There will be two propositions on the July 30 ballot taking Cave Creek to four-year, staggered terms for Mayor and Council members. If passed, at any time at least half of the Council will have experience and knowledge of Town issues and activities. According to former Mayor Jackie Davis, when Cave Creek was first incorporated, it had four-year terms. It’s time to return to the Town’s original intention.
The expertise list for a well-prepared Cave Creek Mayor or Council Member is lengthy. The ideal candidate would have a resume that includes contract law, accounting, utility operations, engineering, communications and public speaking, finance, human resource management, fire and police experience, and city planning, among other specialties.
Of course there isn’t a candidate with a resume that accomplished. All of us must learn on the job, which takes time and hard work. The current two-year term creates a churning stream of elected officials who are learning on the job!
Recall the saying about Cave Creek, “The Town Too Tough to Govern.” My observation is that the current system is largely responsible for that label.
And it has real impacts. By Arizona law, without an approved budget, towns cannot spend money to operate. Last year, newly elected and inexperienced Council members voted to shut down the Cave Creek water, fire, police, street repairs, and stop paying employees by voting against the 2024 budget. The budget barely passed by 4-3 vote. It was a vote that shocked the municipal government community in Arizona with comparisons to the “Quartzite” situation of several years ago.
The Town has an exceptionally high turnover in critical staff members. The unknowns and turmoil caused by elections every two years create anxiety and an unstable environment with the low experience levels created by two-year Council terms. It also inhibits qualified individuals from applying for positions, including our recent recruitment for Town Manager.
The Arizona Republic reported that Cave Creek “is among a handful of tiny Valley towns that sends all of their elected officials to the ballot every two years.” Carefree voted in 4 years terms last election. The Towns we compete with for talent–Scottsdale, Phoenix, Fountain Hills, Chandler, Peoria, Gilbert, Maricopa and Glendale all have 4-year terms.
Please vote Yes on 4-year staggered Mayoral and Council terms to ensure the continuity of effective Town government.
Cave Creek Mayor Bob Morris
and Vice Mayor Kathryn Royer
