Kim Versage is fed up and wants a change in the Cave Creek mayor’s office.

“I feel like we have a lack of leadership in our current government,” she said. “It’s a runaway budget.”

Versage said she decided to run for the town’s top political spot after growing increasingly concerned about the deal to buy Cave Creek Water Company. She fears the purchase will leave residents saddled with millions of dollars in debt–and higher property taxes.

“We voted for Spur Cross (Ranch) and we took a tax on ourselves for Spur Cross with our eyes wide open. We knew exactly what we were getting into,” she said. “With this water company, they’re not telling us the whole truth. They’re talking out of both sides of their mouth.”

She saves particular criticism for incumbent Mayor Francia, who she said has likened running the town with handicapping a horse race.

“I don’t think the citizens of Cave Creek want to be handicapped with this amount of debt,” she said.

Versage also finds herself in disagreement with incumbent Mayor Vince Francia on the west side annexation deal. She fears promoting high density commercial growth along Carefree Highway will leave downtown Cave Creek stores wanting for tourist dollars.

“I think were biting off more than we can chew,” she said. “I think we need to concentrate on our town because it’s vital to our citizens to have a tourist town.

The biggest issues facing Cave Creek: “Acquisition of the water company. This will result in a $19.5 million purchase, plus $6.7 million infrastructure, plus $2.5 million Desert Hills Water Co.–millions of  dollars in long‑term debt plus $500,000 in court fees, all of which is intended to be paid back by accelerated growth.”

Day labor: “The current ordinance needs to be beefed up to make loitering a violation, and to put street cops either on foot or horseback so they can deter people from hanging around.”

Commercial core: “I believe the General Plan as it exists today reflects the citizen’s desires. This General Plan promotes an eclectic small scale southwestern, western plan. Our town core is a vital part of Cave Creek. And right now, we have buildings that have been sitting empty for months. And here we’re going to upzone on the Carefree Highway 120 acres of commercial. How is that going to affect our commercial core?”

Annexation: “There are hidden taxes involving the State Land Development Agreement to supply water infrastructure up to five miles outside our boundaries. I am for preservation. I voted for Spur Cross and would vote for this if all the facts were disclosed to the Cave Creek taxpayers. The true cost of this obligation has not been disclosed or even calculated.”

Purchasing the Cave Creek Water Co.: “The town has burdened itself so great with the State land Development Agreement and overwhelming cost. At the candidates’ night Bob Kite told the audience he had placed in escrow the water company at less than $9 million. The town said it was too much to pay in 2004.Now they are committed without voter approval for $19.5 million or whatever the price may be. This is the direct result of the lack of leadership and why I am running for office.”    

Keeping Cave Creek’s character: “With the rezoning of Carefree Highway, the town will have more than 120 acres of CB, up to 8 units per acre–that is 960 units +2 people that’s approximately 1,920 people that could vote and change the center of town to the west side.”

The biggest issues facing Cave Creek: “Growth and preservation of Cave Creek’s desert rural environment. We do not promote growth. It’s a result of new residents finding the community a desirable place to live and for developers, a good place for their projects. Growth is occurring in Cave Creek because property rights are honored.”

Day labor:

“I view it as a challenge, not a problem, and one whose resolution is complex. The ‘doing about this issue,’ is directly related to that which the town is legally allowed to do. The town marshall, for example, has cleared out all camps in the desert and washes of the town’s jurisdiction. Since camping is not permitted in the town, it is legal to do. If a business allows day labors to congregate on their property then loitering laws cannot be enforced.”

Commercial Core: “Currently there are two large commercial ventures: Stagecoach Village, which is under construction, and the 252‑room resort, recently approved on Bob Kite’s property. Stagecoach Village, being developed through commercial zoning, combines restaurant and business interests in a 105,000‑square‑foot complex. The Kite property, being developed via site plan, Special Use Permit (SUP), and final plat (recently approved by Council)) is a commercial resort with amenities. The Southwest Sands property is the last remaining large commercial tract to be developed in the Historic Core.”

Annexation:“I am for the annexation for the following reasons. First, it protects our western border from development more intense than what Cave Creek allows. Secondly, through working, planning and negotiating with the State Land Department for the past five years, we’ve put together a plan that is both respectful of the State Land Trust’s mandate– to auction land to the highest bidder to raise revenues for education–and sensitive to preservation of land, which is what makes Cave Creek so unique.”

Purchasing the Cave Creek Water Co.: “Water is destiny in Arizona. Acquisition of the water company is what gives Cave Cree control of its destiny. There are two important components in keeping Cave Creek’s eco‑systems viable. One is maintaining the desert in it natural state through preservation as noted by annexation and Spur Cross. The second is owning and having control over its precious water for the future. By law, owners of wells do not have to hook up to the water company’s system. They do so only if they choose to.”

Keeping Cave Creek’s character:

When the citizens voted to tax themselves to save Spur Cross they defined the character of the Cave Creek community: rural and unique, with a high value being placed on the desert in its natural state. Equally so is an appreciation for an eclectic historic core and the desire to keep it that way.

Our low density zoning contributes to maintaining uniqueness. A healthy local economy is what will sustain our unique desert lifestyle. Our unique desert lifestyle is what will inspire and remind us to be mindful as to how we develop our economic base.