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Six Apache Junction residents have filed statements of interest to run for mayor and eight for City Council.
The statement of interest is a new requirement and must be filed prior to collecting petition signatures, Apache Junction City Clerk Jennifer Pena said.
According to a spreadsheet provided by Ms. Pena, those who filed statements of interest for mayor are: Jeff Bartlett, Robin Barker, Chip Wilson, Charles Austin, John Insalaco and Mohiuddin Mehmood.
Those who filed for council are: Braden Biggs, Jeff Struble, Darryl Cross, Kelly Gremmel, Walker Waldie, Bradley Collins, Tess Nesser and Todd Kanz.
Three residents have also filed a statement of organization, which then requires them to file campaign finance reports, Ms. Pena said. They are: Mr. Barlett, Ms. Gremmel and Mr. Insalaco.
The mayor and the seats of three members of council --- Vice Mayor Wilson and Councilmembers Barker and Struble --- who were elected in November 2016 are up for re-election. Incumbent Mayor Jeff Serdy is not running as he is seeking office on the Pinal County Board of Supervisors.
In addition to the six for mayor and eight for council, there may be others who have downloaded the candidate packets and have not filed the statement of interest, Ms. Pena said.
“It is the nomination paper that is the official trigger for candidacy. I will not see those until the filing time of March 9-April 6,” she said.
Candidates must file certain documents with the City Clerk’s Office between March 9 and 5 p.m. April 6, including a nonpartisan nomination paper declaration of qualification and nonpartisan nomination petitions signed by at least 269 and no more than 538 registered voters of Apache Junction, according to ajcity.net/969/2020-Candidate-Election-Packet.
The primary election is Aug. 4 and, if needed, the general election is Nov. 3.
The City Clerk’s office is at the city hall complex, Building C, 300 E. Superstition Blvd. in Apache Junction. Hours are 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday, excluding holidays.
For additional information, call the City Clerk’s office at 480-982-8002.
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