Pastor's Candidacy For City Council Creates Church-State Concerns

The Arizona Republic reports on issues raised by the candidacy of Kevin Hartke for Chandler, Arizona City Council. Hartke is pastor of Trinity Christian Fellowship. He was originally appointed to Council to fill the seat of a member who was called to active military duty. A fellow-clergyman, Rev. Tom Rakoczy of Chandler First Assembly of God Church, has asked Hartke to remove a campaign sign that was near Rakoczy's church out of concern that it might appear that his church was endorsing Hartke. Also, Hartke says it is difficult to separate his two roles, especially when congregants approach him at Sunday services about municipal issues.