1. Are you a precinct committeeman? If yes, for how long? 

Yes, 3+ years 

2. Why are you running for City Council? 

I desire to make a positive impact in my community. 

3. City Council requires a significant time commitment, usually 2-4 meetings a month, as well as reading prep prior to meetings. How will this fit in with your other commitments? 

I am a hard worker and this position will fit well with my life and other commitments. 

4. What do you believe is the role of the City Council in our community? 

First and foremost it is to listen to the constituents. Along with that, the role is to work with stakeholders in the community to create a prosperous and safe Phoenix for all. 

5. Do you think you have any personal or professional relationships that could become a conflict of interest while serving as a Council member? 

My brother works for a law office that represents some developers in Phoenix. I would recuse myself from any City Council vote involving that specific law firm. 

6. What is your approach to handling controversial and complicated issues? 

I would talk to the experts, gather data, speak to people from both sides of the issue, gather thoughts from my constituents, and be the peacemaker. I would try to find the common ground for all parties involved. 

7. What skills and experience do you have that you believe would be beneficial to you as a Council member? 

I have been in the nonprofit sector in Phoenix for 15+ years. I currently am a Director of a nonprofit organization. Before that I was a behavioral health administrator supervising 40-50 employees, designing programs from the ground floor up, managing million dollar budgets, working with a HUD program, partnering with other organizations in the community, and doing crisis services. 

8. What previous community involvement have you had in your city or another city? 

I have been a part of the community helping people for almost two decades. I volunteered as a Chaplain at the Phoenix Children's Hospital and visited children at an immigrant orphanage. I have fed and clothed the homeless through church outreaches, volunteered as a patient visitor at John C. Lincoln hospital, visited the elderly at care facilities, visited inmates and offered them spiritual counseling at Durango Jail, and been a Christian minister helping thousands of people through the years. 

9. Based on what you know about City government, what do you see as top priorities for the City and why? 

The top priorities are Community Safety, Homelessness, and the Fentanyl epidemic. To have a prosperous Phoenix, we need to make sure our citizens feel safe, have opportunities for jobs, can get proper mental health care and addiction recovery services, and be free from worrying about our kids being offered drugs at the local parks. 

10. Do you support the defund the police movement? Please explain your response, and describe the role of City Council regarding this issue. 

I understand people's issues and what has been shown on television. I do not think defunding is the answer though. I believe City Council should fully fund first responders and make sure they are properly trained to handle tough, stressful situations. I would like to see new ideas on how to root out bad actors and talk about possibly creating tougher penalties for those in authority that willingly break laws. At the same time we should have better mental health care and counseling services for our first responders so they can be healthy as they serve our community. I am the candidate that would create a culture of respect for our first responders at City Council. 

11. What is your position on anti-discrimination ordinances? 

I feel this question is a little vague for me to answer it here. Please email my campaign and I'd be happy to talk with you about a specific ordinance. 

12. What is your opinion on the increase in gun violence in our cities, and what do you propose as mitigation? 

We need to be tougher on criminals that use guns in violent acts and those that possess guns that aren't legally allowed to. We need to continue hiring new police to fill the vacancies in the precincts. I am a supporter of the 2nd amendment and legal carry laws. 

13. What is your opinion on the homelessness crisis? What solutions do you propose? 

The homeless crisis is fueled by the fentanyl epidemic, and the need for expansion of mental health care and affordable housing in Phoenix. I have been working on a Zero Homelessness Plan for our city. Once elected, I will work with stakeholders and City Council to hopefully implement a new, innovative approach to homelessness in Phoenix that includes having compassion on those that desire help, and being strong with those that want to commit crimes and break laws. 

14. Please feel free to add any additional information you would like voters to know about your candidacy. 

I am a grassroots candidate with support from regular people in the community. Other candidates are backed by unions, real estate developers, and special interest groups. I am the candidate that has personally knocked on thousands of doors in the community and talked to, and heard, Phoenicians. I sincerely care about District 8, and with my background, I am the most qualified candidate for the position. I ask for your vote this November. #VoteNickG