Apache Junction council directs staff to pursue changing mayoral term from two to four years

The Apache Junction City Council on Feb. 18 voted to direct staff to bring forward the necessary resolutions and timeline to change the mayoral term from two years to four years.

City staff told the council that, if the council approves the direction, the next meeting would include a resolution calling the election and the ballot question; staff said it is possible to place the measure on the November ballot. City Manager Bridal Powell and staff said a timeline had been prepared and the city clerk and staff were working to meet election deadlines.

Council members who spoke in favor said longer terms would reduce the frequency of election cycles and provide greater continuity. One council member noted that a four-year term would reduce the need to campaign almost every other year. The council voted unanimously to give staff direction: the motion passed with votes recorded "yes" from Council Member Soller, Vice Mayor Schroeder, Council Member Nasser, Council Member Cross, Council Member Heck, Council Member Johnson and Mayor Chip Wilson.

The action taken was a direction to staff and is not a change in law; any change in the mayoral term would require formal ballot action and voter approval under applicable state and local election rules. Staff said they would return with specific resolutions to call the election and provide the voter question at a subsequent meeting.

Next steps: staff will draft the resolution(s) and a ballot question for council review. The city indicated the November election is a possible target for placing the measure before voters, subject to meeting statutory deadlines for ballot placement.