Christine Ellis, shown here speaking in a July Chandler City Council meeting, learned she’s won a second and final four-year term on council. Ellis never trailed in county elections reporting in her Nov. 5 runoff against challenger Joseph Yang and was up by about 2,700 votes by the time city election turnout passed the 80% mark.
Monday, Nov. 11, Christine Ellis learned her Chandler City Council reelection journey had come to the end she was seeking.
But her first thoughts were along the lines of “back to work.”
“Keep doing most of the same things” is the message voters are sending by reelecting her, Ellis told the Chandler Independent when she was informed her opponent conceded. “Keep pushing for a better quality of life for all Chandler residents.”
After a morning vote-tally announcement by Maricopa County Elections showed voter turnout in Chandler had passed 80%, Ellis’ opponent in the Nov. 5 runoff, Joseph Yang, took to social media to congratulate Ellis and call for collaboration.
“It looks like we are coming up just short of victory,” Yang wrote. “I have just reached out to Christine congratulating her on a second term. I thank every single person that voted for me ... I truly do love this city and it’s people and I am here for the mayor and Council for whatever they need.”
Monday, Nov. 11, Maricopa County Elections estimated there were still 84,250 uncounted ballots, 52,000 unprocessed early ballots and 10,000 provisional ballots.
At that point, Ellis had 51,408 votes, or 51.08%. Yang had 48,705 votes, or 48.39%, of the 133,454 votes cast in the runoff.
While vote reports throughout the week after the Nov. 5 election initially showed Ellis with a considerable lead that kept shrinking, her lead started growing slightly over the weekend to get to the 2,700-vote margin that led Yang to see he had no path to victory Nov. 11.
Statewide voter turnout for the 2020 presidential-year election was only 79.9%.
Ellis and Yang were the only two candidates in the Nov. 5 runoff for one of three Chandler council four-year terms up for election this year. July 30 primary results determined incumbent O.D. Harris and challenger Jennifer Hawkins won four-year terms from among the seven candidates on the ballot.
But since Ellis didn’t earn enough vote percentage using a state formula, she went into a November runoff against Yang, the next (fourth)-place primary finisher.
Hawkins had slightly more than the 16.7% of the primary vote needed to avoid the runoff.
Council member Mark Stewart is term-limited, meaning Hawkins will replace him when new four-year-terms begin in January.
There could have been two new council members if Yang had defeated Ellis in the runoff.
Ellis said she’s proud of her campaign people, who she said ran a positive, focused campaign. She also said “loving” the people of Chandler will remain a priority for her.
She said she’s disappointed she didn’t get more of backing from expected allies during the primary run, but she understands now that lack of support was for “political reasons.”
“Housing, access to services, and education, including the trades,” Ellis said. “We still have a grave need for all types of medical staff and services.”
Ellis acknowledged some parts of quality of life, such as housing affordability, might still be more easily impacted by state or federal legislation than by anything in the realm of county or city leaders. But that’s why Chandler leaders rely on (Strategic Initiatives Director) Ryan Peters to be the “eyes and ears” on the Arizona legislature when it convenes in January.
It’s also why she wants better communication between city leaders and state lawmakers — specifically mentioning state Sen. J.D. Mesnard, who appears to have won reelection.
“That communication will lead to fewer surprises and less confusion,” Ellis said.
Jason W. Brooks News Editor | Chandler Independent
Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.
Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.
Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.
Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.
By 
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here