Source: http://surpriseaznews.com/?paged=18
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 07:03:20+00:00

Document:
On September 11, 2018, the City Council approved the results of the August 28th primary election received from the Maricopa County Elections Department. The returns showed that James Cunningham and incumbent District 1 Councilmember Roland Winters received the highest number of votes, with 1,247 and 1,189 respectively. In accordance with Arizona law, City Council directed that both Mr. Cunningham and Mr. Winters’ names be placed on the ballot for the November 6th general election for District 1.
On September 19, 2018, the City Clerk received an email message from a resident claiming that Mr. Cunningham is not an eligible candidate, because he was not registered to vote in Surprise when he filed his nominating petitions. The City Clerk has confirmed with the Maricopa County Elections Department that Mr. Cunningham, in fact, was not a registered Surprise voter when he filed his nomination papers, and Mr. Cunningham has confirmed with the City Clerk that he was not registered at that time.
Arizona statutes mandate that a candidate be a “qualified elector” of the City at the time of filing nomination papers to be eligible to appear on a ballot for the Surprise City Council. To be a “qualified elector,” a person must be a registered voter in Surprise. If a candidate is not a “qualified elector” when he or she files their nominating papers, they are not eligible to be elected.
However, the City Clerk is required by Arizona statutes to accept nominating petitions that appear valid on their face and place the candidate on the primary election ballot. Arizona law does not permit the City Clerk to investigate or challenge whether a candidate is a “qualified elector” when he or she files nominating papers. Furthermore, Arizona law provides no authority, absent a court order, for the City Clerk, the City, or the County to remove a candidate’s name from the ballot if it is later determined that he or she is ineligible to be elected.
There were two opportunities for any Surprise elector to challenge by court action Mr. Cunningham’s eligibility to have his name on a ballot, the first being within ten days after the last day for filing nomination petitions, the second within five days after the canvass of the primary election on September 11th. Because these two statutory remedy periods have elapsed with no challenge having been filed, the Arizona Superior Court would likely have no jurisdiction to intervene.
Since the City Clerk lacks any legal authority to remove Mr. Cunningham’s name from the ballot, and no current availability of a statutory remedy exists, the only remaining question is how the votes in the general election will be counted. The Arizona Supreme Court answered this question nearly a half century ago in the case of Tellez v. Superior Court by holding that, “votes cast for a deceased, disqualified or ineligible person are not to be treated as void or thrown away but must be counted in determining the result of an election.” In the event Mr. Cunningham receives the majority of votes cast in the November general election, Arizona statutes provide for an additional opportunity for a Surprise elector to challenge, by court action, his eligibility to hold office. If he fails to receive a majority of votes, the matter becomes moot.
WE SHOULD CALL OUR LOCAL PAPERS AND TELL THEM THAT IN OUR OPINION THEIR COVERAGE OF SURPRISE IS POOR IF NOT NONE EXISTING.
RVUKANOVICH, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WERE VICE-MAYOR IN THE CITY OF SURPRISE, WILL YOU BE WRITING ARTICLES?
YES, I WILL BE WRITING ARTICLES, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT THE PAPERS DON’T LIKE TO TOUCH. PLEASE SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO ME, TELLING ME WHETHER OR NOT TO USE YOUR NAME. I WILL BE THE ONLY PERSON TO HAVE YOUR NAME AND WILL NOT USE IT IN ANY WAY OTHER THAN WHAT YOU PERMIt.
– discussion, consultation or consideration for international and interstate negotiations or for negotiations by a city or town, or its designated representatives, with members of a tribal council, or its designated representatives, of an Indian reservation located within or adjacent to the city or town. A.R.S. §38-401.03 (A)(6)).
– discussing or consulting with designated representatives of the city in order to consider its position and instruct its representatives regarding negotiations for the purchase, sale or lease of real property (A.R.S. §38-431.03 (A)(7)).
Confidentiality Requirements Pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.03(C)(D): Any person receiving executive session information pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.02 shall not disclose that information except to the Attorney General or County Attorney by agreement of the City Council, or as otherwise ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The council may vote to hold an executive session for the purpose of obtaining legal advice from the Board’s attorney on any matter listed on the agenda pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.03(A)(3).
Public Notice of the City of Surprise, Arizona.
Offices to be filled – One council seat with a 4-year term for Districts 1 (Acacia).
Who can vote? All registered voters in the City of Surprise will have options to vote on State, County, School District and propositions. Only residents residing within District 1 will have an opportunity to vote for a Council Representative.
City council meeting Oct. 16, the executive session they held, should have been in an open meeting.
The City Council, during an executive session Tuesday, directed the city attorney to work on an employment contract for Frazier to fill Wingenroth’s seat, Arthur said. They will vote on the contract at the Nov. 6 meeting.
There will be a complaint filed with the attorney general that the council violated the rules of executive sessions by giving information to outsiders of what was said and done in the executive season.
Driving and using mobile devices that are not operating in a hands-free mode, is illegal within Surprise city limits effective this Thursday, September 6.
The ordinance, which Council approved last month, penalizes driving and using a mobile communications device unless usage is in hands-free mode or if the driver is communicating an emergency situation to emergency personnel.
This ordinance is another tool in the city’s Drive Wise, Surprise campaign to encourage safe driving habits.
