Wainwright: Smaller, limited government is worth preserving in Paradise Valley

To protect and preserve limited government is an ambitious goal worth pursuing.

In the early 1960s a remarkable group of civic leaders resided in unincorporated areas just outside of the city limits of Phoenix and Scottsdale.

These leaders undertook the task of creating a unique municipality separate from the rapidly expanding bureaucracies to the south. These community leaders founded what is of course the Town of Paradise Valley.

Our town founders had numerous reasons for not wanting to simply be absorbed into Phoenix or Scottsdale.

A major motivation for the town’s founding was a belief that limited and or smaller government would best serve the residents of this new town.

Since Paradise Valley’s incorporation in 1961, limited government with no property tax has been a hallmark of the town’s existence. Over the years, town leaders have fought the temptation to expand government and impose a property tax.

For the most part this experiment in low-tax limited-government, has been successful. It is true that the size of town government has expanded at a faster rate than the town’s population.

I believe it is also true that by comparison Paradise Valley’s government has remained more user friendly and responsive to its citizens then that of the much larger municipalities that surround the town today and no property tax has been levied.

I have had the privilege to know many of Paradise Valley’s founders and most I believe would applaud Ronald Reagan’s well-known quote about governments inclination to tax and expand.

Our 40th president observed that when government is left unchecked, elected leaders often have the attitude of, “If it moves, tax it, if it keeps moving, regulate it, and if it stops, subsidize it.” I am convinced limited and smaller government is a goal we should continue to preserve and protect.

Editor’s Note: Jonathan Wainwright is a candidate for Paradise Valley Town Council in the Aug. 4 primary election.