By Greg Friestad
The following is an update to an article previously published by the Payson News on 9/2/22 about the write-in candidate process in Payson.
On August 23, 2022 Barbara Buntin filed all the appropriate paperwork to register with the Town of Payson to be a write-in candidate for Mayor of Payson in the General Election. Arizona statutes require candidates to register with the appropriate agency before those write-in votes can be accepted and counted.
On August 25. 2022, Barbara received a letter from the town denying her registration as a write-in candidate for Mayor of Payson. The denial was based on the contract town attorney’s interpretation of Payson code 30.07 (c) and ARS 9-821.01 (f). A follow-up request also received the same denial.
Many people do not agree with the Town’s denial of Barbara’s request to be a write-in candidate because they know that councilwoman Suzy Tubbs was elected as a write-in candidate. Contrary to the opinions expressed by the town, the associated codes have not changed since Suzy Tubbs was elected.
Payson code 30.07 (C) is a virtual copy of ARS 9-821.01(F) and both are written, as their titles state, to clarify the process for declaring candidates elected outright in the primary election or, if no candidate receives a majority of the votes, which candidates (from the primary election can advance to the General election). Again, these codes were written only to determine who won outright in the Primary or who advances to the General Election and do not prohibit write-in candidates in the General Election.
Based on Contract Town Attorney Jon Paladini’s interpretation of these codes there can never again be a write-in candidate for Payson mayor or council in the General Election. A contract employee is determining how the people of Payson elect their council and mayor and that just does not seem right, especially when the Town’s past experience with Mr. Paladini’s legal advice has been suspect. Please utilize the following link to a 911 call to hear some of that history when he worked in Prescott AZ. [HERE]
I ask all our readers to write-in Barbara Buntin for Mayor of Payson on your ballot as a protest vote. Your write-in vote will not be officially counted but town hall will hear the message loud and clear.
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