Even though word about a Maricopa County Superior Court judge’s decision in a case involving the Chandler mayor had already become wildly known, the recent filing of the decision made a few things clearer.
Judge David McDowell’s dismissal order of Ruth Jones’ suit against Mayor Kevin Hartke and Chandler City Clerk was added to the court’s website on Aug. 14. The dismissal is “with prejudice,” meaning the case is permanently closed and cannot be brought back to court.
Jones and her attorney, in filing the suit in May, charged Hartke shouldn’t have attempted or been permitted to run for mayor in 2018 at the end of his eighth consecutive year in office. Hartke not only ran for mayor and won in 2018, but soundly defeated Jones on his way to reelection in 2022.
