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Second-year Councilman Chris Judd was selected by the City Council Jan. 21 to serve the next year as vice mayor.
Mr. Judd, who represents southeast Surprise residents in District 6, replaced District 1 Councilman Roland Winters in the position.
“I am honored and humbled that my colleagues have appointed me to represent Surprise as the vice mayor, and I am looking forward to my second on council year serving my friends and neighbors here in the great city of Surprise,” Mr. Judd said.
District 4 Councilman Ken Remley, who serves the Original Town Site, nominated Mr. Judd.
“One of my top priorities is to continue working with our Economic Development team and partners to attract more quality jobs and businesses to our community,” Mr. Judd said. “We strive to be a very business-friendly community and are trying to keep policies in place that allow businesses succeed.”
Mr. Judd and District 2 Councilwoman Nancy Hayden were the only nominees for vice mayor.
Candidates were allowed to nominate themselves, but none did so. Instead, Mr. Winters nominated Ms. Hayden.
“This is a person who has prepared for every workshop, and council meeting, who seldom misses an event, whether it’s a groundbreaking, a ribbon-cutting, or committee meeting,” Mr. Winters said.
In the final voting, only Ms. Winters and Mr. Hayden didn’t vote for Mr. Judd when City Clerk Sherry Aguilar read off the ballot results.
Mr. Hall presented Mr. Winters with a plaque commemorating his service last year. Mr. Winters has been on the council for seven years.
“I want to thank the council for the award,” Mr. Winters said. “It was quite unexpected. It was a good surprise.
“Good thing I have a bad heart,” he quipped, adding, “This past year has been a pleasure and an educational experience.”
According to city code, the City Council must pick a new vice mayor to serve on an annual basis no later than Jan. 30 each year.
The duties include acting on behalf of the mayor in the event of Mr. Hall’s absence.
Mr. Judd recently completed the first of a four-year term serving District 6 after winning the August 2018 primary election.
The native Arizonan, who works for Liberty Mutual Insurance, has lived in Surprise for more than a decade. He has been part of the Surprise business community since the mid-’90s.
For 14 years, Mr. Judd was general manager of a local small manufacturing plant before opening his own Surprise-based trucking company.
Outside of business, Mr Judd is a member of the executive board for the White Tank Mountains Conservancy and a member of the advisory board for the Northwest Valley YMCA.
He has also been very active with the Rotary Club of Surprise and the Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce. He served as the Rotary Club President in 2015 and 2016, and currently serves on the board of directors for the Rotary Club of Surprise Community Foundation.
“I encourage residence or business owners to reach out to me directly anytime they find something in our city that they feel should be changed or improved and we will work together to find solutions,” Mr. Judd said.
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.
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