Appeals court frees Arizona cities to hold elections when they want; Adam Trenk, Rose Law Group attorney and Cave Creek Vice Mayor, calls ruling ‘landmark’

By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services/Arizona Capitol Times

Phoenix, Tucson and the state’s 17 other charter cities can have their local elections pretty much when they want, no matter what state legislators say, the Arizona Court of Appeals has ruled.

The three-judge panel said a 2012 law requiring cities to have their elections only in even-numbered years is trumped by state constitutional provisions allowing charter cities to govern the manner of their own elections.

Most cities in Arizona – including Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler, Mesa, Glendale and Peoria – are charter cities.

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Adam Trenk, Rose Law Group attorney and Cave Creek vice mayor said, “This land mark decision returns local control to municipalities around the state, and in so doing will reduce the risk that outside partisan interests will influence local elections.”