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El Mirage council adopts ordinance to seat elected replacements immediately, moves vice mayor vote to December
Summary
The El Mirage Common Council adopted Ordinance 025-03-01 to amend code sections 32.003 and 32.041 so that candidates declared elected to seats previously held by appointees are seated immediately following canvass; the ordinance also directs the council to elect a vice mayor at the first meeting in December after newly seated members take office.
The El Mirage Common Council on March 4 adopted Ordinance 025-03-01, amending city code sections 32.003 and 32.041 to require that a candidate declared elected to an office held by an appointee be seated immediately following the official canvass and to move the council vote on the office of vice mayor to the December meeting after newly seated members are sworn in.
Council Member Eldridge told colleagues the change responds to problems seen after the last election: "With the last election, we saw firsthand why this ordinance needs to change...I believe that being elected overrules being appointed," he said, arguing the seated candidate should assume the dais immediately. Council Member Bryce Brown said he agreed and that the amendment would clarify the process going forward.
Supporters said the amendment targets seats previously filled by appointment and prevents a temporary appointed officeholder from remaining in place after an election. The city attorney explained the added language is aimed specifically at the situation "holding the office by appointment" and that the change appears in two locations of the proposed ordinance.
Council members also debated the timing for selecting a vice mayor. Council Member Norton and others argued the vote should occur in December rather than January so the vice mayor's office is not left vacant during the transition. Vice Mayor Parsons asked that the motion include the December stipulation.
Vice Mayor Parsons moved to adopt Ordinance 025-03-01, with Council Member Norton seconding. The motion passed by voice vote and the council approved regular agenda item 6.1 as presented (voice vote; detailed roll-call counts not specified in the transcript).
The ordinance amends local code sections 32.003 and 32.041; the text presented at the meeting targets the scenario in which an appointee holds an office at the time of a primary election and provides that a declared-elected candidate for that seat will be seated immediately after the canvass.
Council members who spoke on the item asked the city attorney and city manager to ensure the ordinance language clearly covers primary/general election timing so that seized seats and any necessary follow-up are unambiguous.
The council approved the ordinance during the March 4 regular meeting; staff were directed in discussion to clarify wording and timing as needed before formal implementation.
