Welcome to episode 1 of the Around Chandler podcast where we introduce you to the people that make Chandler Arizona so great. Chandler will have a new Mayor in January for he first time in eight years. We welcome Mayor-Elect Kevin Hartke to the podcast to talk about his plans to keep Chandler a great place to live. Please remember to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss future guests and let us know who you would like to hear from. You can message us on Instagram @aroundchandleraz or email me Dean at Around Chandler dot com.

Paint us a picture of your childhood

  • Grew up in St Louis
  • Dad was a WW2 Vet
  • Master degree from University of Missouri

When did you end up in Chandler

  • 1985, was working in Canada with church

What was it like?

  • 60,000 people, but was growing quickly
  • Downtown was dusty

Where did the houses end at that time?

  • Cotton and Corn surrounded the city

Recently elected Mayor, why did you originally decide to run for City Council?

  • Wasn't planning on it
  • Was active in the community
  • 2006 had an opening on Council
  • I was encouraged to apply and was selected then ran and elected for the seat in 2010 and 2014

Are you still a pastor?

  • Lead pastor at Trinity Christian Fellowship
  • Turned in resignation so can serve as Mayor full-time

When you ran for Council it was a crowded race, but when you ran for Mayor you were uncontested, was that a surprise to you?

  • Was a surprise
  • Was talk of others running, but they descided against it

Chandler has become known as hub of technology in the southwest, how do you see that playing out?

  • Continuing
  • Intel developing new plant
  • More development on Price Corridor
  • WAYMO and self-driving cars

Can you talk about Price Corridor more

  • In the 80's talked to Intel about what they could to expand
  • Intel has grown, the largest employer in Chandler
  • Several large employers growing there

What is Waymo doing now?

  • Using Chandler as ground zero mapping
  • Seeing who they can partner with, light rail
  • Providing first and last miles for public transportation

Great cities seem to have neighborhood identities. Here we have Downtown, Price Corridor, West Chandler we now see signs for Uptown and we have the Airpark area. Do you think having neighborhood identities is important for building community?

  • Price Corridor
  • West Chandler
  • Uptown Chandler
  • Downtown Chandler
  • Airport

Where do you see Chandler going in housing

  • Only 12% of Chandler not developed or planned
  • We are at 259k population now and plan is for about 285k
  • Many developments being built were zoned in 2006

When you were running for your you stressed three things. Great jobs, great schools, safe neighborhoods.

Let’s start with great jobs. What can Chandler do for more great jobs?

  • Business retention and expansion
  • We ask those who are already here what we can do to help
  • Looking at attracting new business where there is land available like we are doing on Price Corridor

Are you acively looking outside of City and State to recruit business?

  • We hire great people to set vision on the economic development committee
  • We do want high tech business

We already have some of the best public schools in the state, but we also have great charter schools that score at the top of the state testing like Chandler Prep and Basis. What can we do to continue the trend with great schools?

  • Basis Chandler #2 high school in it the US
  • Chandler Prep is Arizona's #1 high school
  • Chandler Unified School district is #1 public district in Arizona
  • Goal is to have more going on to get post high school education
  • Promoting STEM
  • We look at ways to co-share facilities with things like pools and libraries

Where can we improve with safe neighborhoods?

  • Continually monitoring what we need with policing
  • Lowering emergency response time
  • Nextdoor technology to spread information that is going on

What do you see as the biggest challenge Chandler faces?

  • Buildout, would love to offer more recreation facilities
  • Can we work with Gila to the south?
  • Cost of housing
  • Chandler has the lowest cost of living of any City in Valley

You talked about buildout and the availability of land. What about downtown? Will that build up?

  • Downtown Chandler will spread east and west a little more
  • By rail road tracks have more land
  • More area to the south to develop that will extend to Pecos

What does a week look like for you as you take on this new role?

  • 30-35 hours a week meeting and responding to people
  • Still 40 hours a week at church

What will your first 100 days look like?

  • The city has great vision and well run
  • Taking care of unfunded liabilities for police and fire
  • We will do council retreat with new council members to talk goals and vision
  • Continue to attract high tech and great jobs
  • Will do State of City February 21 at Center of the Arts
  • Staff will take our visions and help us come up with plans

What about the base?

  • We jsut lowered taxes and do no see a reason we will need to raise them
  • Helps the community

You have a friend coming to visit you, what would you tell them to do?

  • Come out in November-March
  • People from all over nation are coming here to restart their business

Where would you take them to dinner?

  • Bourbon Jacks for a burger
  • DC Steakhouse for a steak
  • Many great downtown restaurants

Kevin on Twitter
Kevin on Facebook
Kevin's Website

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