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Carefree council renews presiding magistrate’s four‑year contract
Summary
The Town Council on March 4 approved Resolution 2025‑05 renewing Tara E. Paris Candola’s contract as presiding magistrate of the Carefree‑Cave Creek consolidated municipal court for another four years. Candola told the council caseloads have more than doubled in a year and outlined court duties and audits.
The Town of Carefree Town Council voted March 4 to approve Resolution 2025‑05 renewing Tara E. Paris Candola’s contract as presiding magistrate of the Carefree‑Cave Creek consolidated municipal court for a four‑year term.
Candola told the council she and her staff prioritize “the administration of justice in a fair and efficient manner while treating all court users with dignity, patience, and respect,” and reviewed the court’s caseload, staffing pressures, and administrative duties. She told the council filings rose from 846 in calendar year 2023 to 1,940 in 2024 and that the court had recorded 389 filings in January and February of 2025 so far.
The contract renewal formalizes Candola’s position as the sole presiding judge for the consolidated municipal court, which handles civil and criminal misdemeanors, juvenile matters and emergency petitions such as orders of protection for incidents occurring inside Carefree and Cave Creek. Candola explained that although the position is technically part‑time, the court’s business and administrative responsibilities require full‑time availability during the court’s posted operating hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Candola noted the court is subject to oversight and operational audits by the Administrative Office of the Arizona Supreme Court and participates in an annual financial audit. She also described personnel turnover in recent years and the duties that fall to the presiding judge, including drafting policies, responding to motions, supervising staff, and complying with Supreme Court mandates.
Town staff clarified budgetary arrangements for the consolidated court: Carefree pays the court’s operating costs and staff, and Cave Creek contributes an annual service payment (town staff estimated roughly $200,000) to support the consolidated operation. Council members thanked Candola for her work and the council approved the resolution by motion; no roll‑call votes were recorded in the minutes and the motion passed unanimously.
The council made no changes to court operations at the meeting; Candola’s contract will proceed as approved and staff will implement the agreed terms through the town’s administrative process.
