Jayme Valenzuela recall, Superior, Arizona (2016)
| Superior Mayor recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| Recall election date |
| August 30, 2016 |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2016 Recalls in Arizona Arizona recall laws Mayoral recalls Recall reports |
An effort in Superior, Arizona, to recall Mayor Jayme Valenzuela from his position was launched in February 2016. Recall organizers submitted petitions with signatures from 187 residents on April 11, 2016, and the recall was approved in a vote on August 30, 2016.[1] Valenzuela was first elected in a recall election against Michael Hing in 2011.[2] Town Councilwoman Mila Besich-Lira was selected to replace Valenzuela in the August 2016 recall vote.[3]
Recall vote
| Recall - Town of Superior Mayor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 Mila Besich-Lira | 430 | 78.75% | ||
 Jayme Valenzuela (i) | 116 | 21.25% | ||
| Election results via: Pinal County Recorder accessed August 30, 2016 | ||||
Recall supporters
Sue Anderson initiated the recall effort due to allegations that Valenzuela used public funds for personal use. Town Clerk Rachel Sanchez told attendees at a town council meeting on December 9, 2015, that $2,300 was withdrawn using the town's debit card. Valenzuela admitted to making the withdrawal, but told town councilmembers that he repaid the funds before the December 9 meeting. An audit of town finances showed that Valenzuela repaid the funds following the meeting.[2]
Sanchez was fired as town clerk at the December 9 meeting by a 4-3 vote. Valenzuela was the fourth and deciding vote after the remaining members of the council were split.[2]
The Arizona Attorney General's Office began a criminal investigation into the matter in early February 2016.[2] He was indicted on a felony theft charge in July 2016.[4] On August 4, 2016, Valenzuela pleaded not guilty to the felony theft charge in Maricopa County Superior Court.[5]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Arizona
Recall supporters had to submit at least 102 valid signatures from city residents to city officials. This total equaled at least 25 percent of the votes cast in the last general election for mayor.[6] Petitions were submitted on April 11, 2016, and the Pinal County Clerk's Office verified the signatures on April 15, 2016.[1]
Recent news
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See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 CopperArea.com, "Petitions seeking the recall of Superior Mayor Valenzuela filed on April 11; has 187 signatures," April 11, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Casa Grande Dispatch, "Residents start process to recall mayor," February 13, 2016
- ↑ Casa Grande Dispatch, "Signatures collected for recall election of Superior’s mayor," April 15, 2016
- ↑ Phoenix New Times, "Town of Superior Mayor, Already Facing Recall, Indicted on Felony Theft Charge," July 8, 2016
- ↑ Casa Grande Dispatch, "Mayor of Superior pleads not guilty to theft charge," August 6, 2016
- ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "Initiative, Referendum and Recall Made EZ Handbook," November 2013
