Apache Junction Mayor Chip Wilson and Councilmembers Tess Nesser, Bambi Johnson and Peter Heck — all incumbents who won in the July 30 primary election — were sworn in for their new terms of office during a recent meeting.
After Acting City Clerk Evie McKinney administered the oath of office at the Jan. 7 meeting to all four, each spoke briefly.
Johnson said her husband, Jim, was in the audience and she appreciated his support.
“Thank you for supporting me,” she said. “I really appreciate that very, very much.”
Johnson also thanked voters who voted for her.
Heck thanked Apache Junction’s voters for believing in him.
“I appreciate that and I’m grateful for their support and I will do my very best to honor their vote and to honor this city by doing my very best,” he said.
Heck thanked a member of the Apache Junction Mounted Rangers, of which he is a member, for attending the meeting.
“I too would like to thank the voters of Apache Junction,” Nesser said. “Four years ago they placed their faith and trust in me and voted me into office and now for a second term. I really appreciate that. It makes me proud of my community.”
Wilson said his wife, grandson and son were at the meeting, and he thanked them for their support. He also thanked Apache Junction’s voters and said this two-year session as mayor will be his last.
“I have promised my wife this is it, that we’re going to ‘retire’ — whatever that means — in the future,” Wilson said.
Vice mayor, acting mayor chosen
Later in the meeting, the Apache Junction City Council voted unanimously to again have Robert Schroeder be vice mayor.
“I want to thank every one of you guys. This means a lot to me — it really does that you put your trust in me in this. And I’ll try not to let you down. Thank you,” Schroeder said after the vote.
The council also voted unanimously to designate Councilmember Darryl Cross to be acting mayor during the absence of both the mayor and vice mayor. He also will be able to conduct meetings and act in the event of emergency situations.
In a unanimous vote of the council, Wilson and Schroeder were elected city council check signatories. City checks require the signature of a council member in addition to that of the city clerk.
“My hand is warmed up for signatures,” the mayor said after the vote.
“They’re autographs, Chip,” Schroeder said.
The salary for the position of mayor is paid at the rate of $1,000 per month, for vice mayor it is $900 per month and for a council member it is $800 per month, according to Apache Junction City Code.
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@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.
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