Classy move by Tom Rawles

Outgoing Councilmember Tom Rawles has gathered nearly $15,000 in donations to help Maria Stenzel's National Geographic Live presentation at the Mesa Arts Center. A man of his word, in righteous and not so righteous things, he sticks to his principles to the very end. He believes that arts should be funded by donations and not by government and he puts it into action.

It is sort of an interesting juxtaposition to the article about Mayor Hawker. The article about Hawker is filled with discussion of principles versus reality and a lot of compromise made by during his time as Mayor. Apparently, he was against pretty much everything like eminent domain and tax incentives, yet he did not stop them.

It is a very interesting comparison since both men consider themselves libertarian at heart.