After a good deal of debate, a town council gave approval to fluoride in a highly controversial vote, with the looming threat of referendum tossing a shadow over the entire process. Anti-fluoridation activists forced that referendum vote, just as proponents likely would have forced a ballot initiative if the council voted down fluoridation.

So far, this is Flagstaff. A year ago, this was Gilbert.

Just 17 days remain until mail-in ballots for the fluoridation referendum must be returned, and there could be some interesting lessons for Flagstaff to extract from Gilbert's battle, which culminated with the voters figuratively reneging and eventually installing new town leaders.

The same could potentially happen in Flagstaff.

Currently, Gilbert's water fluoridation equipment is purchased and in place, awaiting only tests for proper functioning before it goes into general usage. Gilbert Vice Mayor Les Presmyk voted for fluoridation and he cautions Flagstaff to be certain of its course.

"The main lesson that I learned is that we as a council did not take enough time with this issue and at least two other ordinances," Presmyk said. "We should have allowed at several meetings for discussion and debate in much the same way we do for changes to our general plan or other similar important changes in our town."

Former Gilbert Mayor Cynthia Dunham, who lost in the post-fluoride election, feels things are much clearer now. She feels the only way to conduct a fluoride vote is through the people.

"This is an issue that you're either in favor of it or your against," Dunham said. "It is very impassioned on both sides of the issue. I don't think that if that vote were to be taken today, that it really would have been any different."

Flagstaff City Councilman Bill Jeffery, one of the four council members who approved fluoridation in March, is confident that the city is treating the issue with proper respect.

"There was vigorous discussion at the city council level and I know both sides are talking about their respective positions, getting ready for the vote," Jeffery said. "I think it's a healthy process."

LOOKING BACK

Gilbert became the last Valley community to add the tooth-decay fighter to its water supply, closely following Mesa. Tempe started the process in 1965.

The thought to fluoridate arose in Gilbert when the city began outgrowing its groundwater supply and adding surface supply to meet its needs. The groundwater contained a reasonable amount of fluoride already, according to Presmyk.

"I supported the addition of fluoride to our water," Presmyk said. "I grew up in Phoenix where the water was fluoridated and feel that it is a positive benefit."

The usual issues of conflict surfaced immediately in Gilbert, as proponents and detractors of fluoride waged their war of conflicting facts and statements. In April 2000, the town council voted to fluoridate by a 6-1 margin, and anti-fluoridation folks quickly fired back and put together a petition for referendum.

That referendum narrowly failed in November 2000, and the level of support fell sharply from a previous town municipal survey that showed the city about 60 percent in favor of adding fluoride to its water, Dunham said.

"The anti-fluoride constituency has not been able to just say, 'We lost, let's move on,'" Dunham said. "Life goes on. The equipment gets purchased."

The people of Gilbert followed up on their approval of fluoridation with the ouster of all incumbent town council members just five months later. Fluoride was a major issue in the election, but the incumbent town council also had drawn fire for a number of other ordinances, such as mandatory bike helmets for kids and required pool fences.

Gilbert town councilman Dave Petersen feels that even though Gilbert is likely just weeks from fluoridated water, the issue is far from settled in the southeast Valley.

"I don't think it's over yet," Petersen said. "I'm hoping it's not over yet and I'll make sure it's not over yet."

Petersen became a key member of Gilbert's groundswell retaliatory action against fluoride. Opponents of fluoridation decided that if the town council would not see things their way, they would go the democratic route of becoming the town council. Anti-fluoridation proponents chose to either run for office or to strongly back their own candidates. 

Petersen staunchly stands against water fluoridation, and his opposition to it was one of the central issues of his campaign for office. In March, all three incumbent council members up for office, including Dunham, found themselves on the outside looking in.

"The problem is, this was done with a vote of the people," Dunham said. "Even though you may get your candidates elected, you don't reverse a vote of the people except with a vote of the people.

"The candidates that were elected -- that were opposed to the fluoride -- that those folks kind of championed into office, have been unsuccessful in trying to reverse the vote of the people."

LOOKING AHEAD

Although Flagstaff has yet to even decide what to do with its water, the plight of politicians who supported fluoride in Gilbert merits a look ahead into this city's political future.

Four of Flagstaff's seven city council seats will be up for choice in the May 2002 election, and it so happens that three of the four spots belong to people who voted for fluoride -- Mayor Joe Donaldson, Allen Edgar, and Jeffery.

Jeffery remains certain that Flagstaff is going about the fluoride issue in the fairest and most democratic manner possible. 

"I think it's gone at a reasonable pace," Jeffery said. "I was convinced that ultimately the voters would decide."

Then again, so was Presmyk, whose Gilbert seat as vice mayor will be up for election in the next cycle.

"I have not changed my opinion of adding fluoride to the water system," Presmyk said. "I do appreciate some of the arguments put forth by the anti-fluoride groups ... people will get involved because this is an emotional issue.

"Good, sound information is the key to this or any other discussion. I would say one of the most important aspects of this is a fair airing of both sides by the city council."

Reporter Adam Candee can be reached at 556-2262 or acandee@azdailysun.com