In the latest special appointment, Phoenix City Council named Felicita Mendoza as the interim District 8 Council member, in a five to two vote, Tuesday.
Mendoza will fill the seat left by Kate Gallego, who resigned earlier this month in order to run for Mayor next year. Mendoza most recently acted as chief of staff to District 7 council member Michael Nowakowski.
Mayor Greg Stanton stepped down in May in order to run for the U.S. House of Representatives in Arizona’s 9th Congressional District. Both Councilwoman Gallego from District 8 and Daniel Valenzuela of District 5 resigned from their positions in order to run for Mayor, triggering the need to fill their positions.
Sixteen candidates spoke to the council Tuesday morning, vouching for their capability to fill the spot. Many shared similar views on topics, and interim Mayor Thelda Williams acknowledged the qualifications of the candidates.
Mendoza emphasized her concerns for infrastructure, transportation and addressing crime in District 8. She said she looks forward to working on these issues during her temporary time in office. She said her political experience stems from her work as a former Phoenix city staff member.
Mendoza’s appointment is the second appointment in recent weeks, after appointing Vania Guevara to fill the District 5 position. Guevara opposed Mendoza’s appointment. An official election for the District 8 seat for the remaining portion of Gallego’s term will be held in March.
Mendoza could potentially vote on the future South Phoenix light rail extension, an idea which sparked controversy when she applied. The Urban Phoenix Project PAC, started a petition to protest Mendoza’s application.
It called for the appointment of a lightrail advocate, and argued, “Nowakowski cannot be allowed to gain a second vote on the Council by appointing his chief of staff to lead the other half of South Phoenix.”
Vice Mayor Jim Waring said choosing Mendoza was with the city’s best intentions in mind. Waring said electing an interim that was unable to run for the permanent position allowed fresh blood to join the city council at the next Special Election. Councilwoman Laura Pastor countered Jim Waring and was the sole opposer of electing Mendoza. Pastor disagreed with electing a former city staff member into the interim position.
Deputy City Clerk Ben Lane, who worked for the city of Phoenix for 15 years, said there have been vacancies in the past, but acknowledged the situation was unusual, and did not believe it had happened in such a short period of time.
Lawrence Robinson, one of the candidates said he was passionate about reaching out to the community if he claimed the position.
“If we don’t start at the neighborhoods, we have nothing,” Robinson said. Robinson recently was elected member of the Roosevelt School District Governing Board and is involved in several community projects.
Robinson felt that his personal relationships with the community is something that taught him about District 8 as a whole.
“People trust you if they’ve seen you in your living room,” Robinson said. “When there’s no press – and no camera,” Robinson said, “That is activist work.”
Robinson was not the only man of faith that applied for the position. Dr. George Brooks, Jr., grew up with his father as a pastor.
“I don’t know if my faith necessarily sets me apart from other people,” he said. Brooks added that since he was raised Presbyterian, one of the critical messages is to serve the needs of others. “I think this is right up that line,”
Contact the reporter at ajcutler@asu.edu.
