Transparency in the City of Chandler

Jane Poston

Chandler City Councilmember

July 24, 2025

As a Chandler City Councilmember who ran on transparency, I take deep exception to recent comments by Rep. Jeff Weninger about this issue. I’ve worked hard to increase transparency, and in partnership with my fellow Councilmembers, have created unprecedented access to the government process. This includes the first-ever public broadcast of our budget hearings(with absolutely no additional staff cost), and the addition of public input at the earliest stages of the conversation around city issues. We now welcome public comment during work sessions, Council subcommittee meetings and Board & Commission meetings.

I find it baffling that allowing voters to decide on an issue could be interpreted as anything but transparent. Our process to send a Charter clarification to voters included dozens of constituent emails and phone calls, hours of public meetings, testimony from several previous Councilmembers, and resident input during two separate public meetings. In fact, Rep. Weninger, was present in the Chambers and welcome to provide his input at that time.I was also sorry to see someone with eight years of council experience misrepresent Executive Sessions as anything but legal advice from the City Attorney. Any other discussions in those meetings is prohibited by law.

November’s ballot will simply clarify voters’ original intent to maintain term limits while allowing experienced councilmembers to run for Mayor. I’m proud to have voted yes in a 6-1 majority to put this into the hands of Chandler voters.

The accusation was so disappointing because Chandler has a long history of elected officials running on merit and vision rather than the divisiveness that has permeated other levels of government. As a resident who loves our community, I hope to see that continue. We have so much to be proud of! Lower property tax rates, record low crime rates, a thriving downtown, and beautiful parks across the city.

I encourage residents to vote in November and continue to engage in civil discourse about the many important issues facing our community; the General Plan, Bond Election, housing study and utility rates, not to mention local workforce needs and deepening budget concerns –many of which are the result of the state legislature’s insistence on usurping local control.

As always, please feel free to contact me anytime.

Councilmember Jane Poston

City of Chandler

jane.poston@chandleraz.gov 480-782-2200

Jane Poston, Transparency Position Statement2021

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