Flourish Fountain Hills

10/21/2026

The discriminatory effort by Allen Skillicorn, in his few remaining days on this Town Council, that would have served no purpose other than diminish, demean, and ostracize members of of the Muslim community, harm business, and see the Town likely sued, fortunately failed in a 4-3 vote (Kalivianakis, McMahon, Friedel, Earle).

When the Town Manager wisely handed off the introductory explanation of this proposal to Skillicorn since he brought it to our Town chambers, he had the audacity as part of this ruse to state that he wanted to "Set the tone for the values and protecting freedom."

"Set the tone"? "Protect freedom"?

Of course, in this case one's values would have to comprise prejudice and one's freedom would have to be their own versus universal, equal freedom for this scheme to hold water.

Councilmember Brenda Kalivianakis was all over it, questioning Skillicorn as to what he meant. Watch the short clip to find out how Councilmember Skillicorn reacted to her question.

10/12/2026

📌Fountain Hills’ proposed “Sharia ban” is more Skillicorn-generated political theater that is likely to get Fountain Hills sued…again.

The good news is that Allen Skillicorn, the worst and most unpopular councilmember in the history of Fountain Hills, has only two meetings left to continue his relentless campaign to deceive, divide, and embarrass his constituents. The bad news is that, before he is removed from the dais, the self-described agent of geopolitical chaos and “bad ass” is intent on leaving another indelible stain on our town’s reputation and subjecting it to more litigation for the self-serving purposes of generating headlines and creating more fear and distrust of our Muslim neighbors.

At the October 20 General Meeting, the Council is set to discuss Skillicorn’s proposal to pass an unnecessary and unconstitutional ordinance that would purport to “ban” the application of Sharia law in Fountain Hills.

An understanding of the absurdity of this proposed ban begins with the recognition that the proposal is redundant. The United States and Arizona Constitutions and statutes already prohibit the application of any “foreign law” to determine the outcome of any criminal proceeding or civil litigation or dispute. The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land. In the event of a conflict between Arizona state law and a local regulation or ordinance, Arizona law controls. Every judicial officer, including Robert Melton, the presiding judge of the Fountain Hills Municipal Court, takes an oath to support both the U.S. and Arizona Constitutions.

So, even if Judge Melton were familiar with and inclined to apply Sharia law to a criminal matter—for example, in determining the sentence to be imposed on a defendant for leaving the scene of an accident—he could not do so without violating his oath and existing federal and state law.

In the waning days of his term as a Town councilmember and in the wake of his humiliating failure to collect enough valid signatures to run for Constable, Skillicorn is motivated not by any legitimate concern about the application of Sharia law but by a desire to generate more publicity. Skillicorn has embarked on a last-ditch effort to revive his failed political career.

Skillicorn appears unconcerned by the risk that his campaign to retain right-wing relevancy will result in litigation against the Town.

In September, after Skillicorn’s proposed “ban” was reported, a representative of the Arizona Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (“CAIR-AZ”) urged the Town to abandon the proposal. A letter addressed to Mayor Friedel and signed by CAIR-AZ’s Civil Rights Director, Martín Quezada, first suggested that representatives of the Town Council meet with him and other CAIR-AZ representatives to engage in a “dialogue.”

Quezada attempted to assure Friedel and other councilmembers that “Sharia plays the same role for American Muslims that canon law plays for Catholic Americans and Halacha plays for Jewish Americans. None of these traditions overrides the Constitution, and no one can impose these traditions on others.”

However, Quezada’s letter went on to caution that if the Town advanced an ordinance targeting Muslim residents or Islam, CAIR-AZ was prepared to pursue legal remedies, including federal litigation on behalf of the chapter and affected residents, and to seek attorney’s fees.

