Petitions Fail for Recall of Councilmembers

07/27/2012 | Dave Nash, Public Affairs Coordinator

Yuma, Ariz. - Based on the review of petition signatures completed by the County Recorder's Office, the Yuma City Clerk will not present the Council with a call for a special election on the issue of recalling two Yuma City Councilmembers.

While petitioners turned in 2,117 signatures to recall Deputy Mayor Paul Johnson, 1,784 were determined to be valid.

Out of 2,083 signatures submitted to recall Councilmember Jerry Stuart, 1,794 were deemed valid.

To move forward with a recall election, 1,856 valid signatures were required for each.

City Administrator Greg Wilkinson issued the following statement upon release of these results:

"We would like to thank the County Recorder's Office for their quick, thorough and expeditious handling in order to give the City the longest possible notice on whether or not we would have to hold a special election on this issue. There is significant cost, both labor and financial, in adding measures to a special election. Quick and precise handling by the County - at a time when they have their plate full already - provides clarity and certainty to our residents and our organization.

"We look forward to getting back to business and putting this uncertainty and disruption behind us. The City continues to focus on providing services to residents, while at the same time enhancing our partnerships with other organizations to bring more jobs to Yuma.

"Yuma's strength has always been our ability to work with one another to face our challenges. Now that this is behind us, we can press forward together."

Johnson's and Stuart's current terms expire at the end of 2013. The next regularly scheduled council election cycle will be late summer and fall of 2013.