By Richard Dyer
Twitter: @RHDyer

Five Apache Junction residents have qualified to run for mayor and five for three seats on City Council.

Vying for council are Braden Biggs, Darryl Cross, Kelly Gremmel, Tess Nesser and Jeff Struble.

Running for mayor are Charles Austin, Robin Barker, Jeff Barlett, John Insalaco and Chip Wilson.

Mr. Barlett is a write-in candidate and will not be on the ballot, Apache Junction City Clerk Jennifer Pena said.

“Yes, Jeff Barlett filed as a write-in, so you are correct, his name will not be on the ballot nor in the publicity pamphlet,” she said.

“But on the ballot, there is the area to fill in a name for write-in. Most of our voters vote early ballots. However, on Election Day within the voting booth, Jeff Barlett’s name will be posted as a write-in,” City Clerk Pena said.

Six Apache Junction residents had 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, Ms. Pena said.

Those who filed statements of interest for mayor but did not make the ballot are Mohiuddin Mehmood for mayor; and Walker Waldie, Bradley Collins and Todd Kanz for council.

Mr. Waldie said he dropped out to focus on his business.

“I’ve decided to drop out of the race this year. With everything going on I need to focus on my business and ensure we survive the crisis,” he said.

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.

Candidates were required to 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. For additional information, call the City Clerk’s office at 480-982-8002.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley
@RHDyer

rdyer@iniusa.org

Meet Richard
Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.  

Community: 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. 

Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.

Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.

Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.