The city of Phoenix uses a council-manager form of government with three main positions: mayor, councilmember and city manager. The mayor and council members set policies and budgets and hire the city manager, who oversees daily operations.
About District 3
The boundaries for District 3 are roughly Bell Road south to Dunlap Avenue and Interstate 17 east to State Route 51. The district is home to the Rose Mofford Sports Complex and North Mountain Park. Neighborhoods include Moon Valley and Sunnyslope.
About the candidates
Ayensa Millan is an attorney with experience in immigration, personal injury and criminal law. She serves on the Arizona-Mexico Commission’s board of directors. Millan’s priorities include more attainable housing and addressing aging infrastructure.
Debra Stark (incumbent) was appointed to fill a vacant seat in 2016 and elected in 2017. Previously, she worked in planning and community development for Maricopa County, Peoria and Phoenix. Stark lists advocating for a more responsive government among her priorities.
Candidate questionnaire
KJZZ News sent each candidate the same questions addressing various issues, including homelessness, public safety and potential tax increases and program cuts. Responses appear in alphabetical order, unedited and in their entirety.
Why do you want to be a council member?
AYENSA MILLAN: As a first-generation immigrant, I want to help others achieve their own version of the American Dream—whether it’s going to a good school, starting a family, or buying their own home. As someone who believes that local government has the potential of having the greatest impact on the everyday lives of people, running for the Phoenix City Council is the best way to achieve my goal of empowering others to follow their dreams.
DEBRA STARK: My entire career has been one of public service in the field of city planning. I have a passion for cities. Being on Council allows me to continue to serve the public and ensure we maintain our quality of life in Phoenix.
What are your priorities specific to your district? How would you address them?
MILLAN: The neighborhoods of District 3 have some of the last pockets of truly attainable homes for working people in Phoenix. If elected, I want to supercharge the effort to make a meaningful impact on the supply side of the housing equation by partnering with community development groups to identify and fund new workforce housing projects—specifically in my Council District.
As part of this effort, I want to expand opportunities for existing businesses in my District to expand, and to attract new ones. Too often, our residents are forced to travel to Downtown Phoenix and Scottsdale for services, restaurants, and recreation. In order to ensure that our neighborhoods and business districts survive and thrive, I’d like to see more residents shopping, eating and playing locally. To achieve this goal, we need to incentivize mixed-used development with clear benefits for business and the community at large.
In addition, the people in my District are looking to the city for comprehensive ways to address the rising number of unhoused people. Despite the recent announcement of a reduction in Phoenix’s most recent Point in Time count of people on our streets, residents and business owners are seeing either an increase, or no change, in the homeless population in our communities. If elected, I will advocate for more resources and services to compassionately and effectively address the complex issues surrounding homelessness.
STARK: Three priorities specific to the District I hear about most frequently are roadway safety, adequate 911 response times, and aging infrastructure. Overall roadway safety continues to be a concern for district residents. Phoenix unfortunately has one of the highest red light fatality rates in the Country. I want to ensure we apply sound engineering measures to increase safety on our roads and that we do a better job of enforcing the rules of roads. Our response times have been increasing. I will continue to ensure that hiring first responders is a priority. We have increased the compensation of our first responders and I am supportive of exploring technology to improve their ability to perform such as expanding real crime operations citywide. District 3 is seeing its share of aging infrastructure. I recently supported our bond election which will build a new modern fire station in Sunnyslope (the busiest station). We need to replace aging water lines to prevent water leaks. I supported our water infrastructure plan to ensure we upgrade those lines. A few years ago, I supported the accelerated pavement maintenance plan, and it has been paying off as our roads are getting improved at a better pace.
What do you consider to be a significant challenge citywide? How would you work with other council members to address it?
MILLAN: The cost of living in our city has risen drastically, putting the squeeze on everyone—with those on fixed incomes, including the elderly, being some of the most affected. In recent years, we’ve seen a sharp rise in the number of older people being evicted from their homes, either through double-digit percent rent increases or harassment through construction and other methods. If elected, I will work with my City Council colleagues to identify robust and reliable funding sources for programs meant to keep more people in their homes—including the Tenant Eviction Assistance Project (TEAP) and a revived Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program.
