Prescott’s Contested City Council Race - David Stringer, Publisher - Prescott eNews (2024)

Photo: Top left – Connie Cantelme, top right – Cathey Rusing; middle left, Ted Gambogi; middle right, Lois Fruhwirth; and bottom left, Tony Hamer; and bottom right, Chad DeVries

With ballots set to mail beginning July 5^th, Prescott’s hard fought city council election is coming to a head. By the end of this week, ballots will start to arrive and Prescott voters will begin to cast the votes that will determine the future policy directionof our city. In a nod to concerns about election integrity, voters will have the choice of returning their ballots by mail or at Yavapai County’s Official Drop Box or votingin person at the County Administration Building, 1015 Fair Street, Prescott, Arizona. To be counted in the August primary, votes must be cast by August 1^st.

Traditionally, Prescott eNews does not endorse candidates for office. This election is no exception. But in the interest of voter education, we did invite all six city council candidates to come in for a video interview with Brooks Compton. In the interest of full disclosure, Mr. Compton is active in Republican circles and serves as an elected Precinct Committeeman and State Committeeman. Since all the candidates running for city council also profess to be Republicans, we saw no conflict in having Mr. Compton do the interviews. The four video interviews with incumbents Cathey Rusing and Connie Cantelme and candidates Lois Fruhwirth and Ted Gambogi can be viewed by clicking on their respective links. For voters who have not met these candidates, here is a chance to size them up.

A handful of issues run thru all the interviews. All the candidates speak of their concerns about water, taxes, growth and development, the quality of city services and the development of Prescott’s regional airport.

Among the candidates who have shared their ideas with Prescott eNews, there isbroad consensus on many issues. The most important thing they agree about is theimportance of supporting Prescott Mayor Phil Goode, who is running unopposed for reelection. Mayor Goode was elected two years ago in a landmark election that changed the direction of our local government.

With the election of Mr. Goode in 2021 and Councilwoman Cathey Rusing in 2019, Prescott voters put the brakes on runaway development. Those elections were inresponse to a widespread perception that Prescott City Hall had fallen into the pocketsof developers who were undermining Prescott’s small town feel. Long term agreements had been entered into that favored developers over current residents andput Prescott’s water portfolio at risk. The loss of open space and threats to our scenic beauty and natural assets like the Dells galvanized citizens into a voting block opposed to overly rapid development. None of the candidates who have interviewed with Prescott eNews wants to turn back the clock. All favor some form of more limited and sustainable growth that protects our quality of life.

For the many voters who many not have had a chance to meet the candidates or hearfrom them directly, we are posting these brief but substantive discussions onthe issues important to the future of Prescott. We also plan to post them on oursocial media accounts with Facebook and Twitter. If you find these interviewshelpful, please let us know, and share them.

• Cathey Rusing, City Council candidates, Connie Cantelme, development, growth, incumbents, Lois Fruhwirth, long term agreements, Mayor Phil Goode, policies, Prescott, taxes, Ted Gambogi, video interviews, water