Bunch unanimously elected vice mayor
By Linda Bentley | June 3, 2009
Recount for final council seat Thursday at 1 p.m.
CAVE CREEK – After being sworn in, council, minus the one member yet to be decided in a recount or “draw by lot,” unanimously elected Councilman Ernie Bunch vice mayor.
Councilman Dick Esser, who nominated Bunch, said, “Councilman Bunch doesn’t say much, but what he says makes sense.”
Councilman Ralph Mozilo, who offered the second, said, “I just want to see if he can talk more.”
Bunch proved to be the most popular councilman with citizens as well, garnering the top number of votes during the primary election.
Council appointed Shelley Anderson to fill the planning commission term vacated by Councilman Jim Bruce through Dec. 31, 2011 and Peter Omundson for the seat vacated by Councilman Steve LaMar through Dec. 31, 2010.
Both will be seated for Thursday’s planning commission meeting at which four major general plan amendments will be heard.
Anderson is a horse owner who has lived in Cave Creek for three years, although she has resided in the Scottsdale area since 1962.
Omundson is a 20-year resident of Cave Creek who has previously served on the planning commission during the mid to late 1990s.
With the election of Mozilo to council creating a vacancy of a regular voting member of the Water Advisory Committee, council unanimously voted to appoint Richard Bartholomew to fill that seat.
Mozilo recommended the appointment of Bartholomew, who had been serving as an alternate member on the Water Advisory Board, commenting he has been very active, had already taken a leadership role and is extremely knowledgeable in technical areas.
Mayor Vincent Francia announced Maricopa County Elections will be performing the recount of votes at 1 p.m. on Thursday and it is open to the public. The recount will be held at the Maricopa County Elections building located at Third Avenue and Lincoln Street, which is south of the railroad tracks approximately five blocks south of Jefferson Street.
Photo: Following Town Clerk Carrie Dyrek’s swearing in each of the elected council members and mayor, Councilman Ernie Bunch, the top vote-getter in the March election, was unanimously elected vice mayor.
Photo by Linda Bentley