U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell told the crowd at last week’s second-annual Statesmen’s Breakfast in Chandler that he learned the hard way that there are certain topics that are best treated with utmost respect – particularly in Snowflake, Ariz.

The town in the White Mountains was established by Mormon pioneers Erastus Snow and William Flake in 1878, and named after its founders.

Mitchell recalled traveling through the picturesque town a while back and stopping at an ice cream shop, where two girls were working behind the counter. He struck up a conversation with one of them.

“I was being a little flippant and I said, ‘Are you a Flake or a Snow?’ And she said, ‘I think I’m mainly a Flake.’ So there is a proud tradition there!” Mitchell said.

Absolutely. And that tradition extends beyond the White Mountains.

Mitchell shared the stage at the Statesmen’s Breakfast on Friday with one of the ice cream girl’s relatives, U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake, another descendent of William Flake.

In just its second year, the Statesmen’s Breakfast already has become a highlight on the local political calendar because of its bluster-free treatment of important policy matters. My story on the event is available here.

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