Independent Newsmedia | Surprise Independent
What is Surprise’s biggest recent missed opportunity?
A sixth in a series of Q&As with candidates who have qualified for ballot for the Aug. 4 Surprise city election, as well as two candidates who have qualified as official write-ins:
MAYOR — Skip Hall
We were a finalist with a company, but it was under a code name. So, I can’t tell you what the company was. [It was between] us, a city in Texas and a city in Nevada. It went to a city in Texas. We’re finalists with two other companies right now. It’s just a matter of time.
DISTRICT 2 — Alyson Cline
The Economic Development staff in the city works, based on annual community surveys, to meet the needs of our residents. Opportunities may have been delayed but not missed while they work with wanted businesses and overcome any challenges.
DISTRICT 2 — Wendell Fountain
We should have attracted Honeywell’s expansion that went to Phoenix. The company added to its manufacturing base N95 masks. We could have easily incorporated that activity into the functions of the West-MEC Training and Development Center, or for that matter, a different business activity. This is really unfortunate because that would have provided us with an additional 500 well-paying jobs. If I were a member of the Surprise administration, I would still negotiate with the CEO of Honeywell to consider transferring that light manufacturing function to Surprise. We are an excellent fit.
