City Council Approves Code for Resignation to Pursue Public Office

The Lake Havasu City Council approved a new local code concerning the resignation of city board members seeking public office, passing the measure 5-1 on Tuesday. This decision will impact individuals serving on city-appointed boards and commissions.

Councilmember Nancy Campbell cast the only dissenting vote. She previously opposed the code during its introduction, while her colleague Councilmember Michele Lin was not present for the vote.

An amendment was included since the last meeting, detailing the circumstances under which write-in candidates must resign from their positions. City Attorney Kelly Garry outlined two such scenarios: a candidate who pulls a packet but fails to gather signatures and another who does not pull a packet at all.

The newly added language states that a board or commission member is considered to have signaled their intention to run as a write-in candidate once they submit a nomination paper to the city clerk, provided they do not file a statement of interest.

State law permits write-in candidates to submit nomination papers between 150 and 40 days prior to an election, with certain exceptions.

This code targets citizens aspiring to serve on the City Council or as mayor, specifically those who are currently members of boards like the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the Planning and Zoning Commission. Any board member wishing to run must resign at the time they submit their statement of interest and begin collecting signatures.

Additionally, Arizona’s resignation to run statute requires that elected officials step down upon filing nomination papers for another elected position. This law applies to City Council members seeking the mayoral post or any elected position at the county or state levels.