STARK: Affordable housing and homelessness are significant challenges in our city, but not just in our city. These two issues are both statewide and national issues. I will work with both our state and federal officials to find solutions, in particular in funding mental health assistance and improving eviction prevention rates. From a city standpoint, we can continue to look at how we process building permits to ensure the utmost timeliness. We can research and implement zoning procedures that will help stimulate more affordable housing like recent text amendments allowing for Accessory Dwelling Units and Multi-family parking standards.
New state policies are impacting city budgets, including the change from a graduated income tax scale to a flat tax and the elimination of sales tax on residential rentals. Over the next two fiscal years, Phoenix projects baseline shortfalls of $92 million and $31 million. If faced with a deficit, will you support raising taxes or cutting programs or services? Which taxes, programs or services would you consider increasing or decreasing and why?
MILLAN: First, I plan to join my fellow Councilmembers, as well as those from other cities, to push the State Legislature to reverse fiscally punitive measures such as the repeal of the Rental Tax.
Regardless of the outcome of that effort, residents and businesses expect their Council to balance the city’s budget. In order to fairly and equitably address the projected budget shortfall, I strongly believe that no one group or business sector should bear the brunt of tax increases or cuts in services. Instead, we should look at ways in which we can deliver all of our services more effectively and efficiently.
One way to do this would be to pursue more partnerships with nonprofits, faith organizations and other groups that are providing similar services to people in our city. More effective community-government partnerships will help eliminate overlap in services and create more durable bonds between the city and those we are trying to help.
STARK: If we face a deficit, I will talk about both taxes and cutting programs. I would first look at our programs and ask, “are we duplicating services that other levels of governments perform?”. If we are, I would start with those programs such as public health. Maricopa County Public Health has a robust agency, and we may need to ask them to provide more for our residents. I would then question whether we should be paying dues to organizations that provide some of the services we perform such as economic development or lobbying efforts. I would then look at user fees. Perhaps, we increase fees for the use of playfields for example. And if necessary, I would look at our sales tax and see if a slight increase could assist in paying for core services.
Homelessness continues to be a top concern among residents. In 2020, the city council adopted the Strategies to Address Homelessness Plan, and in 2022, Phoenix launched an Office of Homeless Solutions. The city spends tens of millions of dollars annually on outreach, behavioral and mental health services, workforce development, shelters, encampment cleanups, rental assistance and eviction prevention efforts, and new housing for low-to-moderate income residents. When addressing homelessness, what areas do you think the city should invest more or less in and why?
MILLAN: I believe our city should consider making historic investments in services and programs designed to keep more Phoenicians in their homes. Once people are out of their homes, it becomes much harder and more cost intensive to get them back in safe, stable and secure housing. In addition, issues such as mental health and drug use become more difficult to treat when those suffering from these afflictions are unhoused and living in our streets and parks. The more resources we apply to prevention efforts, the less we will end up spending on those already experiencing homelessness.
STARK: As I noted before the issue is a national concern. I think it is critical that we work at all levels of government to ensure we are prioritizing funding for mental health services, workforce development and housing. Eviction occurs through the courts and therefore, I think we have a great opportunity to look at eviction prevention efforts with them such as providing legal assistance for people facing eviction. It is a countywide concern, and we need to address it collectively. The Office of Homeless Solutions has proven to be a great asset at working with the community and I will continue to support the Office.
After a 34-month investigation, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Phoenix Police have engaged in a “pattern or practice” of violating constitutional and civil rights. The DOJ has said it expects to work constructively with the city and the police department to ensure reforms are timely and fully implemented, but no agreement between the DOJ and Phoenix has been announced. Have you read the DOJ report? If so, how do you think the city and police department should respond?
MILLAN: Yes, I have read the DOJ’s report.
