David Lucier, a decorated combat veteran and ASU alum, is the only candidate running for Tempe City Council to oppose the 2050 General Plan, but he hopes to increase affordable housing without running the risk of overdevelopment.
Housing is a critical issue for Lucier's campaign. He recognizes the importance of affordable housing and said he believes in finding innovative and affordable solutions to meet the needs of all residents.
"David feels that the city council has lost its north star and that developmental pressures and developer influences are deeply impacting the city, to the detriment of our quality of life," his candidate profile on the city website reads.
Lucier said he intends to change Tempe's development approval process, saying he is frustrated with the current system and the way that developers frequently get permission despite objections or comments from the community.
"I want to change that. I want to change that process," Lucier said. "I want to change the commission. I want to change the legal standing for residents and neighborhoods."
The current Tempe City Council crafted the 2050 General Plan, which is a policy document made to serve as "an expression of how the community wants to grow and change over the next 30 years," according to the city's site for the plan.
"In this election, all candidates except Lucier are in favor of the Tempe General Plan for 2050, which outlines strategic initiatives for the next 30 years," said Katie Ritchie, a freshman studying public service and public policy. "From what I have noticed, Lucier generally supports the plan and its objectives. His primary concern lies with the issue of the proposed dense development of Tempe."
Lucier calls the plan "untenable," saying it allows developers to overdevelop large swaths of the city.
Lucier got into politics because of his experience serving the country after 9/11. He said his passion for giving back to the veteran community extends beyond his military service.
"When I returned from Afghanistan, I got involved in the veterans community and looked at education and training, jobs and economic opportunity, and health and wellness, also known as the three circles of success," Lucier said.
The three circles of success, Lucier said, are a key focus of his political career. He believes that by addressing these three areas, veterans can achieve a successful transition back into civilian life.
"I like that he has been involved in the Tempe community for a long time and has the endorsements of many unions," Isabel Hiserodt, a sophomore studying political science and the president of Young Democrats at ASU, said. "Having strong stances against development, however, does sometimes make me nervous that the individual would potentially be against unconventional forms of housing developments."
According to Hiserodt, Young Democrats at ASU has been regularly communicating with candidates for city council, and the club has invited them to speak at meetings about their strategies for resolving community issues.
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"I have really enjoyed getting to meet David and the other candidates at our meetings. It is good to see that everyone running is very engaged with the community," Hiserodt said. "Overall, I have a very positive view of Tempe City Council, as Tempe tends to be much more progressive than other cities in Arizona, leading the way in sustainability and housing."
These critical discussions allow young voters to become informed about the candidates' positions and make educated decisions come election time.
"The Young Democrats at ASU do not endorse in contested Democratic primaries, so we are remaining neutral in this year's city council election," Hiserodt said. "As a result, ensuring a high turnout for Mayor Woods and encouraging voters in general are our top priorities."
Ritchie said she has been closely following the candidate elections and engaging in most of the candidate town halls.
"I think that since Tempe is already so progressive, all of the candidates have similar opinions," Ritchie said. "Everyone wants affordable housing, and everyone wants sustainability, so from what I have seen from the city council meetings, there is a lot of groupthink that occurs."
Edited by Grey Gartin, Sadie Buggle and Grace Copperthite.
Reach the reporter at ssudha13@asu.edu.
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