Prescott City Council appoints Patrick Grady to fill council vacancy after closed-door legal review

The Prescott City Council on May 20 appointed Patrick Grady to a vacant council seat after interviewing three finalists and holding an executive session to review legal issues related to the appointment.

Why it matters: The vote fills an open seat for the remainder of the term and follows a public interview process in which candidates addressed citywide priorities — the 2025 general plan, Highway 89 widening, water from the Big Chino, the city budget and improvements at the Prescott Rodeo Grounds — issues that council members said will shape near-term policy decisions.

Council members interviewed three finalists in a public, timed process that gave each candidate one minute for opening and closing remarks and a set of six standard questions. Candidates were Patrick Grady, Sherry Hannah and Rex Mason. Each discussed the council’s current review of the 2025 general plan, transportation projects, water supply options and budget priorities.

Patrick Grady, introduced by the council as a finalist, said his immediate priority was to "see the general plan make it on the ballot." He told council members he had worked with staff and residents on the Climate and Energy section and expected a revised draft to be published the following Thursday. Grady also said he attended a consultant work session on the proposed Highway 89 improvements and emphasized balancing safety and congestion priorities with protection of the scenic byway and watershed; he told the panel, "I think there needs to be more focus on the iconic scenic byway and whether or not there are actually any options and how those options might enable the project to take into account the watershed itself." On water, Grady said the Big Chino option "probably has to be part of the solution" but that it requires detailed study of costs, pros and cons and impacts to the Verde River.

Candidate Sherry Hannah said she was "not fully supportive" of the general plan in its current form, expressing concern that some language goes beyond land-use guidance and could jeopardize federal funding. On Highway 89 she framed the choices as safety-driven, noting that city public-safety leaders were conducting ingress-and-egress studies and that she would "look to them to tell us" whether widening is necessary for evacuation or emergency access. On Big Chino water, Hannah recommended reviewing the city's contract with Prescott Valley and SRP and said Prescott should "lead" on exploring wastewater-to-potable alternatives while guarding the Verde River.

Rex Mason said the general plan contained "some surplusage" that could invite legal challenge and that he would review technical analyses before forming a final position. Mason told the council he has longstanding local ties and said the Highway 89 widening "will happen" eventually because of traffic loads; he urged verification of traffic studies and emergency-access analyses. On the rodeo grounds, Mason said he supports retaining and enhancing the facility and would not favor wholesale redevelopment absent clearer need.

The council paused the public meeting to go into executive session to discuss legal components of the appointment process; a motion to enter executive session passed (recorded as "passes five-one" in the public record). When the meeting reconvened, Mayor Goode announced that he and Councilwoman Lois Freeworth would recuse themselves from the appointment vote. "Both Lois Ferworth and I are elected, members of the Republican party, and we have taken an oath of office, not to vote for any, candidate who's not a registered Republican. So therefore, we cannot participate in the process in which we are biased in our vote," the mayor said on the public record.

Following additional brief deliberations, a motion to appoint Patrick Grady was made and seconded and the motion "passes 3 0 1," as recorded in the meeting minutes. The council immediately administered the oath of office and Grady thanked the council, saying he would "dedicate the next 2 and a half years" to the role.

Public comment during the meeting included three supporters who spoke for candidates; Stephen Cook said he supported Grady and described him as someone who seeks "common ground," and Lucy Mason spoke on behalf of her husband Rex Mason. The council restricted public remarks during the interview process and allowed a limited number of blue-card comments after the three interviews concluded.

What the council did not decide: No formal policy changes, ordinances or budget amendments were adopted at the meeting. The interview record shows candidates’ positions and priorities but does not include any binding council directives to staff on the topics discussed. The council did vote to move into executive session to review legal issues related to the appointment prior to the final vote.

Looking ahead: The new council member will join ongoing deliberations on the 2025 general plan, water planning and potential transportation projects that candidates identified as priorities. Council members said they expect additional staff briefings and technical studies (traffic, hydrology, feasibility) before making binding decisions on specifics such as any Highway 89 design or a Big Chino water project.