To the editor,

Public sector unions that negotiate pay, raises, benefits, and contracts directly with the city council have not endorsed me.

Neither have local developers who come before the council seeking development agreements, annexations, zoning changes, or other approvals. These approvals can impact Maricopa for decades.

Utilities from outside Maricopa that want to work with data centers or other major projects requiring city council approval have not endorsed me.

Political groups have not endorsed me either.

And out-of-city developers who want to build thousands of homes outside Maricopa and then come before the council asking for annexation have definitely not endorsed me. 

I am good with that.

I ran for city council to represent the people of Maricopa. Not special interests, political groups, donors, or people looking for influence. I was elected by the people who live here, work here, raise their families here, drive these roads, pay these taxes, and deal with the decisions made at city hall. That is who I answer to.

I have fought for this city with everything I have. Emotionally and physically. I have taken the hits, fought the fights, won some, and lost some. I have not been perfect. Not even close. But I care about this city, and I have always tried to do what I believed was right for the people who call Maricopa home.

I am not looking to use this seat to run for something else. I do not want to be a legislator, run for mayor, run for Congress, or be a county supervisor. In fact, I turned down some of those jobs over the last 12 years to remain on the council. I am not planning my next job while asking you to trust me with this one. Win or lose, this is my last election.

Why I want your vote

I am asking for your vote, not because you owe me anything, but because I have worked, shown up, and done the job. I now owe it to you to finish the job I started. After all, I have sat through the meetings, asked the questions, pushed for roads, fought tax increases, worked to lower property tax rates, supported public safety, pushed for jobs, defended homeowners, and tried to make sure Maricopa was not ignored.

This is not a never-ending campaign cycle for me, and I am not here to keep donors happy. Developers have not funded me. Utilities have not funded me. The president of SRP has not funded me. I do not take money from the same interests that may one day come before the council asking for something.

That matters.

Because when those votes come up, residents should not have to wonder who their councilmember is really thinking about.

At the end of the day, I am just a guy who lives here, raised my kids here, owns a business here, and wants to make the place I call home a little better with every decision I make. Like many of you, I know what it is like to worry about tomorrow, work hard, get frustrated, and still believe this city is worth fighting for.

Maricopa is home. I love this city, and I want to see us rise together. That means better roads, more jobs, stronger public safety, responsible growth, and a city that remembers the people who already live here while planning for the future.

The endorsements I did not get do not bother me because I never asked for them, and I would have declined them anyway.

The only endorsement I care about is yours. 

I would be honored to earn your vote.

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Vincent Manfredi owns InMaricopa and this is a letter written to the editor.