As someone who was appointed to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Community Advisory Board by Paul Penzone, I understand the often complex intersection between police officers—the vast majority of whom are doing difficult jobs responsibly and admirably—and the people they serve. As a past member of the CAB, I know intimately the financial, logistical and reputational cost of a consent decree on a law enforcement agency.
While I would not like the Phoenix Police Department and the people of this city to bear a similar burden, we also cannot turn a blind eye to the issues detailed in the DOJ’s report. We do our hardworking and courageous police officers a disservice when we ignore identified issues in the Department by failing to apply the additional resources and training they need.
We also do our taxpayers a disservice by unnecessarily continuing the risk of costly litigation over police practices and procedures.
This is an issue on which I find the silence from the incumbent in my race to be the most troubling. Even, and especially, on the tough issues, the residents of my Council District deserve to know where their representative stands. More than three months after the DOJ’s report was made public, we have no substantive information about Councilwoman Stark’s position on one of the most important items on the Council’s agenda.
STARK: We have continued to ask the DOJ to provide more information to the city. After 34 months, they should be more willing to give us time to digest the report and ask our own questions. They seemed unwilling. Since the announcement of the actual investigation, the Police Department has been aggressively working on improvements including revising the use of force policy, training, and forming the Civilian Oversight Commission. Unfortunately, the DOJ does not want to acknowledge what our city has been doing. I have read the report and I am not willing to agree to a consent decree.
EDITOR’S NOTE: All candidates’ responses were submitted prior to the City Council’s Sept. 24 policy session where members publicly discussed the DOJ findings, recommendations and actions already taken, in progress and planned by the police department.
What does the city do well and what can be done to improve on it?
MILLAN: As someone who lives near the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, I can’t help but be in awe of the number of outdoor and recreational opportunities that our city provides its residents. With the recent launch of the city Parks and Recreation Department’s Master Plan process, we have a generational opportunity to expand on these recreational options and increase accessibility so that even more Phoenicians can enjoy the open spaces and activities we need to thrive year-round.
STARK: I think the city has a great budget process. We go out to the districts and hear from the residents and businesses. Many quality projects have happened because of that involvement. However, I feel that we should still look at ways to get more involved. Perhaps we need to better showcase the impact participation has. For example, we are having a grand opening for our first ever cricket field, a sport that has become so popular it will be in the next Olympics. Yet, I don’t think residents know much about it.
How will you engage with residents and get them involved with the decision making process?
MILLAN: I believe the best way to increase residents’ engagement with the decision making process is to be a consistent presence in the community. That means not only attending community meetings and events, but providing online information and updates on the Council’s agenda and their representative’s stances and opinions on all matters, large and small.
If elected, I pledge to maintain a busy schedule of meetings with business owners, community leaders and everyday residents. I also will set up a robust online presence via e-newsletters, social media, and other digital resources to enable the people who are too busy to attend meetings in person the ability to keep up with what’s going on in their communities, and on the City Council.
STARK: I am always willing to attend a neighborhood meeting or meet for a coffee with anyone to discuss how they can be a part of the process. I will always be available. My number one goal is to provide constituent assistance.
What area of your district do you live in and why?
MILLAN: I live in Moon Valley. Though I’m certainly biased, I think it’s one of the best places in the city to live. My house allows me the room for my large group of family and friends to gather and spend precious time together. Though we could use more amenities, me and my neighbors are lucky to be so close to the Phoenix Mountain Preserve—one of the most beautiful natural wonders in our city.
STARK: I live in an area north of Moon Valley. I have lived in this area for over 38 years. It is my home.
Do you believe Arizona elections are fairly executed? Will you trust the results and abide by them? Why or why not?
MILLAN: Yes, I believe our elections in Arizona are fair. I will trust the results because I trust the hardworking elections officials at the city, county and state level who run our elections. I pledge to do all I can to fight against the lies and misinformation that seeks to divide us.
STARK: I do and will trust the results. I believe we have a great group of professionals that oversee the process.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to correct the boundaries of the district.
