While the Aug. 2 Primary Election results are still unofficial, those with the highest number of vote counts in Camp Verde are merely awaiting the Yavapai County Recorder’s final tally of provisional ballots before declaring formal victory.
A representative from the town stated the town cannot officially call the election results until the county completes the provisional ballot tally.
“I was hoping [the county] would have given us a final report this week, but we didn’t see one come through,” the representative said on Friday.
As of Monday, August 9, the county has recorded a total of 7,309 votes for town council and 2,958 votes for mayor.
Incumbent Mayor Dee Jenkins received an overwhelming majority of votes at 2,201, or 74%, while her opponent, hotel operations manager Reason Shipley received 757, or 25%.
Jenkins stated, “It is humbling to know that so many Camp Verde voters support me and approve of the job I am doing.”
In an email, Jenkins listed some of her main priorities:
- Providing affordable housing
- Additional grocery stores, restaurants and shopping opportunities
- Completion of the sports complex
- Marketing and support of existing businesses
- Main Street improvements and infrastructure expansion
- Ensuring adequate health care services are available in town
- Re-organization of town operations to better serve the community
- Adjudication of the Verde River
- Managing the growth that will provide needed jobs and at the same time making sure the rural Western lifestyle is maintained, character areas are not compromised, and neighborhoods remain friendly places to live
“Many of these items may be completed within the next couple of years but many others are long term projects that require attention now to make sure they are completed in the future,” she said.
While Shipley did not immediately respond to The Camp Verde Journal’s request for comment, he appeared to be in good spirits on social media, thanking voters for their support in a recent post.
“Thank you to all my supporters! Thank you for all the votes! I contacted the mayor this morning, and had a nice conversation congratulating her, and wishing her the best. New campaign for 2024 will kick off soon! Stay tuned!,” he said.
WINS: Moore, Escoffier, Whatley in lead, though count not yet official
While the mayoral race saw such clearly defined numbers, the council race saw much tighter numbers, with four candidates vying for three open seats.
Among the four candidates, incumbent councilwoman and downtown business owner Marie Moore received the highest percentage of votes at 28%.
“I am so very grateful that the voting residents expressed such confidence in me and I look forward to working with the residents and staff for the next four years,” she said.
“A few of my priority goals include focusing on our Main Street, its businesses and attraction to tourists,” she said. “I am working diligently in the pursuit of setting up community meetings where our residents may attend in a more casual meeting setting where specific topics are discussed and the residents voices are heard and set in motion. I also am advocating for more involvement with our youth, the school system and our local businesses to help educate and gain skills before our kids graduate high school.”
Closely behind Moore, former community planner Wendy Escoffier received 26%, followed by incumbent councilwoman and retired educator Robin Whatley with 23% and former chairman of the Camp Verde Planning & Zoning Commission, Robert Foreman with 22%.
Escoffier stated she is “very excited for the opportunity to serve my community as a council member” and spoke about issues that she wants to focus on over the next four years.
“Our town is beginning to see both commercial and residential growth on a scale not experienced before,” she said. “Preparing our town for this growth is crucial. I am excited to be part of the council that will align the zoning codes to the general plan ratified by voters in 2016. Making sure the zoning codes and policies are updated and in place will guide our future development.”
Other projects Escoffier mentioned include the realignment of the Montezuma Highway and Main Street intersection and continued efforts to secure water rights.
“All of the projects I have mentioned and many others are in progress and I am excited to be part of the council that will see them completed or at least moved along to completion,” she said.
While it is likely that the current results are indicative of placement, there is a slim chance that provisional votes could flip Whatley and Foreman’s positions, as there are currently only 88 votes between them.
“We don’t know how many provisionals there are and so that could change or not change at all,” the town representative said.
Whatley did not immediately respond to the JOURNAL’s request for comment, however, Foreman said “I will continue to do what I can for Camp Verde in whatever capacity God allows me to.”
“Marie, Wendy and Robin are friends of mine, and they are all very nice, intelligent, capable ladies and they will each and every one of them represent Camp Verde well,” he said.
Assuming the results stand, Foreman said he plans to go camping in the near future with his dog, Roxy.
