Candidate Statement:

I have lived in Arizona since 1973 when my dad was transferred to the Williams Air Force Base near Mesa, AZ. We moved here from Rome, New York. Before that my mom and I lived in Michigan with relatives for a year while my father served in Vietnam.

I have 4 years of experience as a former D-H council member (2018 to 2022); and two years on DH Planning and Zoning Commission. I have the experience needed to represent our residents on property rights and low density; rural/farm issues.

I began fighting high density; water-wasting growth when I lived in Chandler in 1999. I owned and lived on horse property for ten years before the developers invaded Chandler. At that time I assisted the rural “County-Island” horse owners, local ranchers, dairy farmers; and even Chandler City tract-home owners in organizing their neighborhoods and attending council and planning meetings in that town when Big Growth started.

During that time I wrote and I assisted in the filing of dozens of “legal protests” for many of my neighbors to force a super-majority, 3/4 vote, on new developments. AND, later, we succeeded in adding public notice requirements into new subdivision contracts which required the disclosure of the existing horse, goat, poultry farms on county zoned properties. Developers DID NOT WANT to be forced into disclosing those uses. BUT — in the end — that clause was actually written into the Southeast Chandler Area Plan; to protect existing farms, animal owners AND new city dwellers.

I agree with the majority of our residents — I do not want higher home density allowed in our town. We need to protect our private wells from that kind of growth. Most of us believe that DH should remain an extremely low density, rural town. That is what our residents said they wanted when they mailed back the 2023 General Plan polls.

I am opposed to town owned sewer and water companies. I wrote and sponsored the Dewey-Humboldt Proposition 455 which was passed by our voters in 2017. As a result of that election — a super majority of 3/4 of the D-H council members will be required to vote for approval before the town can accept sewer/water loans from the Water Infrastructure Authority.

I am opposed to changing any zoning codes to create or allow new higher housing densities in our town. Density limits need to stay the same to protect our private wells. The current code requires a 70,000 square foot lot per home in “low density” areas of town.

I do not agree with the new General Plan which will require the town to create new denser, “PV-style” residential zones. The recent poll for the general plan indicates people do not want new higher density zones to be created in our town.

Our town has “survived” as a low density community since the 2005 incorporation of the town. There is no reason to change now. DON’T “PV our DH”!!!!!

I know how to research and read DH town codes, state legislation, “case law” and Attorney General decisions. That enables me to ask informed questions on behalf of town residents. I have continued to stay informed even though I am not on a board or commission at this time. I don’t need to “catch up” if I get elected.

As for D-H priorities — Council members are elected by residents based on the issues candidates support. I don’t lie about D-H issues like water or growth. If elected I will not “back track” on issues of limiting growth and density. Our residents know and understand that controlling housing density protects our wells, our property rights and our way of life. I agree.

My priorities if elected will be:

EMERGENCY FIRE EXITS

We need to restore the 2017 emergency fire exit for Blue Hills neighborhoods, AND explore and verify any additional options. Also — residents and town officials need to identify areas of the “Foothills” neighborhoods which need better emergency access and exits.

SECOND

The D-H General Plan needs to be AMENDED to comply with the General Plan survey results — NO NEW HIGH DENSITY GROWTH — PERIOD.

THIRD

The D-H Town codes need to be changed to PROTECT property rights, allow more farm animals, and conform with state laws. The DH town code fails in all three of those categories now.

FOURTH

Income for the town — what commercial uses are needed or wanted by residents? Should new, low intensity, commercial classes of use be created and adopted into the zoning code?

This is an important question because the current zoning code allows multi-family/apartments in all classes of commercial. Where should any new, low impact commercial be allowed?

Residents need to have control over that issue by email/writing to council members, attending hearings and being involved. The town government shall do proper outreach on that issue if I am elected. No more “hide and seek” or “bait and switch” will be allowed.

The 2023 General Plan survey results addressed some issues. Citizens need to be involved in identifying AND DEFINING a new type of “village”-scale of LOW-INTENSITY commercial land use for our town.

The town does need income to be able to pay for law enforcement services, and town staff requirements. Prices on these items have increased — our town needs to be able to staff Town Hall and provide the limited services which the town is responsible for, such as sheriff contracts for traffic and law enforcement.