It would be foolish for the Town to dismiss the risk of a lawsuit based on an ordinance that targets a specific religion. In Larson v. Valente, the U.S. Supreme Court held that governmental preferences among religious denominations are subject to strict scrutiny and will be upheld only if they are justified by a compelling governmental interest. Here, Skillicorn cannot identify any legitimate, let alone compelling, reason why Fountain Hills should enact an ordinance that targets Muslims and affords no additional protection.

In Awad v. Ziriax, the court found that Oklahoma’s constitutional amendment prohibiting judicial consideration of Sharia law violated the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause because the state could identify no problem addressed by the amendment that was not already addressed by other provisions of state and federal law.

In the context of CAIR-AZ’s recent correspondence, it is important to note that, at the time the Awad lawsuit was filed, the plaintiff was the Executive Director of CAIR’s Oklahoma chapter. Fountain Hills taxpayers should also note that the court awarded the plaintiff more than $300,000 in attorney’s fees—fees ultimately paid with public money.

Not surprisingly, Skillicorn is not deterred by the threat of litigation. In a recent “exclusive” to the Arizona Globe, a “conservative” media outlet, Skillicorn nonsensically asserted that, by challenging his proposed ban, CAIR was somehow attempting to compete with the Constitution.

Hopefully, the majority of the Town Council will reject Skillicorn’s proposal and spare residents more negative publicity and taxpayers more costly litigation.

Councilmembers Kalivianakis and McMahon, both of whom have law degrees and will understand both the redundancy and risk of the measure, accepted the invitation to meet with CAIR-AZ’s representatives and can be expected to oppose the measure.

However, given the fact that Councilmembers Watts and Larrabee initially supported putting Skillicorn’s proposed ban on the agenda, and given Friedel’s demonstrated animosity toward and bias against members of the Muslim community, the “conservative” majority may well vote in favor of the ban in furtherance of the culture war they are so intent on continuing. In that event, Skillicorn may well get his wish and go out with a bang instead of the whimper he deserves.

07/31/2026

According to the Fountain Hills Times, “The Town of Fountain Hills, Arizona Planning and Zoning Commission held a work session Tuesday, July 27 with Vanessa Shinmoto and Scott McCollough of McCollough Law Firm virtually present to review ordinance drafts pertaining to wireless telecommunications and antennas.”

Who is Scott McCollough? See below.

📌Why Would Fountain Hills Retain an Anti-5G Lawyer to Rewrite its Zoning Ordinance?

On March 3, 2026, the “conservative majority” began another battle in the ongoing culture war by retaining a Texas lawyer, W. Scott McCollough, to rewrite the Town’s wireless ordinance. This battle, based on the majority’s belief that it has both the right and the obligation to limit and control the expansion of 5G technology in Fountain Hills, is likely to be decided only after years of costly litigation with deep-pocket telecon providers and the federal government.

Based on his reputation and history, McCullough can be expected to draft an ordinance that challenges the FCC’s broad regulatory control over 5G and other wireless technologies. An ordinance, designed and intended to slow or restrict the deployment of a wireless infrastructure in Fountain Hills, that is likely to result in litigation by the technology’s providers and enforcement actions by the FCC.

The decision to hire a lawyer viewed as “hostile” to 5G dates back to 2022 when a small but vocal group of residents initiated a shrill campaign against the introduction and expansion of wireless technology in Fountain Hills, insisting that the technology posed an existential threat to residents’ health and well-being.

In 2023, the 5G opponents convinced a majority of the Town Council to vote in favor of a “moratorium” on the creation of a 5G infrastructure in Fountain Hills. This ordinance, which Aaron Arnson, the Town attorney at the time, advised was unenforceable, instructed “all utilities operating in the Town of Fountain Hills to cease and desist the buildout of so-called “5G wireless infrastructure.”

The stated purpose of the moratorium was to allow the Town Council time to review and update its existing regulations to ensure that the “equipment and method of service… are delivered via methods that do not devalue property values and are deemed safe to the environment and human health.”

Last year, Councilmember Rick Watts, who reports that he has spent hundreds of hours studying the technology, was assigned the task of locating a qualified attorney to revise the Town’s ordinance. Watts, who appears to share the opposition’s concerns over the safety of wireless technology, recommended McCullough.

