Wink-Wink > District 3 Drama : What's Next?

Trying to get ahead of the narrative - or to state exactly what the narrative will be - within an hour of the "Special City Council Meeting" for a public hearing held on week-day in a work-week before a major holiday when workers have other things on their mind - members of the non-judicial branch of government here in Mesa did pass judgment on District 3 elected representative Ryan Winkle 2 hours and 39 minutes into "a public hearing that started @ 07:30 in the early morning on Thu 31 August of the so-called "determination", Mr. Winkle's public service to elected office was terminated.

Keep in mind this was a DIRECT VOTE by the people who live in District 3 - that's why a DIRECT VOTE BY THE PEOPLE is necessary to fill the position for 18 more months in the term. If past practices of the entrenched political machine are any clue to what 'The good ole' boys' plan to do, they will hand-select a chosen successor for a temporary appointment. In a representative democracy this is not the way it works.

Whether or not the City Charter "allows" a temporary appointment is way off the mark.
It is up to the people who live in District 3 to directly vote for the candidate they choose to represent their interests NOT a temporary appointment

Within one hour - an usually fast time for follow-up to any actions of any kind by the Mesa City Council - where few members of the public even know know what's on the meeting agendas, or even know who represents the districts where they live and vote - the first of two press releases were made online from the City's "newsroom" revealing the plans to replace the popular City Council member after he requested a voluntary suspension from the city council that effectively removed him from performing the duties of office just five months after gaining office in a hard-fought election campaign where he defeated an opponent hand-chosen and endorsed by Mayor John Giles and other members of the entrenched political machine who have exercised undisputed control for generations.

Now that Ryan Winkle has self-destroyed his own public trust and credibility by an incident of getting-caught lying on police body-cam evidence made public during an apprehension for drunk driving, who will take his place to elected office is now up-for-grabs.     

Plans to fill the seat were made public after 4 pm on the same day before noon and after three hours of hearing evidence that the Council voted unanimously that Winkle is no longer able to represent the residents of District 3 and the City of Mesa. 
There's more than a year left in the term of office


WHO WILL BE CHOSEN? ...Will a quick election be held in November 2017 or will someone be appointed for 18 months 


Citizen engagement is missing in the way government functions here in Mesa - faults in the way representative democracy is supposed to work




Two announcements from the City Of Mesa Newsroom

1. Disciplinary hearing results regarding Councilmember Ryan Winkle

 Post Date: 08/31/2017 11:39 AM     

Mesa City Council, at a special meeting this morning, determined that Councilmember Ryan Winkle will forfeit the office of City Council effective immediately as a result of his DUI conviction.
The Mesa City Charter allows City Council to discipline its members in order to uphold the integrity of the office of Mesa City Councilmember. On May 7, Winkle was arrested for DUI and subsequently pled guilty to extreme DUI.
After nearly three hours of testimony, based on all the evidence at the hearing, including the DUI arrest and conviction, Council voted unanimously that Winkle is no longer able to represent the residents of District 3 and the City of Mesa. 

Council to any actions of any kind by the Mesa City Council - where few members of the public even know what's on the meeting agendas, or who represents the districts where they live and vote.
The process to fill the vacancy in District 3 will be announced shortly.

 

. . . less than 5 hour later

2 Mesa seeks to fill temporary City Council seat

Post Date: 08/31/2017 4:01 PM     

District 3 residents interested in serving their community are encouraged to apply for a temporary appointment to the Mesa City Council.
The temporary Council seat term will end in the fall of 2018.
Any voter who has resided in District 3 for a period of no less than two (2) years is eligible to apply.
Applications will be available online beginning Tuesday, Sept. 5 at: http://www.mesaaz.gov/D3application.
Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 19.
On Thursday, Sept. 21, during the Council’s regularly scheduled study session, Councilmembers will discuss applications and select interview candidates.
The following week, on Sept. 28, the Council will interview the candidates and appoint the District 3 Councilmember during a Special Council Meeting that morning.

The resident appointed to fill the temporary Council position will serve as Mesa’s District 3 representative until a new Councilmember is elected and sworn into office. 
 Elections for a permanent District 3 Councilmember will be held in August 2018, with a run-off in November 2018, if necessary.
 
Office of Public Information & Communication
Contact: Steven Wright, Director
Tel. 480-644-2069 steven.wright@mesaaz.gov