Voting may be a sacred civic duty, but for those who want to take it a step further and actively participate in local government, time is running out.
There’s a Dec. 10 deadline to have all the proper paperwork filed to run for one of the five open seats on the Camp Verde Town Council.
It takes a lot of work to do the job justice, and it only pays $50 a month, but already at least seven people are considering throwing their hat into the ring for next year’s elections.
Seats up for grabs include a two-year term for mayor now occupied by Tony Gioia, three four-year seats currently held by Bob Kovacovich, Ron Smith and Brenda Hauser, and the remaining two years for the seat held by Greg Elmer.
Elmer, citing the need to spend more time at work and with family, resigned from the council effective Sunday, Nov. 30.
Gioia and Kovacovich have already signed out paperwork signaling a possible run for reelection.
They are joined by Robin Whatley, Samuel Plunkett, George McClure and Tim Sykes, all considering a run for a four-year term on the council.
Whatley and Sykes previously applied for a seat on the board left vacant by former Councilman Mike Perry. Whatley, who had previously worked as Gioia’s campaign manager, failed to garner enough council votes for the appointment and Sykes, at the time, didn’t meet residency requirements that require council members to live inside the political boundaries of Camp Verde.
It doesn’t matter if someone’s mail has a Camp Verde address, candidates need to make sure they live inside town limits.
The seat ultimately was awarded to Charlie German.
A seventh contender, Raymond Williams, is considering a run to fill the remainder of Elmer’s two-year term.
A candidate must have at least 67 signatures from registered Camp Verde voters, and the paperwork on the desk of the town clerk no later than Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 5 p.m.
Mark Lineberger
Larson Newspapers