McCullough has been a proponent of the belief that despite the vast scope of the FCC’s regulatory power over wireless technology, local governments can assert their power to regulate land use and can deny permits if the provider cannot prove that the Town’s denial of the permit would effectively prohibit telecommunications service.

The viability of McCullough’s belief has been significantly undermined by federal statutes, FCC regulations, and federal court decisions. Today, municipalities retain the ability to adopt reasonable aesthetic standards, manage the public right‑of‑way, and address safety considerations. However, regulations that effectively slow or block infrastructure development will be invalidated.

It appears that the “conservative majority” voted to pay McCullouch to draft an ordinance that is virtually certain to be met by litigation.

In addition to his practice directed at slowing the deployment of 5G technology, McCollough serves as the chief litigation counsel for Children’s Health Defense (“CHD”). The CHD, founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s Secretary of Health and Human Services, is known for his opposition to vaccines, promotion of the unsupported claim that Tylenol causes autism, and that exposure to RF radiation can “open the blood brain” barrier allowing toxins to enter the brain, resulting in brain tumors, genetic mutations, ADHD, and autism.

In his contractual agreement with Fountain Hills, McCollough touted his “existing relationship” with CHD and expressed his intent to “contract with Children's Health Defense's educational, advocacy and public relations experts.” As part of the services provided to Fountain Hills, McCullough has agreed to “contract with Children's Health Defense's educational, advocacy, and public relations experts to most effectively achieve strategic, political, and practical goals and assist clients in engaging and educating the community to obtain popular support.”

Effectively, through this agreement, the “conservative majority” has obligated residents to fund a coordinated public relations campaign designed to convince them to ignore the overwhelming weight of scientific authority and accept the proposition that exposure to electromagnetic fields will subject them to grave bodily injury and the only way to avoid this injury is to go to war with the telecon providers and the FCC.

In the past, has our Town Council ever agreed to fund a PR campaign to create community support for an anticipated ordinance? If not, why now? Is it because a “delay and deter” ordinance is likely to be opposed by the residents and businesses wanting the advantages offered by 5G technology?

To add insult to injury, the terms of the agreement presumably reviewed and approved by the Town Attorney, Jennifer Wright, are stacked in McCullough’s favor. Any dispute regarding the appropriateness of services rendered under the contract between the Town and McCollough—or his subcontractor CHD—must go to mandatory arbitration, limiting the Town’s ability to challenge poor or inappropriate services. In addition, in the event of litigation arising out of the agreement, the suit must be filed in Texas, McCullough’s home state, and decided under Texas law, putting Fountain Hills at a serious procedural disadvantage.

Was engaging an anti-5G lawyer to draft the wireless ordinance a breach of the majority’s fiduciary duties to residents and taxpayers? Enactment of a hostile, out‑of‑step ordinance that blocks or delays beneficial 5G development in Fountain Hills will hurt our businesses and almost certainly result in litigation and enforcement actions. Fueled by CHD’s disinformation campaign, this decision is likely to further divide our community.

At the end of the day there will be no winner in this culture war battle, except maybe W. Scott McCullough.

07/24/2026

📌NOT THE TIME FOR A POSTMORTEM

It is officially over and partisanship prevailed. But, from our perspective, this is not the time to conduct a postmortem. As ugly as it was, no one died, although some were bruised and bloodied. Most deservedly, Crystal Cavanaugh, who, wherever she goes, will be associated with the vile sign that fully revealed the dark underbelly of Reclaim Our Town. Most undeservedly, Brenda Kalivianakis, who, for reasons that had nothing to do with her qualifications to serve as mayor, was subjected to vulgar abuse by vicious trolls hiding in the darkest corners of social media.

