Safford council formally canvasses Nov. 5 election, declares Elma Flores councilmember-elect

The City of Safford mayor and council on Nov. 18 adopted Resolution R24-042 to formally canvas the Nov. 5, 2024 general election, declaring Elma Flores the councilmember-elect for the open council seat. Staff said the Graham County Election Department conducted the election and the county board of supervisors and elections director previously reviewed and canvassed the results.

Elections information presented to the council stated that 15,327 ballots were cast countywide and listed city totals that showed Elma Flores receiving 1,957 votes and Luke Chavez receiving 1,348 votes. The council adopted the canvas under Arizona Revised Statute 16-642(A)(3), which requires a governing body to meet to canvass election results within a statutory window following the vote. According to staff, Flores will be seated Dec. 9, 2024, along with officials elected in the primary.

During the presentation staff identified Hannah Durat as the Graham County elections director and said the county had already completed its review. A council member moved and a second was recorded to adopt Resolution R24-042; the council voted 'all in favor' and the motion carried, completing the city canvass.

No individual names were recorded in the transcript as motion mover or seconder, and the formal vote tally by name was not provided in the public segments of the meeting. The city will seat the declared councilmember-elect on the date announced at the meeting.

The council moved on to its scheduled work session following the canvass.