FYI: The Mayor + The Mesa City Council > Tell Me Again How's That Supposed To Work?

According to The City of Mesa webpage , Mesa operates under a charter form of government with citizens electing a mayor and six councilmembers to set policy for the City.

Mesa's councilmembers serve terms of four-years, with three members being elected every two years. The mayor is elected at-large every four years. The mayor and council are elected on a non-partisan basis. The vice mayor is selected by the City Council.
The Mesa City Council believes that its people not leaders, are what makes a City great and actively works to encourage citizen participation in the decision-making process. That's the lip-service out in the public domain [italics for emphasis by your MesaZona blogger].

Hello! Mesa! WE HAVE A PROBLEM: Less than 50% of registered voters actually turned out to vote on issues in 2014 and less than 28% turned out to vote for the mayor and City Council members in the last primary election [the same seats to be filled in this year's election]:

Voter Turnout Statistics [from the city clerk's office for 2014]]
Voter Registration 222,290
Ballots Cast 96,646
Voter Turnout 43.5%
Voter Turnout Statistics [in the August 28, 2012 Primary Election Results]
Voter Registration 223,295
Ballots Cast 61,879
Voter Turnout 27.7%

• Mayor Scott Smith got 53,302
• District #1 Councilmember Dave Richins got 10,511
• District #2 Councilmember Alex Finter got 8,668
• District #3 Councilmember Dennis Kavanagh got 6,227

Mayor John Giles is up for re-election after one year in office.
City Councilmember terms expire in District #1, District #2 and District #3.

Whether it is through neighborhood meetings, advisory boards and committees, telephone calls and letters, or email, the Mesa City Council sets policies based on the input and needs of its citizens.
Mayor John Giles
Councilmember Dave Richins - District 1
Councilmember Alex Finter - District 2
Vice Mayor Dennis Kavanaugh - District 3
Councilmember Christopher Glover - District 4
Councilmember David Luna- District 5
Councilmember Kevin Thompson - District 6

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION GUIDE
Go to this link >> http://mesaaz.gov/residents/get-involved 
As a citizen you can take an active role in shaping Mesa government policies, programs and decisions.

Participating in government can be as simple as voting at each election.

One of the greatest challenges of governance is finding a balance between the interests of the community as a whole and those who have a special stake in a particular issue.
Citizens can help strike that balance by looking for solutions that work for the entire community, not just a small group.
Although participating does not always mean prevailing, it does make government a partnership effort. That's something positive, because when citizens are actively involved in their government, decisions can better reflect the will of the people.

Speak at a Council Study Session or Meeting
The Mesa City Council believes that providing access for citizens to communicate with the Council is vital for a strong representative local government.  The following are methods in which to express your opinion at various Council meetings.

1. Agenda Items

At regular Monday Council meetings, blue Speaker/Comment cards are available for citizens who wish to comment on agenda items. Or, you may download a copy of the comment card [PDF] and hand it in at the Council meeting.

Please note items listed on the agenda with an asterisk are part of the consent agenda. [according to Robert's Rules of Orders, every City Councilmember is required go read and understand every item on the consent agenda - blogger's note]

Items on the consent agendas will be adopted with one motion and vote if no citizen or Councilmember requests that it be removed from the consent agenda for separate consideration.

If you wish to speak on a consent agenda item, you must submit your request to speak before the vote on the consent agenda.  Speakers are limited to three minutes each.

2. Items from Citizens Present

Citizens are provided an opportunity to address the Council on any issue under an agenda item titled "Items from Citizens Present." 

This item appears on the agenda of every regular Monday Council meeting and Thursday Study Session. 

Blue Speaker/Comment cards are available for those who wish to comment.  Or, you may download a copy of the comment card [PDF] and hand it in during the meeting.

A maximum of three individual speakers is allowed at each meeting, and each speaker is allowed three minutes.

Note:  Because of the Open Meeting Law, the Council cannot take action on any item brought up by a citizen at the meeting, but may refer items for further study and follow-up.
Additional Note: Arizona Open Meeting Laws also say that councilmembers may not discuss with each other ahead of the meeting time any items that are on the agenda - this is for public discussion and to avoid "behind-the-scenes" deal-making.

ELECTION INFORMATION
City of Mesa holds regularly scheduled elections in the fall of even numbered years. 
The Mayor is elected at-large and Councilmembers are elected from six (6) geographic districts. 
Councilmembers serve overlapping terms, with three (3) Councilmembers elected at a time.
The next Primary election will be held on August 30, 2016, where the Mayor and Councilmembers in Districts 1, 2, and 3 will be elected.  
The General election will be held on November 8, 2016.
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of the City Clerk at (480) 644-4868.

Readers can find Past Elections Results on the underlined link to the City Clerk here.