By Jason Stone
Twitter: @thestonecave

For residents sick of seeing Surprise City Council race signs all across the city, many of them will soon be coming down.

Aug. 4 is the Surprise primary election, where the mayor and four council seats are up for grabs.

Here is a quick breakdown of each race and where each district lies so you’ll know your district:

Mayor

All Surprise voters across all districts decide who’s mayor.

Incumbent Skip Hall has been on the job since the very end of 2018 when Sharon Wolcott resigned. Mr. Hall, who was serving as a councilman for District 5 at the time of his promotion, is finishing up Ms. Wolcott’s four-year term.

He is now seeking his first full term as an elected mayor. He’s going up against a write-in candidate, Cheryl Packham, a relative newcomer to Surprise.

District 2

Two people who vied for the seat during a special election two years ago are back at it this time for the district that serves Sun City Grand, parts of Arizona Traditions and other areas.

Alyson Cline and Wendell Fountain lost out to Councilwoman Nancy Hayden in the 2018 special election to fill the seat left by the death of Ms. Hayden’s husband, Jim.

District 3

Councilman Patrick Duffy is facing a Norberg this year, but a different one from two years ago in a special election.

Mr. Duffy, who beat Planning and Zoning Commissioner Gisele Norberg by 11 votes last time, is now going against her husband, Greg, this time around.

The district covers the southwest part of the city, including the Prasada area and Loop 303 corridor.

District 4

Councilman Ken Remley is poised for another four-year term in the district that mostly serves the Original Town Site and nearby areas. Mr. Remley is running unopposed this year, and there haven’t been any qualifiers as a write-in candidate for the seat.

District 5

Perhaps the most heated battle of the election season will be for the seat in the district right in the heart of Surprise, including the City Center, stadium area and homes around it.

Incumbent David Sanders is seeking his first election win after being appointed to fill Mr. Hall’s seat when Mr. Hall slid over to the mayor’s spot.

He’s facing teacher Jack Hastings, who has qualified for the ballot, and businessman Kawika Henderson, who qualified as a write-in.

Where to Vote

It's too late to mail in early ballots, so voters can take them down to the Community Room in City Hall, which is set up as a designated early voting site from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. There will also be a ballot drop off box in the clerk’s office.

On the election day, voters will need to go to their specific poling location. All polls on primary day will be open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Results of the Tuesday, Aug. 4 Surprise primary election will be available on election night on the city’s website and Surprise TV, the city’s cable TV channel.

The elections for mayor and Districts 2, 3 and 4 have terms ending Dec. 31, 2024. The District 5 councilmember will serve a two-year term ending Dec. 31, 2022, since it is an election to fill an appointed seat.

The winners will assume office the first meeting in January after receiving the official oath of office.

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.