Cactus District vacancy prompts residents’ appeals for reinstatement and a staff timeline for replacement

Dozens of residents used the June 9 citizens’ comment period to press the Glendale City Council to reinstate a recently removed Cactus District council member and to criticize the council’s handling of the removal; the council approved a staff-recommended process and timeline to fill the vacant seat.

Multiple speakers, including Kathy Stack (a city employee who said she lives in Phoenix) and Judith Clark (a Cactus District resident), criticized what they described as a recent removal action taken at a May 28 special meeting. Clark said the action deprived the district of its elected representative over an alleged $60 stipend dispute and urged the council to reconsider. "Depriving an entire district of their elected representative over $60 that was not acquired, accepted, or given is petty," Clark said.

Willard Watts, a Cactus precinct resident, accused the council of lacking transparency and described the stipend situation as "corruption," saying the charter’s process had not been followed. Several speakers, including Donna Duggins and Joseph Murphy, urged reinstatement and praised the removed member’s accessibility and constituent work.

Council members earlier considered Item 20, a staff presentation on the charter-based procedure to fill the Cactus District vacancy. City staff told the council the timeline will be: post a vacancy notice on June 15, 2026; keep the online application open for 30 days; conduct an initial applicant review at the Aug. 11, 2026 council meeting; and schedule interviews plus an action item for Aug. 25, 2026. Council Member Diana Guzman moved to approve that process and Council Member Lauren Tomachoff seconded; roll call recorded affirmative votes from all members present and the motion carried.

The meeting did not include council debate about reversing the prior removal; speakers described the removal and legal questions raised by an attorney’s opinion, but the council took no reinstatement vote at the June 9 meeting. Lupe Contess, who identified themself as a Cactus District resident, urged transparency and accountability and thanked city staff for their service; Contess also asked for clarification on a $1,350 expense reported for council members during the July recess.

Why it matters: the vacancy and the community reaction speak to local trust and representation. Public commenters said the district has been harmed by the removal and predicted legal challenges; the council’s approved timeline establishes the procedural pathway for filling the seat but does not alter the earlier removal action.

Ending: City staff will post the vacancy notice June 15 and accept applications for 30 days; the council is scheduled to review applicants Aug. 11 and conduct interviews and a final action on Aug. 25, 2026.