By Jason Stone
Twitter: @thestonecave

Surprise City Councilman-elect Jack Hastings wants to serve immediately — and he’s asking the man he beat to get the seat to resign immediately.

In what he describes as “the right thing to do,” Mr. Hastings is asking David Sanders to resign his District 5 seat now so Mr. Hastings doesn’t have to wait until January when the term begins.

But Mr. Sanders said he plans to serve out the rest of the term, which runs through the end of the year.

“I will not be stepping down,” Mr. Sanders said, adding he took an oath to finish a term through December.

“I have every intention of doing that for many reasons,” Mr. Sanders said. “You complete what you start. I take the appointment very serious. This is not a joke to me. I’m really just giving my expertise and background and do what’s best for the city."

Mayor Skip Hall said there will be no change on the council until the new year.

“Councilman Sanders is going to stay in place until the end of the year, and he has my full support,” Mr. Hall said.

Mr. Hastings, 26, beat Mr. Sanders, 43, in a three-way race in the Aug. 4 primary. Mr. Hastings earned 58% of the vote to upend an incumbent who was appointed to the position in early 2019.

Mr. Hastings said residents who voted for him have told him they want him in immediately and do not want to wait until January.

“They’ve told me, ‘We voted for you, have you at least tried to start?’” Mr. Hastings said. “I felt like it was almost my due diligence to almost pursue that. Ultimately, the decision is up to him.”

Mr. Hastings said he and Mr. Sanders have not spoken since the day after the election when Mr. Sanders called to congratulate the winner.

He said Mr. Sanders hasn’t responded to his attempts to contact him by various methods — including certified mail.

“Voters are frustrated that they have to wait five months for me to take office,” Mr. Hastings said. “I would like to start right way.”

However, it wouldn’t even be a lock Mr. Hastings would be able to serve early even if Mr. Sanders resigned. That’s because anytime there is an opening on the council, the rest of the council appoints the new member, even for a few months.

Theoretically, they could pick someone other than Mr. Hastings.

But Mr. Hastings is citing past precedent for wating to start early. In August 2016, then-Councilman Jim Biundo immediately resigned his seat for District 2 when he lost a primary battle to Jim Hayden.

“That was a personal reason,” said Mr. Hall, who was on the council at the time.

Mr. Hall added Mr. Biundo didn’t want to be on the council, and Mr. Hayden never asked Mr. Biundo to resign.

“I’ve never seen it done before,” Mr. Hall said. “I’ve never heard of it done in any other city. It’s kind of unique.”

Mr. Hastings said he wouldn’t take a salary or would donate it for the remainder of the year.

“There’s what’s the legal thing, and there’s what’s the right thing,” Mr. Hastings said.

Mr. Hastings is taking Mr. Sanders to task for avoiding him and not addressing it.

“If you’re elected to a term, you’re elected to serve, and that’s one thing,” Mr. Hastings said. “[Mr. Sanders] was appointed, and he was appointed through the end of the year, but the voters have spoken, and it wasn’t a close election.”

Mr. Hastings said he plans to push for Mr. Sanders’ resignation until the end of the term if Mr. Sanders stays on.

“The ultimate goal is for him to step down,” Mr. Hastings said.

Mr. Sanders said he will continue to serve the residents for the last four months.

“We’re bringing in jobs and we have a lot of momentum right now,” Mr. Sanders said. “My intention is to see that through until the end of the term.”

Editor’s Note: Jason Stone can be reached at jstone@newszap.com.

Jason Stone
News Editor | Surprise
@thestonecave

jstone@iniusa.com

Former NAU Lumberjack who loves going to concerts (or I did), watching sports (or I did) and hanging out with friends (oh, never mind). I also enjoy backgammon, surfing and men who are not afraid to cry.