Sahuarita council weighs creation of legislative ambassador role; nominations deferred to next meeting

Council members discussed and informally moved toward creating a legislative ambassador role to represent the Town of Sahuarita’s priorities during the Arizona legislative session.

Town staff described the proposal as a new, optional program that would select an elected council representative to act as the town’s principal spokesperson at the state level for the council’s preapproved legislative priorities. Town Manager Shane explained the role would testify, meet with legislators and coordinate with the town’s contracted lobbyist and staff; he said staff would provide speaking points and preparation for any council member selected.

Shane told the council: “As a role, this individual would act as a primary spokesperson for Sahuarita during the legislative session… and would serve at the pleasure of the town council.” He noted the appointment could rotate annually and that the representative would need flexibility for occasional odd-hour meetings while the legislature is in session.

Councilmembers clarified limits on the role: the ambassador would be expected to represent only positions the council had formally adopted and not the personal agenda of the individual. One councilmember summarized the constraint as: the ambassador needs to be able to say, even if they disagree personally, the council has asked me to represent this position.

Councilmember Kim (first name used in the meeting) nominated Councilmember Morales for the position and Councilmember Diane Morales also nominated herself, saying she had experience testifying and the time to serve. Morales told colleagues she had “a lot of experience in being able to testify and to present positions.” Several councilmembers, however, asked for time to consider the commitment.

Rather than appoint a representative at the meeting, the council agreed to continue consideration and to return the matter to a future meeting. Staff suggested using the council’s usual method of nominations similar to mayor/vice-mayor appointments; the group agreed to revisit nominations at the next regular meeting. The clerk noted the next regular meeting is Monday, Sept. 22.

Ending: The council asked interested members to consider the time commitment and to be prepared to accept or decline a nomination when the item returns for action.