Douglas council appoints Ida Ann Pedrego to fill Ward 1 vacancy

The Douglas Mayor and Council voted unanimously April 15 to appoint Ida Ann Pedrego to the Ward 1 seat left vacant when Melissa Rodriguez resigned March 26, 2026. The appointment followed interviews with two applicants and was moved by Mayor Jose Grijalva and seconded by Council Member Jose Montaño.

City Clerk Alma Andrade told the council that, under City Charter Article 2, Section 13(b), the remaining members must fill a vacancy by majority vote no fewer than 15 and no more than 31 days after the vacancy; a public notice published April 1 produced two letters of interest. Pedrego will serve the remainder of the current term; a primary election is scheduled for July 21, 2026, and the nomination-petition deadline has passed for the office.

Pedrego introduced herself as a long-time resident, former teacher and school counselor, a Girl Scout leader and a member of the Industrial Development Authority and the Southeast Arizona Federal Credit Union board. In her interview she said she supports downtown beautification measures — including trees, planters and LED lighting — while opposing sidewalk bump-outs that would narrow travel lanes. She identified paving and street repairs, cleanup of abandoned or neglected properties, and more direct constituent outreach as her top three priorities for Ward 1 in the next 12 to 18 months. She also voiced support for continued development of hangars at the municipal airport and for the ports of entry project as part of the city’s economic strategy.

Bruce Endres, the other applicant, described a career as a builder and contractor who worked on several downtown renovation projects and said he had not planned to run in the upcoming election; he told the council he recommended they appoint Pedrego. Endres said his Ward 1 priorities would include paving north-south streets, sidewalk repair and infrastructure maintenance and that he would rely on a Spanish-speaking companion to assist with door-to-door outreach in a predominantly Spanish-speaking ward.

During the public-comment period Kathleen Gomez urged the council to appoint Pedrego, citing Pedrego’s community engagement and familiarity with local issues. Diana LaMar asked whether a prior presentation on surveillance and license-plate-reader cameras would be scheduled as an agenda item; Mayor Grijalva indicated the matter will appear on a future agenda. LaMar also noted a diaper drive being coordinated by Douglas Indivisible and RAISE to distribute supplies to community members.

The council unanimously approved the motion to appoint Pedrego, with affirmative votes from Mayor Jose Grijalva and Council Members Jose Montaño, Gustavo Durazo Jr., Ray Shelton, Maria Dillman and Richard C. Acosta. The oath of office was administered by City Magistrate Alma Vildosola, a certificate of appointment was presented, and photos were taken. The meeting adjourned at 6:23 p.m.

The council did not set a further timetable for Pedrego’s first formal votes beyond standard scheduling; the July 21 primary remains the next relevant electoral milestone for the seat.