Regional municipalities held runoff elections for council seats Tuesday, providing a clearer picture of how their councils will look in the coming term.
Cave Creek, Goodyear, Gila Bend and Guadalupe completed their councils with runoffs Tuesday.
In a field of five runoff candidates in Cave Creek, Mike Durkin, Thomas McGuire, Reg Monachino and Charles Spitzer won spots on that council, according to unofficial results released Tuesday night.
The campaign in Cave Creek included heated exchanges involving the town’s debt and charges that the town manager’s influence has overstepped boundaries.
There have been scathing editorials in the local newspaper Sonoran News, and challengers in the race professed a need to outspend the incumbents to offset biased support they say the paper has thrown behind the sitting council.
The campaign also led to lawsuits forcing two candidates to court.
Incumbent Ernie Bunch and challenger, Rose Law Group attorney Adam Trenk were elected outright on March 12, and Mayor Vincent Francia ran unopposed.
Voters in Cave Creek also approved Prop. 459, registering their agreement with a council-approved rezoning late last year of a 4-acre property on the northern side of Carefree Highway at 54th Street, adjacent to a CVS/pharmacy.
In Goodyear, longtime Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce leader Sharolyn Hohman appeared to have won a seat on the that council, according to the unofficial results, over Brannon Hampton, an Arizona Public Service employee who works at Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station.
Gila Bend residents elected Ron Henry and James “Bud” Turner to their council, according to unofficial results.
In Guadalupe, voters selected Rebecca Jimenez as their mayor and elected Gloria Cota and Faustino Valenzuela Jr. to serve on the council.
Three newcomers elected to Page City Council
First-timers — and Page natives — Levi Tappan, Dennis “Dugan” Warner and Michael Bryan were elected to four-year terms and will be sworn into office June 12. Falling short of election were three current or former staples of Page City Hall — Councilmembers John Mayes and Lyle Dimbatt and former fire chief Larry Clark.
