Sal DiCiccio/YouTube
By Taylor Seely | Arizona Republic
Corrections & Clarifications: The Phoenix city manager hires the police chief, and the city’s bond election is in 2023. A previous version of this article misstated who hires the chief and the year of the bond election.
The Phoenix City Council could see as many as three new members in 2023, but all eyes are on the one seat guaranteed to have a new member.
Councilmember Sal DiCiccio, an outspoken conservative who is term-limited, will vacate his District 6 seat, covering an area from east-central to southeast Phoenix. He could be replaced by one of eight challengers, including three who are connected to, or in some cases endorsed by, current elected councilmembers.
Incumbent Councilmembers Jim Waring, Laura Pastor and Carlos Garcia are up for reelection in Districts 2, 4, and 8, respectively, although Pastor is running unopposed.
Waring, an 11-year incumbent and former state senator, could face two challengers, both of whom are running for elected office for the first time.
Garcia will see three challengers. The race could serve as a referendum on Garcia’s representation of south Phoenix. The anti-establishment figure is finishing his first term after defeating his opponent by about 400 votes in June 2019 in a special runoff election.
2022 elections:Here’s who wants to be your next city council member in metro Phoenix
The outcome of the races in Districts 2, 4, 6 and 8 will have lasting impacts on the nation’s fifth-largest city. City Manager Jeff Barton will hire a new police chief amid an investigation by the Department of Justice into Phoenix’s police force. Police Chief Jeri Williams announced her retirement in May.
Other important measures will be before Phoenix voters in 2023. A $500 million general obligation bond is on the ballot, proposed to fund facilities like parks, police and fire stations, streets and storm drains and affordable housing.
The election is on Nov. 8. A candidate must receive 50% plus 1 of the votes to win and take office April 17. Races in which no candidate receives a majority of the votes will face off in a runoff election on March 14.
The last day to register to vote in Phoenix’s November election is Oct. 11. Ballots will be mailed Oct. 12. Early voting starts the same day, by mail or in person.