Please contact me at my email — collins.lynnk@gmail.com — with any comments, questions or ideas.

June 7, 2026

Response to LWVAZ below:

Dear Lynn Collins,

Thank you for responding to the LWVAZ voter guide questionnaire. Your participation in this valuable resource benefits Arizona voters.

Here is a copy of your submission:

Graduated in top ten of class at High school
collins.lynnk@gmail.com
Open government, honest government, re-instate ethics codes with penalties, need better evacuation plans for flood and fire, need to continue to protect wells by limiting residential density.
I am a frequent donor to Dog Tree Pines- a rescue sanctuary for elderly dogs.
Served 4 hears on Dewey-Humboldt council (2018-2022), 2 years on Planning and zoning commission in DH. While on P&Z I participated in a review of the whole Dewey-Humboldt zoning code and submitted suggestions for updates. people can read everyone’s suggested code updates on pages 61- 66 of the Feb 6 2025 Planning and zoning meeting packet.
455 South Antelope Dr
Dewey-Humboldt, AZ, 86327

How would you support economic opportunities that align with your community’s needs, values, long-term water availability, and overall sustainability?
ECONOMICS (commercial land uses)–Revisit Main Street revitalization with the citizens and owners. Address residents’ concerns about any new commercial areas by using General Plan polling information to draft a new, lower-intensity, “village-scale” commercial definition for any new commercial areas. Explore using buffer zones and limited hours of operation to decrease the negative impacts of all commercial uses on nearby residents. Identify possible new locations for a new “Village Commercial” land use. Do intensive outreach in any areas near potential sites to collect additional suggestions and re-adjust policy if needed. THEN update General Plan and zoning code as needed. Adopt a new Village Commercial class of land use through intensive public involvement. WATER— identify land uses which are higher water users and adjust codes to discourage or prohibit new high water users such as apartment complexes, tract-housing, big box stores or coin operated car washes.

What are your top budget priorities, and how would you allocate resources among city services such as public safety, infrastructure, housing, and community programs?
PUBLIC SAFETY/INFRASTRUCTURE – Improve roads so emergency service providers have faster, easier, safer access. Address community concerns over the Fain aggregate mine near the north end of town. What will they do for dust control; what effects will blasting have on homes (if that is used). Form a council subcommittee to review all past work and input on a “new town hall” so that it can be compiled and submitted to the whole council and the citizens for review. Adopt a soils ordinance for the areas affected by super-fund contamination. COMMUNITY PROGRAMS Update town codes to protect/expand livestock ownership and increase numbers of animals allowed. Form a council subcommittee to review the Planning Commission town codes suggestions and identify priorities based on public health and property rights- get the codes fixed!!!!

What steps would you take to ensure transparency, ethical governance, and meaningful public participation in municipal decision-making?
RE-ADOPT an ethics code with penalties. Write a new town code with improved direction on public notice requirements. Review town policies to see which ones need to be changed to enforceable codes. Require increased public notice and more public outreach thru the town newsletter for controversial issues and zoning changes. Update town code to require the town to follow recent state law changes on zoning signs –our code allows signs which are too small and not formatted properly. Update town code on protesting zoning code amendments (zoning changes)- ours does not match the state requirements and that endangers the property rights of our residents. The town website needs to publish the minutes of any outside committees that our council members are appointed to (such as Cafma, Water Planning issues, ect) . IF those committees do not publish minutes council should reconsider the value of our town participating in them.

How will you work with residents, regional partners, and other levels of government to address shared challenges facing your community?
The concerns, priorities, and rights of our citizens must come first when “regional issues” are under discussion.

What do you consider the most important issues facing this community, and what specific actions would you take to address them?
Flood/fire planning. Evacuations need to have planning for both fire and flood. Need to identify high risk areas. Need to review every year decide if changes need to be made. There needs to be planning done for the Foothills area also. Foothills needs an emergency exit plan too. Equally important is to make sure that our elderly citizens’ needs are identified and prioritized. For instance- if there is a fire or a flood- how will a person without a “smart” phone or internet access be notified of emergencies? Will they be notified in time to get things together(pets) and get out? I have met a lot of people without “smart” phones or internet. Many of them rely on local radio news broad casts for information. We need to make sure all bases are covered.