeveloped land in their communities.

Cave Creek Mayor Vince Francia said passage of Prop. 105 will politicize negotiations between municipalities and the Arizona State Land Department.

“The people supporting Prop. 106 are going to outspend us,” he said, “but talking with people one‑one‑one about the issue will have much greater impact than money.”

The kickoff event was coordinated by the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy.

Reach the reporter at barry@thedesertadvocate.com