City Council enforces campaign restrictions during public comment for 2026 elections

The Tempe City Council held its regular meeting on May 22, 2025, focusing on maintaining the integrity of public discourse as the 2026 election season approaches. The meeting began with a reminder from the mayor regarding the importance of keeping campaign-related activities separate from council proceedings. The mayor emphasized that while public participation is encouraged, candidates and current council members must refrain from discussing their candidacies or engaging in electioneering during the meeting.

Following this introduction, the council moved to the public appearances segment, which is governed by Arizona's open meeting law. The mayor outlined the rules for public comment, stating that each speaker is allowed three minutes to address the council on any issue within its jurisdiction. To ensure fairness, the mayor noted that if a large number of speakers were present, time limits could be adjusted to allow everyone an opportunity to speak.

The mayor also reminded attendees that personal attacks or disruptive behavior would not be tolerated, and that visual aids or remote appearances were not permitted. Furthermore, the council is legally restricted from discussing or taking action on any legal matters raised during public comments unless those issues are specifically listed on the agenda.

In conclusion, the meeting underscored the council's commitment to facilitating a respectful and orderly environment for public engagement, particularly as the community prepares for the upcoming election cycle. The council's adherence to these guidelines aims to ensure that all voices can be heard while maintaining the decorum of the meeting.