The nation’s top singles and doubles players will gather in Surprise, Arizona, to compete in the finale tournament of the fall collegiate season at the 2018 Oracle Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Fall Championships! The community can get involved too, with fun events and learning opportunities planned for tennis coaches, kids, and teens looking to play in college. Plus, there’s a doubles shootout competition, with a cash prize, that’s free and open to anyone!
The tournament will feature a 64-player Men and Women’s singles draw, and 32 Men and Women’s doubles draw. Matches will take place at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex, located at 14469 W. Paradise Lane, from Wednesday, November 7 thru Sunday, November 11. Admission to the event is free!
The Oracle ITA National Fall Championships is the only collegiate tennis tournament to feature student-athletes from all five divisions: NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and JUCO. Members of the University of Florida, Texas, Miami, Vanderbilt, North Carolina, Georgia, Stanford, USC, Illinois, Ohio State, Wake Forest, and many more nationally ranked teams from across the country, will be represented at the tournament.
Draws, schedule of play, and daily recaps can be found on the Oracle ITA National Fall Championships event page at www.itatennis.com.
The Oracle UTR Phoenix $1K Shootout is an open, winner take all, doubles tournament at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex. No entry fee required, and the winning team from each division will each take home $500. The tournament (Men and Women) is open to players of any level, and each draw is limited to 16 doubles teams. It’s a great opportunity to compete for $500! Register now!
Community Kids Day, Sat. Nov. 10, 9-10:30 a.m.
Spend the morning playing with college coaches and stay afterwards for the semifinals of the Oracle ITA National Fall Championships. Register Now!
College Tennis Recruiting Info Session, Sat., Nov. 11, 10-11:30 a.m.
Learn the road to college tennis with ITA CEO Tim Russell. Stay after for the finals of the Oracle ITA National Fall Championships! Register Now!
Coaches Workshop, Sun., Nov. 11, 10-11:30 a.m.
High School Coaches Workshop – Learn from the top college coaches at an on-court workshop and Q & A panel. Register Now!
The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) is the governing body of college tennis, overseeing men’s and women’s varsity at all levels – NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and Junior/Community College. Over the past four decades, ITA has worked hard to ensure the long-term prosperity of college tennis as one of the most vibrant college sports.
The City of Surprise Sports & Tourism department is responsible for managing Major League Baseball Spring Training at Surprise Stadium, shared-use facility partnerships with Ottawa University, major tennis tournaments, and tourism driven events, festivals, and sports tournaments.
For information contact the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex at 623-222-2400 or visit www.itatennis.com.
The next meeting of the City’s Honoring an Exceptional Leader Task Force has been rescheduled to Tuesday, October 30 at 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers at City Hall, 16000 N. Civic Center Plaza.
Establish a Veterans Reflection Circle, in honor of Brian Mancini, next to the Northwest Regional Library. The circular area is just west of Surprise Lake, an area that Mancini visited often to fish and relax. A plaque telling his story and the “Pity” poem that he wrote would be located on site, along with a tranquil water feature.
Name the Surprise Resource Center’s conference room after Mancini and showcase posters telling his story and self-authored “Pity” poem in the room. The center houses various veteran employment programs including the Surprise Veteran Job Club and weekly veteran employment assistance from the Veterans Administration and the state’s Disabled Veteran Outreach Program.
City staff will also review additional input received at the September 11 meeting, including other potential memorial locations within the city; new water feature and plaque designs.
Mancini was a medically retired Sergeant First Class, Combat Wounded Veteran who served as a Combat Medic with two tours in Baghdad, Iraq. He served over 12 years in the United States Army. He was the recipient of two Purple Hearts, the Combat Action Badge, Combat Medical Badge, Air Assault Badge and Flight Medic Badge.
Suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Mancini ended his life at the age of 38 in 2017.
The public is encouraged to attend the October 30th Task Force meeting.
Special Task Force will present its recommendations to the City Council at the next regularly scheduled City Council Work Session. City Council will either recommend that the item be brought forward at the next City Council Meeting for action, or ask that the Task Force perform additional work.
The Task Force will be dismissed after final City Council Action.
The Bullard Avenue Improvement Project remains on schedule to be substantially complete later this month, weather permitting; full project completion will be achieved in early 2019.
Surprise police officers will be onsite Thursday, November 8 and Friday, November 9, to assist with traffic control while crews set the signal poles at the Bullard Avenue and Acoma Drive intersection.
Crews will continue to work weekends through mid-November to keep the project on schedule.
Scheduled work hours for this week are Mondays – Saturdays, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.; in certain cases, daily work hours may begin earlier to allow crews to work while traffic is minimal.
Machine pours for modified curbs continue in the lanes east of the medians.
Traffic signal and sidewalk ramp work at Acoma Drive continues; project crews will be working on all four corners of the intersection. Sidewalks may be closed intermittently while the work is occurring.
The speed limit in the construction area remains 25 mph, except in school zones where the speed limit is 15 mph. Please proceed with caution through the project area and remember to Drive Wise, Surprise!
For project-related questions, contact Suneel Garg at 623.222.6130.
To learn more about the Bullard Ave project, visit surpriseaz.gov/bullard.

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