Mozilo says: send Mayes home

I would like to respond to the inaccuracies stated in Arizona Corporation Commissioner Kris Mayes’ letter to The Desert Advocate (“We won’t stop asking tough questions, September 27, 2006), in response to my statements at the “Call to the Public” session at a recent Cave Creek Town Council meeting.

Ms. Mayes neglected to mention that my initial disgust with the “show cause” hearing held by the commission regarding the purchase of Desert Hills Water Company was the comportment of Ms. Mayes and Mr. Mundell. They both made faces, shook their heads, and pushed away their

microphones in motions of disgust whenever a Cave Creek attorney or official spoke. In addition, Ms. Mayes asked questions that were of no concern to the commission, such as: What do the taxpayers of Cave Creek think about the purchase of the Desert Hills Water Company? This is the concern of the Mayor and Town Council of the town, not Ms. Mayes.

Her comment about “taxation without representation” is ridiculous. The customers of the Desert Hills Water Company pay for water service, which they deserve. The town manager of Cave Creek assured the commission that rates would not be raised for these customers for five to ten years.

He went on public record with that statement.

In addition, Ms. Mayes knows very well that there are other water companies owned by municipalities that are not in their jurisdictions.

In her letter to The Desert Advocate she states, “It remains unclear whether the town will ever annex Desert Hills.” It was clearly stated by our town manager, our mayor and our attorney during questioning that the town had no intention of annexing that area and, in fact, it is in the City of Phoenix’s plans to eventually annex that area. Our officials clearly stated that when that event occurs, the town would offer to sell Desert Hills Water Company to Phoenix.

Ms. Mayes and Mr. Mundell, despite Ms Mayes’ protestations, did show favoritism to Global and Mr. Hill. She even had the audacity to ask the town if it would commit to leaving the DHWC under the commission’s authority in perpetuity. Ridiculous!

The commission should be thrilled that the Town of Cave Creek has taken this albatross from them. The town will operate the DHWC to the complete satisfaction of its customers and has every incentive to do so. I will not vote for Ms. Mayes and hope my fellow citizens will join me in sending her home.

Ralph S. Mozilo

Cave Creek