We are mindful that the term “postmortem” can also mean conducting an analytical review to determine why a goal was not achieved. Our PAC’s goal is to support candidates for local office who advocate for Fountain Hills, demonstrate respect for residents and are committed to putting residents’ interests and concerns over their own.

We were able to achieve that goal only because of the selfless decisions made by Brenda Kalivianakis, Susan DeGennaro, Jeff Tate ,and Catherine Mirick to run for public office. To each of them we express our appreciation for volunteering their considerable talents to return Fountain Hills to the welcoming, innovative, and well-respected community it was just four years ago.

It is a testament to their individual and collective qualifications, energy, and enthusiasm that in less than six months Susan, Catherine, and Jeff, all first-time candidates, received 46 percent of the votes cast. We hope they take pride in this achievement and understand that individually and collectively they are a force to be reckoned with, as demonstrated by the ferocity of the mindless attacks ROT levelled against them.

It is the community’s loss that the ROT-endorsed candidates prevailed. Adding the befuddled pontificator, Matthew Corrigan, and the unabashed extremist, Ben Larrabee, to the dais is virtually certain to result in even more dysfunctional meetings, even less transparency, and more litigation.

We will be there to document every misstep of this ROT-dominated council. Not because we enjoy watching Friedel scowl and pound his gavel, or sifting through packets and minutes, but because if it is your goal to support the election of candidates who are committed to putting the community’s interests over their own. You have to be prepared to expose those who do not.

07/21/2026

A little more than two years ago, we said this. And things have only gotten worse.

At the time, on the heels of the Chamber grading Gerry Friedel at a "C" level (generally considered "average," "met the basics but didn't excel," "need for improvement," and much worse than the "A" grade earned by Ginny Dickey), we assessed Friedel at a "D" level. Now, two years later, with his failures pertaining to the streets repaving controversies, inclusion in the effort to dismantle the River of Time Museum, Park Place Phase 2 failed development that's left a vacant lot of weeds, rejection of the Sandor multi-unit housing development at Four Peaks that attracted Sprouts Farmers Market and likely retained Target, and him clearly not grasping the vision of that being a walkable community when built out, we'll generously re-grade Gerry Friedel with a D- - (yes, double minus).

Going from bad to worse is a showing of incompetence, not putting "Fountain Hills first."

Mayoral candidate , supported by ROT, was awarded a “C” by the Chamber Board, which must have come as a shock to him given his frequently touted ties to the Fountain Hills business community. After all, you can see him standing in the front row at every ribbon-cutting ceremony.

It may be that the “C” awarded by the Chamber’s Board stems from Friedel’s inability to articulate a vision for the future of Fountain Hills, a topic of primary importance to the business community. This lack of vision is demonstrated by Friedel’s response to the same question posed to Mayor Dickey:

“My vision for our town’s population is a definite need for growth which will help our sustainably (sic). We need more heads in beds as they say.”

💥 would award Friedel a “D” based not only on his lack of vision and leadership skills, but also on his failure to support the School Bond, his lack of integrity, and his racist, sexist, and bigoted social media posts.💥

07/20/2026

07/20/2026

In November 2024, a local resident sued Gerry Friedel for defamatio...

07/20/2026

Gerry Friedel was previously held accountable for defaming a reside...

07/20/2026

Will the Real Ben Larrabee Please Stand Up? Posted by admin | Jun 9, 2026 | Flourish Forum | 0 | IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE TURNING POINT’S BEN LARABEE IS AN EXTREMIST, THEN YOU DON’T KNOW THE REAL BEN LARRABEE If you are not aware that ROT-supported candidate Ben Larrabee is a right-wing extremist,...

07/19/2026

In November 2024, a local resident sued Gerry Friedel for defamation, after he responded to her criticism of his offensive social media posts by accusing her of threatening to kill Donald Trump, creating his social media posts with artificial intelligence, and making illegal campaign contributions. In this video you will hear the resident questioning Friedel as he testifies under oath during his deposition in the defamation action.

In November 2024, a local resident sued Gerry Friedel for defamatio...