The July 30th Primary Election seems to have ran smoothly and in many cases many of the local races were able to be determined early the next morning. Many of the County primary elections have determined who will take the seat in January, since there is not a candidate from the opposing party.
Kearny: Mayor Curtis Stacy will remain in office for another two year, following his victory against current Councilmember David Herrera. Three candidates have won the council seats, lead vote getter Jay Wernett received 341 votes, Joanne Lerma received 340 votes and incumbent Councilmember Christian Rios won his seat with 255 votes. Arnold Mariscal (257 votes) was the front runner for the two year council seat beating his opponent Shawnna Whithurst (157 votes).
Hayden: Voters in Hayden re-elected current Mayor Dean Hetrrick for another term. The Town of Hayden will have at least three council seats to be filled by appointment.
Mammoth: The votes were close in the run for Mammoth Mayor. Ernest Bustamante is the lead vote getter with 87 votes followed closely behind Patsy Armenta with 76 votes, Debora Foster had 51 votes. At press time it was not determined if there would need to be a run off between Bustamante and Armenta, Arizona State Law requires that municipal elections must receive fifty percent of the vote plus one to be declared the winner.
Michael Martinez (125 votes) and Anne Martinez (106 votes) were the lead vote getters for the two council seats. Joe Brewer (74 votes) and Brett Larrimore (71 votes). In the recall election to recall Alvaro Barcelo, Barcelo received 103 votes to keep his seat over Alice Soto-Martinez who received 86 votes. Barcelo will remain in his seat.
Superior: Superior had three council seats open and three candidates who ran for the seats. Incumbent candidate Vanessa Navarrette was the lead vote getter with 356 votes followed by Jed Lant with 291 votes and Christopher Tomerlin with 289 votes. These three candidates will be sworn in to their seats in December. Councilmember Olga Lopez and Bruce Armitage did not seek re-election.
Proposition 483, the Town of Superior Home Rule election also passed with 313 votes in favor of the proposition and 123 against.
Winkelman: Louis Bracamonte and Anita Hinojos will keep their seats on the Winkelman Town Council. Once seated the Winkelman Town Council will appoint their Mayor.
County Supervisor: Gila County Supervisor Woody Cline faced an opponent in the Republican primary against candidate Kelly Parks. Cline won the seat and will remain the Gila County Supervisor representing the Hayden/Winkelman area. Cline does not have any opposition from the Democratic Party in the November election.
Pinal County Supervisor Jeff Serdy District 5 and Jeff McClure both kept their seats after facing opposition in the primary. They will not have any opposition from the Democratic Party. They will start their new terms in January.
County Sheriff: Ross Teeple who was endorsed by Sheriff Mark Lamb will face Patrick Melvin for the Pinal County Sheriff position in November.
Gila County Sheriff Adam Shepard remained the lead vote getter and will retain his seat, he does not have any opposition in the November Election.
Federal Offices: Pinal County Sheriff lost his bid in the Republican primary against Kari Lake. Lake will face Rep. Ruben Gallego for the U.S. Senate Seat. Rep. Eli Crane won his primary and will face Jonathan Nez for Congressional District 2 seat.
Legislative Seats – District 7: At press time, incumbent Wendy Rodgers is beating Rep. David Cook in the Republican Primary. The race is still to close to call. One of them will face Haley Creighton or Roberto Reveles. The Democratic primary race has yet to be called.
Walt Blackman and David Marshall Sr. will be the Republican Candidates in the November General Election for the Legislative District 7 race. They will face Democrats, Kevin Chiquete and Nancy Hartle.