Chandler voters say ‘yes’ to 5 of 6 ballot questions
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks
Angel Encinas speaks at a recent meeting. The Chandler councilmember was the lone “no” vote last spring when Council voted to put four charter amendments among the six questions Chandler voters were asked to approve Nov. 3.
Even though one of its four charter amendments appears headed to a “no” vote, the Chandler City Council can say most of the six questions on the ballot this week passed.
In unofficial Maricopa County Elections results from Nov. 3, four Chandler charter amendments, plus Arizona Public Service franchising and a home-rule renewal, all were receiving a majority approval, as of late Friday, Nov. 6.
With almost 62% voter turnout, due largely to state and federal mid-term office elections, three of the charter questions were passing with more than 85% approval.
The only question on its way to a rejection was on Proposition 433, which would have cut the number of Council ordinance readings from two to one. It had 43,726 votes against it, or 51.06%, late on Nov. 6, with 41,904 votes in favor, or 48.94%.
Mayor-elect Matt Orlando said, in general, voters show they trust Council and its proposals, but there’s always from for improvement in city leadership explaining what propositions and bonds are for, and what they hope to accomplish through each one.
“We just need to keep doing a better job of educating the public about elections,” Orlando said.
Question 1 (APS franchise)
Arizona Public Service, or APS, was on its way to being granted a franchise, with 45,455 in favor of it, or 56.57%, and 34,898 against it, or 43.43%.
Orlando said it will streamline the permitting process for APS.
The Legislative District 13 Democrats, who endorsed Orlando in his successful July mayoral election, urged voters to vote “no” on the APS franchise.
Orlando said, much like the charter amendment that failed in this election, it could have been unclear to some voters exactly what they were approving.
“Again, we needed to get more people to a web page where they could read about what we’re doing,” Orlando said. “We did that with Southwest Gas and with Cox (Communications) within the past few years.”
Proposition 430 (home rule)
The four-year renewal of home rule passed by a wide margin. It received 73,049 votes for approval, or 82.83%, while only 15,147 voters rejected it, or 17.17%.
Approved 11 times, every four years, by Chandler voters between 1982 and 2022, the method of municipal finance allows for a local alternative expenditure limitation.
It allows local Arizona governments to use their own adopted annual budgets as the spending limits, as opposed to the state formula set in 1980.
Proposition 431 - timing of vice-mayor selection
This clarification on the Council’s annual selection of a vice mayor is on its way to passing with 72,980 votes in favor, or 85.1%, with only 12,781 against it, or 14.9%.
Orlando said this was one of two committee-recommended charter changes that were strictly “language cleanup.”
The change calls for the vice mayor to be chosen from among the council members, by majority vote of Council, at the first regular Council meeting in January of each year, rather than within a specified number of days after a new council is seated.
Proposition 432 - Conforming 'resign to run' charter provisions with state law
This “resign to run” and vacancy-filling provision, according to the city’s website, brings the charter in line with established practice, as well as state statute.
An incumbent councilmember or mayor will not be held to resign simply by filing a notice of intent or making a verbal / public declaration to run for a different office. It’s the filing of nomination and election paperwork and petition signatures that triggers resignation from current office, per state law.
Proposition 433 - Reducing Council readings of most ordinances from 2 to 1
Orlando acknowledges Council discussed the charter proposals included in propositions 433 and 434 in public far more than the other two changes.
“There was definitely some confusion on this one, especially regarding whether it would apply to new taxes or fees,” Orlando said. “But the (annual) property tax levy, utility rates, all that kind of stuff would still have been heard a second time.”
Orlando said confusion among voters developed with the Legislative District 13 Republicans and both parties’ LD 12 contingents endorsed passage of Proposition 433, but the LD13 Democrats wanted voters to reject it.
“We then had a meeting and a chat about the process, and they issued a reiteration, but who knows how many voters saw that second one?” Orlando asked, rhetorically. “Voters saw the elimination of a reading of an ordinance as usurping their chance to have a say.
Proposition 434 continues the residency requirement for the city manager. It also requires other positions appointed by the City Council (currently the city attorney, city clerk and city magistrate) to establish residency within 12 months of appointment.
That establishment of residence was previously six months.
It also eliminates the residency requirement for department heads not directly appointed by the council and declares that all city employees must live within a “reasonable distance” of the city.
As of Nov. 6, the proposition had 75,195 votes in favor, or 85.2%, with just 13,067 votes against it, or 14.8%.
Rick Heumann, a former Council member and steering committee member who has also chaired some prominent committees, spoke during the April meeting in which council placed the four charter amendments on the ballot.
He said he’s opposed to loosening restrictions on directors being required to live in the city.
“I believe people should have skin in the game, at that level,” Heumann said. “I think there could be exceptions for folks who worked their way up, and are promoted after being with the city for three years or more and have moved out of town. But directors we bring in anew are paid very well and can afford to live in our city.”
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.
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