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New Apache Junction City Council members are to be selected May 17 to replace two who left to run for other elected offices.
“I think the law says we have to fill them quickly or something like that,” City Manager Bryant Powell said at a recent council meeting.
Kelly Gremmel on March 31 left the council to run for justice of the peace for Apache Junction Justice Court precinct 6, which encompasses Apache Junction, Gold Canyon and parts of San Tan Valley.
Braden Biggs on March 1 left the council and is relocating to the town of Maricopa to run for Arizona House of Representatives in the newly formed Legislative District 16.
Gremmel and Biggs were elected Aug. 4, 2020, and began office in January 2021 for a four-year term.
The process for selecting candidates to the council will be similar to the one for appointing members to city commissions and boards, Councilmember Gail Evans said April 5.
“Starting on April 11, staff will facilitate acceptance of online applications for the two vacant council seats. The questions will be tailored from the board and the commission talent bank application questions,” she said in a motion directing city staff concerning the process of filling the council vacancies.
Evans said applications must be filed by 5 p.m. April 29.
“Staff will compile the application submittal, print them, organize them into hard copy binders and provide them to the mayor and council the week of May 8. Staff will also make them available online for the public. All information submitted to the city online is deemed open and available for public inspection with no redactions,” she said. “Staff will schedule a work session on May 16 at which time council shall interview the candidates that council in its sole discretion deems suitable for consideration. Staff will schedule a new business item on its May 17 regular council meeting at which time council will vote on vacancy appointments.”
Evans said both newly appointed council members will be sworn-in at the May 17 meeting.
The five-member City Council voted unanimously April 5 to approve the process for selecting candidates to the council.
The Apache Junction City Council generally meets at 7 p.m. the first and third Mondays for work sessions and 7 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays for meetings at the council chambers, 300 E. Superstition Blvd.
How to apply
Applicants for the council vacancies must be residents of the city of Apache Junction at least one year prior to the election and be at least 18 years of age.
One appointee will serve until the position is filled at the next regularly scheduled election. The other appointee will serve the balance of a four-year term, until Jan. 7, 2025.
An online form to apply for the City Council vacancies is at apachejunctionaz.gov/boards at the tab “vacancies” and the button “apply.”
Questions on the application include employment/retirement, education and community service, interests and experiences, and uploading a resume.
Richard Dyer Managing Editor | East Valley @RHDyer
Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia, Inc.. USA, since 1987.
Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
He also is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows
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