By Jason Stone
Twitter: @thestonecave

Surprise Mayor Skip Hall and Councilman David Sanders have both tested positive for COVID-19 and will self-quarantine for the next 10 days.

The mayor made the stunning announcement the he had contracted the virus by telephone during the June 16 City Council meeting, which he attended via phone from home.

"I tested positive for COVID, so I will be out of pocket for the next 10 days," Mr. Hall said at the beginning of the meeting.

Mr. Sanders, meanwhile, also attended the meeting telephonically and confirmed afterward that he had also tested positive.

"I didn’t attend the meeting because I am quarantined in my house," Mr. Sanders said. "I am praying for Mayor Hall and his loved ones during this time. I understand that it can be scary to have that positive test result."

Additionally, Councilwoman Nancy Hayden missed the June 16 meeting all together with an excused, but unexplained absence. But there is no indication that Ms. Hayden did not attend the meeting because of COVID-19 fears.

Vice Mayor Chris Judd said he found out two hours before the city’s work session that he would be leading that and the council’s regular meeting.

“[The mayor] knew he’d been exposed recently,” Mr. Judd said. “So, he went and got tested. I practically fell out my chair before he said that at the meeting knowing [the announcement].”

Mr. Judd said he isn’t concerned that he may have been exposed himself.

“I’ve been pretty careful,” he said. “I haven’t seen Skip since the last council meeting [June 2], so I know there’s no risk there.

“But I’ve heard of a handful of people [I know] who have coronavirus. This is surging. It’s making it more and more nerving.”

Mr. Judd will take over Mr. Hall’s appearance at upcoming appointments.

The good news for the City Council is Mr. Hall and Mr. Sanders's quarantine comes at a time when it is about to start its summer break. The Council doesn’t usually meet in July or the first part of August.

Mr. Judd said he ran the June 16 meeting instead of Mr. Hall because of some technological problems with delays the city had been experiencing at meetings.

City Councilman Roland Winters wore a mask during the meetings. The other three councilman in attendance put them on after the meeting was over.

Mr. Hall and Mr. Sanders are both running for election in the Aug. 4 city races. Coincidentally, the two have endorsed each other and appear on campaign signs together throughout the city.

The 74-year-old Hall is running for election for a full term as mayor. He is currently serving the remainder of the term of Sharon Wolcott, who resigned in late 2018.

Mr. Hall has been on the City Council since 2008. He served District 5, currently held by Mr. Sanders, before his promotion to mayor when Ms. Wolcott left.

Mr. Sanders, 43, is also running in his first election after he was appointed to the council to fill Mr. Hall’s seat in early 2019.

Jason Stone
Senior News Editor | Surprise
@thestonecave

jstone@iniusa.com

Meet Jason
Jason Stone joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2019, after a distinguished three decade media career that included stops at the Arizona Republic, iHeart Media/Clear Channel and Beckett Sports Card magazine. He remembers when airports sold newspapers.

Community: He is a big supporter of the Valley's original sports team: The Phoenix Suns.

Education: Northern Arizona University with a BS in broadcast journalism and a minor in sports coaching.

Random Fact: The capital of Nebraska is Lincoln.

Hobbies: Surfing, backgammon and men who aren't afraid to cry.