Six candidates vie for three seats on GV Fire Board

It’s been an exciting year for the Green Valley Fire District.

Two new stations are set to break ground in upcoming months — one in Quail Creek and the other on La Canada Blvd., a replacement for Station 151.

The district recently annexed land in the southern bounds of Sahuarita, greatly expanding it and providing endless opportunity for future growth and development.

On top of that, it’s an election year, with more candidates running than ever before in the Board’s history.

Six Green Valley and Sahuarita residents — including two incumbents — are running for three open seats.

The role of the Fire Board is to approve and monitor the annual budget; determine the property tax rate (as the only Green Valley entity with any taxing authority); monitor the district’s performance standards; develop long range planning in conjunction with the Fire Chief and other district executives; and hold monthly meetings that are open to the public.

The following are brief profiles of the six candidates vying for a seat on the board. The candidates are presented alphabetically.

Dave Appleton

Appleton, a director on the board since 2004, is running for a second term.

He said he is proud to have served as a board representative on the building committee for two new fire stations. During that time the architect and construction companies were selected and the building designs were completed and submitted for approval.

“I helped approve the two new buildings, and I’d like be there to see that through,” he said.

Appleton and his wife have lived in Green Valley since 1992. A former engineer, he worked with TRW Inc. in several capacities, including business planning and emergency management and as mission planning for the Apollo Lunar Landing and Shuttle programs under the company was contract to NASA.

He spent 10 years with the Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers, five years with the Greater Green Valley Community Foundation and three years on the Session of the Valley Presbyterian Church.

Ron Darrah

Darrah says he “knows the ins and outs of running a fire department.”

As a 32-year veteran of the San Diego Fire Department, he’s held several positions, including engineer, captain and battalion chief. After retiring in 2001, he and his wife moved to Quail Creek.

A priority for Darrah would be to expand the district, which would bring in additional income with the inclusion of more taxpayers, he says.

Darrah is active in the community, serving as Planning and Zoning Commissioner for the Town of Sahuarita for four years and currently serving as president of the board for the Quail Creek Property Owners’ Association. In addition, he volunteers at the Green Valley Community Food Bank and was a member of its advisory board for two years.

Bruce Howell

Howell spent 34 years with the Boston Fire Department, the last 10 as a fire lieutenant. Prior to becoming a firefighter, he was a Petty Officer 2nd Class in the U.S. Navy.

While at the BFD, one of his accomplishments was to develop and implement hazardous materials training for firefighters. He worked most recently in the Human Resources Division, where he implemented sexual harassment/hostile work environment and peer counseling programs.

Howell says he understands the concerns of firefighters, adding that his priority if elected would be to ensure that Green Valley firefighters have the best and most up-to-date equipment and training.

He moved with his wife to Quail Creek in 2005, and says the Fire Board should include a resident of Sahuarita now that parts of that community are included in the district.

Howell is an active member of the Quail Creek Patrol, a volunteer security organization which serves that community.

Bill Katzel

Katzel says he has become familiar with Green Valley Fire District employees over the years and appreciates the quality of their service.

“Their paramedics saved my wife’s life three times, and I’d like to give something back to them,” he said.

Katzel says he is concerned with improving the Fire Board’s visibility within the community, and advocates appointing a Community Liaison Representative to participate in strategic planning for the district’s future.

Another priority if elected would be to maintain the Fire Board’s record of fiscal conservatism, but to focus more heavily on long-range planning.

“Right now, we’re dependent on property tax revenues, and one of my goals would be to diversify our funding sources,” he said.

Katzel and his wife have lived in Green Valley since 2005, but have resided in the Tucson area for more than 30 years. As a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, he served in the Vietnam War. Katzel then worked as a regulations officer with the U.S. Public Health Service, where he oversaw congressional health legislation” and later worked as a contract and grants management specialist.

Katzel is well-known to be active in the community. He is a member of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT); GVCCC Environmental Committee; a former member of the Green Valley Fire Corps; and is active as an Arizona Department of Transportation Citizen’s Advisory attendee.

Phil Lotz

Lotz was appointed to the board in June after the resignation of former board member Jack Warth, and will be running for a full four-year term.

“I have an ongoing interest in giving back to this community,” said Lotz, a resident of Green Valley, along with this wife, since 2001.

Lotz is currently a board representative on the building committee for new district fire stations, and has completed several courses toward certification as Arizona fire district director.

He said that if elected, he would be responsive to the needs of the citizens and taxpayers and work to maintain the board’s reputation for fiscal responsibility.

“My business experience lends itself to a board of this type, which is administrative and policy-making, rather than micromanaging,” he said.

Lotz worked in sales management and marketing at the agricultural division of the Bayer Corp. before his retirement. He is a former private business owner, bank manager and manager of several charitable and not for profit organizations.

Lotz was a member of the task force that created the Green Valley Domestic Water Improvement District, subsequently becoming president of the Green Valley Municipal Property Corporation. In addition, he is an active member of Valley Presbyterian Church where he is an Elder and choir member.

Mikel Shilling

Shilling says if elected to the Fire Board, the areas she would focus most on are policy, budget, and strategic planning.

“It’s important that the budget process be carefully carried out, transparent and effectively communicated to the public,” she said.

She also stressed the importance of maintaining a good relationship between the board and Fire District personnel.

“Our firefighters are so involved in the community, and with the board,” she said, adding, “I’m always surprised at how many firefighters regularly come to the board meetings.”

Shilling has lived in Green Valley with her husband since 1994. She is a former employee of the U.S. Forest Service, where she was an Environmental Policy Specialist and a Land Management Planner.

She is involved in many community organizations, having served as president of the Greater Green Valley Community Foundation and president of the Green Valley Community Coordinating Council. She was also director, District 4, Pima County Parks and Recreation Commission for seven years. Currently, Shilling is a member of the Green Valley Fire District Pension Fund Board.

jrichardson@gvnews.com | 547-9726