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Town attorney outlines election dates, registration deadline and resignation rule for incumbents
Summary
Town Attorney Thomas Benavidez briefed the council on the Nov. 3, 2026 general election (mayor and three council seats), cited ARS §§16-120, 16-134 and 16-542(C), explained that voter registration closes Oct. 5, 2026, and said incumbents whose terms do not expire this year must resign before running.
Town Attorney Thomas Benavidez told the council that the office of mayor (incumbent Johann Wallace) and three council seats (incumbents Cynthia Butterworth, Debra Trate and Geovona Thompson) will be decided in the Nov. 3, 2026 general election. Benavidez cited Arizona statutes governing filing and elections and noted that voter registration for the general election closes Oct. 5, 2026 at midnight.
Benavidez also explained the resignation rule: incumbents may run without resigning only if their current term expires in the election year; if a member’s term does not expire that year, the member must resign before becoming a candidate. Council discussed the guidance; Mayor Wallace expressed interest in beginning advertising for candidates.
