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The Daily Independent ran a story questioning the procedure the City of Goodyear used to appoint its newest councilmember. Please take a look at the article written by reporter Madeline Ackley Salazar. When I put my name in the hat to run for an open position in 2012, I was interviewed in a packed meeting room with the 2 other candidates chosen as finalists. Council went into Executive Session to deliberate. Then they came out to publicly vote on the selected candidate. I was unanimously selected. It was an open process. I encourage you to follow the reporter on this story about this last selection. Considering the major issues at hand, the public should have been invited for all interviews. The public was there for mine. And that open process is so very important. I am very happy Patrick Bray was selected. I know he'll do a great job. But why not show the city why and what a great candidate he is??   The much awaited meeting to discuss whether Goodyear should continue spring election cycles is Monday night. We have a look at preliminary staff reports. 
Goodyear contacted 10 cities to find out how they included over and under votes... and unqualified write-in votes. REASONS TO MOVE THE ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE FALL OF EVEN NUMBERED YEARS Goodyear staff list these reasons for consolidating the city election with state and national elections:
REASONS TO NOT CHANGE THE SPRING ELECTION CYCLE IN ODD NUMBERED YEARS
THE RECOMMENDATION COMING MONDAY NIGHT Goodyear staff does not make any recommendation about whether this All-America City should move the election cycle to fall of even numbered years. However, staff does encourage City Council to "pass, adopt and approve an Ordinance to clarify how the majority vote is determined." That wording would read: For the purposes of this Section, “votes cast” shall mean a legal vote actually cast in that candidate’s race for a legally eligible candidate and excludes ballots and other votes that were not actually cast in that race including “over votes” and “under votes”. THE OPTIONS Goodyear staff lays out the options. 1. Change the Charter to move towards Consolidated Elections. This requires a vote by the People and terms for existing Councilmembers would have to be adjusted. 2. No change and elections would remain in the spring of odd numbered years. CONTACT COUNCIL: gycouncil@goodyearaz.gov  |
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jennifer Barber is a Goodyear resident resident of almost 20 years and a retired broadcast news journalist. Involved in various nonprofit and city organizations since 2008, Barber has a unique view of what's happening in the West Valley of Arizona. 
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