Several Key races in Valley Today

The Valley will see many interesting races today.  Mesa will be selecting a new mayor, or at least narrowing the field down.  Three candidates are looking to replace Keno Hawker as Mesa’s mayor.  Vice Mayor Claudia Walters, Councilman Rex Griswold and businessman Scott Smith are all locked in a dead heat.  If one candidate does not receive at least 50% a runoff will be held on May 20th. 

Another interesting race to watch today is in Fountain Hills where voters will need to decided between former Mayor Jerry Miles and Councilman Jay Schlum who are engaged in a battle to replace retiring mayor Wally Nichols. 

A different kind of election will be held in Surprise.  Councilwomen Gwyn Foro is facing a challenge from former planning board and zoning Commissioner Skip Hall in a recall election.  The recall election is a mail-in ballot election that ends today. A third name, Chet Neier appears on the ballot although Neier has since withdrawn from the election.

If you live in Surprise and have not mailed your ballot back yet you can drop them off at City Hall between 6am and 7pm today.  If you didn’t receive a ballot or lost it you can puck up a replacement at City Hall today.

The leaders of the recall effort say Foro should be recalled because she has misspent funds and they do like the way she treats constituents. 

In Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman faces Derek Lull, an 18 year old write-in candidate.  The popular Mayor is expected to be easily reelected.