Seven people collected paperwork to run for four seats opening up on the Cottonwood City Council.
Seats currently held by Vice Mayor Karen Pfeifer, Councilwoman Linda Norman, and Councilmen Tim Elinski and James Chapman are up for grabs in the city’s primary election Tuesday, March 10.
Pfeifer, Norman and Elinski are among the seven, but Chapman does not plan to run for another term.
“It was a heartbreaking decision to not run,” Chapman said. He’s served on the council since March 2008 when he was appointed to fill a vacant seat.
Cottonwood residents deserve council members who can devote themselves 100 percent to the job, according to Chapman, and right now he just can’t do that.
Chapman said he’d love to run again, but right now it just isn’t right. He is a single father and with the economy in the state it’s in, he said he may have to take another job.
Four other packets were picked up by Ruben Jauregin, a former Cottonwood mayor, Mike Baker, Bob Oliphant and Darold Smith.
Pfeifer, Norman and Elinski all said they have unfinished business with the city they’d like to see through.
“I still enjoy [it], and I know I’m doing a good job,” Pfeifer said.
Pfeifer’s served on the council for the past 14 years and lived in Cottonwood for 30. She said people in the community asked her to run again.
Norman has been working with the Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority since mid-2006 and wants to be involved in creating and implementing a five-year plan for Cottonwood Area Transit System.
“I think there’s a lot to be done yet,” Norman said.
Three years ago Elinski was appointed to fill a vacant seat and he said he’s not ready to give it up.
The city faces important decisions in the future, particularly with regard to the economy and annexation of property, and Elinski said he wants to take part in shaping the city’s future.
Cottonwood residents have until Wednesday, Dec. 10, to turn in completed election packets to be included on the March 10 ballot.
Trista Steers can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 124, or e-mail tsteers@larsonnewspapers.com
