Get to know Oro Valley's Town Council candidates

Each candidate provided a statement about his or herself with some basic information, goals if elected and his or her position on the controversial purchase of the El Conquistador Country Club.

Here are their responses:

Didio challenges Waters

Steve Didio

Steve Didio, 57, is a 16-year OV resident. He is a retired Navy officer and industry senior manager. He volunteers as vice commander of the OV American Legion Post, and president of his homeowner’s association. Holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees of science from Chapman University, and a second master’s of science degree from the University of Maryland.

Priorities:

My priorities include restoring the voice of all citizens to the political process. I believe the influence of large special interest donations has muted the voice of average citizens. I desire to return town government to fiscal responsibility, and will work with concerned citizens on solutions to the financial losses from the ill-advised golf course purchase.

Additionally, I want to return the town to sensible development practices, including adherence to the voter-approved General Plan, and rigorous review of amendments and rezoning requests.

Lou Waters (incumbent)

Has lived in OV for 15 years and is council vice mayor. He is in his 70s, and served for nearly six years on the OV Town Council. Graduate of the University of Minnesota School of Architectural Engineering.

Priorities:

My established priorities of business and economic growth will continue with emphasis on Innovation Park. Roche-Ventana already has begun expansion at our urging, is now partner in the Park. New partners are in the wings. The expanding hi-tech workforce will bring the job growth, populate our new apartments and produce the market force drawing new business to OV. That process already has begun and must continue.

My position on the acquisition of the community center remains unchanged. Documented evidence from the mid-90s is clear. OV wants this centerpiece. We listened to all voices, even negative ones. If golf doesn’t work, it will end. I voted for a community center. All successful communities have them.

Burke, Lamonna challenge Snider

Doug Burke

Burke is 60 years old and has lived in OV for the past 7½ years. Is publisher of Tucson Lifestyle Magazine. Obtained a bachelor’s degree in advertising from the University of Texas at Austin. Has no prior political experience.

Priorities:

I’ll take a common sense approach to city government. The next 10 years represent a critical period in our future. I will focus on long-term sustainable growth focused on quality housing developments with additional incentives for corporate relocations. We’ve ignored goals in the short-term strategic and long-term General plan.

The El Conquistador transaction was handled very poorly, and HSL Properties was not in a position of power as the seller. My plan would be to monitor the expense and manage the costs. This issue has divided our community, I plan to unite and focus on the future while being cognizant of citizen input.

Shirl Lamonna

Shirl Lamonna, a 9-year OV resident, had her entire career with Verizon Communications, where she managed sales teams and acted as a national account executive, negotiating contracts on a national basis.

Lamonna is employed in a Pima County Board of Supervisor’s office as a research analyst. Became visible in OV affairs by leading the El Conquistador referendum effort, preventing the proposed apartments at Rancho Vistoso and Tangerine and serving on boards and committees within the Rancho Vistoso HOA. Also involved in the recent Arizona Redistricting effort.

Priorities:

My top priority is to end the divisiveness within the community through improved transparency, fiscal responsibility and sensible development. I see the El Con deal as the breaking point in a series of votes that damaged the public trust and committed the town to an economic albatross.

Mary Snider (incumbent)

Snider arrived in OV in 1999, the result of her husband’s career in federal law enforcement. She’s retired from a 30-year health-care career — Kaiser-Permanente Medical Care Program, William Mercer-Meidinger and her own independent consulting business.

She’s a community volunteer and attended Portland State University in Portland, Oregon, as a business administration major. Since 2010, has served as a OV council member. Is 65 years old.

Priorities:

Continuing to insure the town’s excellent fiscal health while providing the highest level of services to our residents including public safety, excellent roads, safe and plentiful water and recreational opportunities for all ages are my top priorities. After great consideration, I voted to acquire the land and amenities that now make up our community and recreation center.

Hartung challenges Hornat

Ryan Hartung

Ryan Hartung is 37, has lived and worked in OV for over six years and is employed as a chemist at Sanofi. He received a bachelor’s of science from the University of Nebraska followed by a master’s and Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Ohio State University.

Priorities:

My top priorities are to increase fiscal responsibility, provide greater transparency, to listen to and respect the community’s interests on all issues and to help bring the community back together. I see the mounting current and future losses at the El Conquistador’s golf courses as a major issue in addition to the many changes made to the voter-approved General Plan, now eroding OV’s desert landscape views. I do not believe the El Conquistador’s golf purchase followed a fiscal and open manner befitting OV’s citizens.

Joe Hornat (incumbent)

Hornat has lived in OV for the last 10 years, is 71 years old and retired. He studied electrical engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. Has no political experience.

Priorities:

My top priorities are to continue our public safety excellence, followed by economic development with emphasis on biotech at Innovation Park. Continuation and expansion of our Parks and Rec’s programs for all age groups. With an eye to our future, our CAP water supply and alternatives. Continuation of budget surpluses that we can re-invest in the community.

The El Conquistador deal is a great opportunity for the town to leap at a community center to finally provide for an intergenerational meeting place. This is the only meeting place the town has and has been on the citizens request list since the mid-90s. While it requires a subsidy provided by a dedicated ½ percent sales tax, it is a sensible fiscal choice that will have no impact on other town budgets or services.