El Mirage council opens public session on notarized staff complaint against Councilmember Anita Norton McDaniel

The El Mirage City Council convened a special public meeting on July 8 to review a notarized complaint from a city staff member alleging that Councilmember Anita Norton McDaniel spoke to the employee in a manner that left the worker feeling “uneasy,” the mayor said.

Mayor Alexis Hermosillo introduced the filing and read excerpts of the notarized statement into the public record, saying the incident on June 19, 2025, and a subsequent interaction on June 30 had escalated a longer pattern of reported conduct. “This matter cannot be ignored or deferred further,” the mayor said as she described prior, informal efforts to address similar concerns.

The complaint presented to council recounts a front-counter interaction in which the employee says Norton McDaniel questioned whether the employee had placed mail in the wrong box and asked, “are you calling Crystal a liar,” which the employee reported as making them feel uncomfortable. The mayor told council the staff member later submitted a notarized, written statement; identifying information in that statement was redacted in the materials provided to the council.

Council discussion focused on three questions the council handbook lays out for complaints against elected officials: whether to (1) dismiss the allegation; (2) direct a formal investigation; or (3) find sufficient information to take action without further investigation. City legal counsel Trish advised the council it may consider prior, informal complaints as context but cautioned against making a final determination without giving the accused member an opportunity to respond.

Several council members described a pattern of troubling behavior toward staff and other council members. Councilmember Scottie Gentry said she had seen staff “feel distressed” by communications with Norton McDaniel. Councilmember Dorsey urged the council not to “lose sight of our employee,” stressing the need to protect staff working through the council recess. Vice Mayor Jackie Parsons and others recounted past incidents staff and former employees described as aggressive or intimidating. Multiple speakers also raised unrelated past concerns, including a trademark matter involving “El Mirage Cares” and questions about travel and reimbursement from a March delegation trip to Washington, D.C., which council members said are part of the broader pattern they are considering.

Norton McDaniel did not appear in person. In emails in the record she said she had apologized to the employee after first learning of the concern and that she had requested video footage and other documentation to prepare a response; she also asked for postponement because she was scheduled to be out of town. The mayor replied that the June 30 notice invited Norton McDaniel to propose a time to meet with the mayor and that no such meeting request had been received before the special meeting.

Council legal counsel read the portions of the council code of conduct relied on by the mayor, noting pages referenced in the materials and advising that council may direct an investigation, dismiss the complaint, or, if the evidence supported it, sustain a violation and proceed to sanctioning. Counsel recommended against making a final finding tonight because the accused member was absent and the council had promised Norton McDaniel a chance to respond.

After lengthy public discussion among councilmembers, Councilmember Dorsey moved — and Vice Mayor Parsons seconded — to continue the matter to a second meeting after the council’s summer hiatus so Norton McDaniel and City Manager Crystal Dykes can be present. The motion passed on a voice vote; no roll-call votes were taken in the minutes. The council then voted to adjourn.

Next steps: the council directed staff to schedule a follow-up meeting after the council’s hiatus (after Aug. 16, 2025) to hear Norton McDaniel’s response, receive any additional documentation the council requests, and consider further action under the code of conduct. The council emphasized that the second meeting will provide the opportunity for deeper fact-finding and for Norton McDaniel to respond before any disciplinary action is contemplated.

The complaint, the emails exchanged between the mayor and Norton McDaniel, and the counsel’s recitation of the handbook sections were entered into the public record during the session.