In a recent interview with local radio personality Jon Justice, sitting Oro Valley Councilman Mike Zinkin discussed his platform and plans for re-election. Zinkin served on the development review board for four years before being narrowly beaten in the 2010 mayoral race. He became a member of the city council in 2012.
In the interview, Zinkin discussed the problems associated with the town’s acquisition of the El Conquistador community center and golf courses. The community center was bought by the town in a 4-3 decision in late 2014. Zinkin mentioned in the interview that he had no opposition to buying the community center, but the golf courses were proving to be more costly to the town than anticipated. Zinkin says that the town initially believed that they would lose only 1.5 million dollars from the golf courses. As of May 2016, Zinkin reports the golf courses cost the town a total of 3.4 million dollars.
Zinkin told Justice that he does not believe that the community center has honored the wishes and needs of his constituents. He cites as an example the fact that the council never asked the public about any of their wishes or suggestions for the club but still expects the public to foot the bill for the country club in the form of taxpayer money.
Zinkin also discussed his disapproval of the fact that the town’s ownership of the country club introduces a government-run business to compete with private corporations. He cites the fitness center within the facility as an example and discusses companies such as LA Fitness and Planet Fitness as potential competitors to the government.
Despite all this, Zinkin still believes that the community center needs to remain within the town’s care. He just believes that there need to be a few changes to how the town council manages the community center and the money brought in from it.
You can listen to the full interview here-