There’s a strong possibility that two or more four-year terms will be decided when the City of Yuma’s primary election takes place Tuesday, August 27, 2013 with early voting currently under way.
That’s because in the City of Yuma, any candidate who receives at least 50 percent plus one vote among all the votes cast will win the seat and will not participate in the general election. In two of the races, Mayor and Presiding Municipal Court Judge, only two names appear on the ballot.
In addition to mayor, city voters in the upcoming election will select three city council members and a new presiding municipal judge.
Currently, the three open council seats are held by Paul Johnson, Bobbi Lewis and Jerry Stuart. Johnson, a longtime councilman, is the only one seeking re-election.
Early voting is under way now for the primary election. The deadline for requesting early ballots by mail from the Yuma County Recorder’s Office is Friday, August 16, 2013. Additionally, early voting may be done in person from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the office of the Yuma County Recorder, 410 S. Maiden Lane (south side of Giss Parkway).
The 50-percent-plus-one-vote threshold also applies in the races for three seats on the Yuma City Council. Should any candidate pass that threshold, he or she will be elected to the seat and bypass the general election. Nine candidates are on the ballot.
The results of the primary election will leave a total of two candidates remaining for each seat, meaning at least one will be eliminated from participating in the November general election. Additional eliminations will occur for each candidate elected through the 50-percent-plus-one rule.
Those receiving early ballots are asked to return them as promptly as possible. Due to the signature verification process used to count early ballots, failure to return them “early” can result in a lengthy delay in releasing the final vote count.
The mayoral, council and presiding judge races are the only items on the City primary ballot. There are no propositions for voters to consider.
Each seat is for a four-year term commencing January 1, 2014 and ending December 31, 2017.
Candidates:
Mayor
Mendoza, Raul
Kretzer, Jack
Nicholls, Douglas
Council Member
Abplanalp, Laukas
Craft, William
Huff, M. Renee
Johnson, Paul
Knight, Gary
Miller, Jacob
Parsels, Keith
Sanchez, Daniel
Wright, Gary
Municipal Judge
Coil, James
Wren, Dale