The races for Surprise mayor and four seats on the Surprise City Council are set for the August election.
City Clerk Sherry Aguilar said eight candidates filed the necessary paperwork to circulate petitions and collect campaign funds for the fall election cycle by the April 6 deadline — while another candidate indicated he’ll be running as an official write-in.
If any candidate receives more than 50% of the votes in the Aug. 4 primary election, it won’t need a general election runoff on Nov. 3. District 5 is the only one in which it’s possible because it will feature three candidates.
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The races for Surprise mayor and four seats on the Surprise City Council are set for the August election.
City Clerk Sherry Aguilar said eight candidates filed the necessary paperwork to circulate petitions and collect campaign funds for the fall election cycle by the April 6 deadline — while another candidate indicated he’ll be running as an official write-in.
If any candidate receives more than 50% of the votes in the Aug. 4 primary election, it won’t need a general election runoff on Nov. 3. District 5 is the only one in which it’s possible because it will feature three candidates.
Here is a breakdown for all five races:
Mayor
Incumbent mayor Skip Hall filed on March 9 and is the only candidate who has submitted papers so far.
Mr. Hall, 74, has lived in Surprise for 16 years. He’s served on the Surprise City Council since 2008 and was previously on the Planning and Zoning Commission.
As a councilman, he was appointed mayor in late 2018 when Sharon Wolcott resigned. He is poised to earn his first full four-year term as mayor with no competition this summer.
District 2
The battle to replace outgoing Councilwoman Nancy Hayden in District 2 looks like it will be coming down to the two candidates she beat to get the seat in a special election in 2018.
Alyson “Aly” Cline filed on March 9, while Wendell Fountain turned in his petitions three days later.
The 67-year-old Ms. Cline is the president of the Friends of the Surprise Libraries and retired from the banking industry. She has lived in Surprise since 2002.
Mr. Fountain, 75, is a newer resident to Surprise. He and his wife moved here three years ago from Nevada.
The Grand Canyon University instructor received nearly enough votes to force a run-off with Ms. Hayden in 2018. Ms. Cline finished third in that race.
District 2 covers Sun City Grand and portions of Arizona Traditions.
District 3
Patrick Duffy is vying for his first full term as a councilman for the district that covers Prasada and the southwest parts of the city.
Mr. Duffy, 38, defeated Planning and Zoning Commissioner Gisele Norberg by 11 votes in a special election in 2018. He is again facing a Norberg in this election, but not the one he was originally expecting.
Greg Norberg, husband of Gisele, will be the opponent after Ms. Norberg dropped her initial bid when she took a job with Congresswoman Debbie Lesko’s Surprise office.
Mr. Norberg, 57, has lived in the district for more than six years. He officially filed March 31.
District 4
Ken Remley also filed his papers to run for another term on March 31.
The 75-year-old accountant will likely run unopposed for the district that encompasses the Original Town Site and surrounding areas.
Mr. Remley is leading a revival of parts of the OTS, although future plans for the area — like all parts of Surprise — are in doubt because of COVID-19 pandemic.
District 5
The most competitive race could be the one in District 5, which covers the Surprise City Center and surrounding area, including Kingswood Parke and Mountain Vista Ranch.
Incumbent David Sanders, who is filling out the term Mr. Hall left to become mayor, filed his papers on March 17. The 43-year-old works in the finance industry and has lived in Surprise for about 10 years.
He will have two opponents in this election, including newcomer Jack Hastings, who filed March 9. Mr. Hastings, 27, has already sent out mailers to residents in the district.
Business owner Kawika Henderson filed his intention to run but said he’ll be getting votes as a write-in candidate because of COVID-19 concerns. The businessman has lived in Surprise for two decades.
Jason Stone Senior News Editor | Surprise @thestonecave
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.
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