Citizens of Holbrook are taking action against Mayor Merrill Young due to the lack of response on the part of the mayor and council in addressing the needs of citizens and employees of the city. The city has experienced an unprecedented loss of jobs, with nine vacancies at the city and five at the police department, with another city employee set to retire next month. The situation has led to low morale, a perceived inability to address the needs of the city and frustration among the citizens who believe their elected officials are non-responsive to their concerns.
As a result, a committee has filed for a recall against Mayor Young and is currently circulating petitions to have him removed from office and a new mayor selected in the August election.
Reasons cited in the recall include a statement that Mayor Young has failed to lead the city council in creating a strategic plan for the City of Holbrook and under his leadership has allowed City Manager Ted Soltis to manipulate and disregard proper procedures and decorum to the detriment of citizens and employees.
It accuses Young of allowing relations to degrade with outside municipalities and organizations, and that he has elevated the office of Mayor above what is authorized by the Charter.
It also states that Young has allowed City Manager Soltis to understaff the city workforce, eroding the safety and morale of city employees and of the residents of Holbrook.
Also noted is the cancellation of the 2020-2021 election cycle in violation of charter, which extended the terms of his office and that of council without a vote of the people.
According to the city’s charter, the first election for the offices of Mayor and Council members shall be held in 1995 and every two years thereafter, meaning that an election should have taken place in 2021 but did not.
During the April 22, 2021, council meeting, Young cited state law requiring that all towns and cities hold their primary and general election in accordance with state elections, according to A.R.S. 16-204.01 and 16-204.02, but that requirement only pertains to cities with a population of 175,000 or more persons.
In addition, under Arizona Constitution, a city’s charter empowers it to control the method and odd-year timing of its elections for its mayor and council members. That was upheld in a ruling by the Arizona Supreme Court and Court of Appeals on April 14, the week prior to the council meeting, in a court case brought forth by the City of Tucson where it was ruled that the charter-based system supersedes state law, because the city’s elections are matters of purely local concern.
Another concern was that by doing so, those elected officials in effect extended the office of the mayor and council members by their own vote.
Young is also accused of reaching beyond the charter duties allotted to the mayor and has given himself the responsibility to approve financial activity in concert with Soltis.
According to the city charter the scope of mayoral duties are limited. The mayor is allowed to make and second motions, and have a voice and vote in all council proceedings. The mayor shall be recognized as head of the City Government for all ceremonial purposes and by the Governor for purposes of martial law, and shall have executive, but no regular administrative, duties. The mayor shall appoint members to various committees, boards and commissions after due official notice to the public and with the consent of the council.
The recall statement also notes the cancelation of council meetings while the city faces many needs that are not being addressed and giving Soltis the authority to control the city council agenda and to direct the council in its activities.
To obtain the recall, the committee and petitioners must collect 123 signatures, one fourth of the total votes Young received when put into office. Those signatures must be collected by April in order to make the Aug. 2 election ballot. Though no official statement has been made, a least one citizen has indicated they would be willing to run for the office in the August primary election to replace Young.
Those interested in signing the petition are being asked to call or text (480) 415-5504 to be directed to someone who can provide it.
