Real races in local primaries are for municipality council seats

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Vote early at the General Services Building in Safford.

Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald:

By Jon Johnson

jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com

GRAHAM COUNTY – With only one local contested partisan race (sheriff), the real action in this primary election will be in the nonpartisan local municipality council races. 

Looking at a primary ballot in Graham County – whether Republican or Democrat – one might not see a lot of options to vote for. That is, until you get to the nonpartisan section two where the races for town and city council positions reside. 

SAFFORD 

Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald: Richard Ortega, shown here at his former shoe store in Safford in 2018, is running for election to his mayoral position in Safford.

In Safford, voters will have a choice of one out of two candidates for mayor as well as picking three council seats out of six candidates. 

Mayor Richard Ortega assumed the role of mayor from his former vice-mayor position upon former Mayor Jason Kouts’ passing. Ortega is now running to be elected mayor. 

His opponent is Kouts’ widow, Maria Kouts. 

For the three available council seats, incumbents Brad Hemphill and appointee Dusti Brantner seek election as well as newcomers Brenda Chacon, Luke Chavez, Alma Flores, and Corina Pino-Reyes. 

Thatcher

Thatcher votes for its council members and the council then votes on a mayor out of its members. So, it has seven candidates running for four open seats.  

Thatcher Mayor Randy Bryce is running for re-election to the Thatcher Town Council, as well as incumbents Eddy Carlton and Mark Vining. They will vie for the four open seats against former town council member Ryan Rapier, former Thatcher Police Chief Shaffen Woods, and newcomers Bryce Carter and Brandon Homer. 

Pima

Pima also votes for its council members and the council votes for its mayor.

There are three seats available on the Pima Town Council, with incumbents Lucas Hoopes and Sherrill Teeter hoping to be re-elected and newcomers Cade Bryce and Georgia Luster looking to break onto the board.

For the municipal races, a candidate must receive 50 percent of the vote plus one to be declared the winner in the primary. For Safford, its mayoral race will need 50 percent of the total Safford vote plus one to be declared a winner and avoid the general election. For each council position, since there are three open seats, each candidate will need just 50 percent of 1/3 of the entire Safford vote. 

In Thatcher, since there are four seats available, a candidate will only need 50 percent of 1/4 of the entire Thatcher vote. 

The Primary Election is on Tuesday, July 30.