Phoenix District 7 voters' guide to the 2024 City Council candidates
ARIZONA ELECTION 2024
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Phoenix voters who live in parts of downtown and the southwest portion of the city that make up District 7 will see the most competitive City Council race on the ballot this November.
Voters will cast two votes for who should represent the district: A vote for the "special vacancy election" and the "regular election." The winner of the special election will represent District 7 through April 2025, and the winner of the regular will represent District 7 for a permanent, 4-year term starting in April 2024.
District 7 voters will also cast a vote in the mayoral race and weigh in on Propositions 487, 488 and 489, which deal with the city budget, how the city should develop into the future and council pay.
Arizona election 2024: Who is running for mayor, city council?
Here's what you need to know about the Phoenix District 7 contests, specifically.
Three candidates in the special vacancy election, four in the regular election in Phoenix District 7
Martyn Bridgeman and former Phoenix Councilman Michael Nowakowski are challenging incumbent Councilman Carlos Galindo-Elvira in the special contest. Galindo-Elvira was appointed to the City Council in April after Yassamin Ansari resigned her seat as District 7 councilwoman to run for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Ansari defeated her opponent in the Democratic primary in July and is now facing off against Republican Jeff Zink in November to represent Arizona's Third Congressional District.
For the permanent, 4-year term, District 7 voters will choose between Martyn Bridgeman, former Phoenix Councilman Michael Nowakowski, State Sen. Anna Hernandez and former State Rep. Marcelino Qui?onez.
Why are some Phoenix District 7 candidates running in one contest but not the other?
Galindo-Elvira promised not to run for the permanent seat when he was appointed, saying he didn't want to use the appointment as a launch pad for his political aspirations.
Incumbents have a built-in advantage at the ballot box, and it's been a point of consternation on the Phoenix City Council that appointees get that leg up when they run for the seat in their own right. Some say it feels unfair given those appointees were never initially elected by the voters. In other words, some on the City Council see the appointment process as City Council choosing an appointee and giving them an automatic advantage on election day, which feels like the City Council has more of a say in the District's representative than the voters.
Galindo-Elvira sought to avoid that from the outset. But he decided to run for the temporary race for the sake of continuity. Because of the vacancy left by Ansari, voters have to choose a temporary councilmember to serve after the November election through April. If Galindo-Elvira didn't run, it increased the chance that District 7 would see three representatives in rapid succession: he would hold the seat until the November election, the special election winner would hold the seat through April, and then a new winner could hold the seat after that.
More: How a Phoenix council district could have up to 4 different representatives in 13 months
Hernandez and Qui?onez didn't run for the special vacancy election because Arizona lawmakers are barred from holding another elected office during the duration of their term. If they won the special contest, they would have been seated while they're still technically supposed to be state lawmakers.
Qui?onez was widely rumored to be interested in the District 7 appointment last April, and even resigned his seat at the Legislature in what appeared to be preparation to apply for the City Council. But he didn't ultimately seek the appointment and instead filed to run for the permanent seat in May.
Continuity of representation a major factor for Phoenix voters
Depending on the outcome this November, District 7 voters could see four different representatives in a 13-month time span: Ansari, Galindo-Elvira, a special election winner and a regular election winner.
After Ansari resigned, city rules forced two things: the sitting city councilmembers needed to appoint a temporary replacement, which was Galindo-Elvira, and they needed to call a special vacancy election for voters to select a temporary replacement.
The city had to schedule that special election at the soonest but also most cost-efficient opportunity. That happened to be in November, when the District 7 seat was already up for re-election.
The result? Two contests on one ballot.
The best chance for District 7 voters to have as continuous representation as possible would be the following:
Re-elect Galindo-Elvira, then choose a new permanent council member.
Elect either Bridgeman or Nowakowski for both the special and regular elections.
Either of those two options would ensure District 7 sees only two representatives now through April 2025. However, continuity of representation is just one factor for voters to consider. Other values may outweigh any desire for consistency.
Who's running in Phoenix District 7? Meet the candidates
Here's a brief summary on each of the candidates.
Martyn Bridgeman (running for special and regular elections): He's a real estate agent who was born and raised in Phoenix and has lived in downtown since 2014. Bridgeman, 40, is board chair at Phoenix Center for the Arts and is on the board of THE SEEN, an LGBTQIA+ nonprofit. As a councilmember, Bridgeman said he would prioritize accessibility.
Carlos Galindo-Elvira (running for special election only): Appointed to the seat in April 2024, Galindo-Elvira said he is running to ensure continuity of governance. As a councilmember, Galindo-Elvira has pledged his paychecks to District 7 nonprofit organizations and has stressed the importance of being out in the community, interacting directly with residents.
Anna Hernandez (running for regular election): She's a state senator who formerly worked in the mortgage industry and hotel business. Hernandez, 42, pursued elected office after Phoenix police officers killed her brother. She is passionate about police accountability and advocated for the city's Office of Accountability and Transparency.
Michael Nowakowski (running for special and regular elections): A former Phoenix City Councilman for 13 years. Nowakowski previously worked for the Diocese of Phoenix and the Cesar Chavez Foundation. The 60-year-old said he felt compelled to run for City Council again because residents regularly approach him asking for help with city issues. His tenure was marked by several controversies at the end.
Marcelino Qui?onez (running for regular election): A former educator and state legislator, Qui?onez said he wants to join City Council because it provides a more direct opportunity to affect issues he's passionate about, such as housing, education and the arts. Qui?onez, 40, said he wants the city to work on after-school programs for children, lifting up young artists and entrepreneurs and fostering more trust between residents and Phoenix police officers.
What are District 7 candidates' positions on Phoenix issues?
The Arizona Republic asked all Phoenix mayoral and regular-election City Council candidates questions about where they stand on housing, policing, economic development and their hopes for the future. Read their answers.
How do I vote?
Election Day is Nov. 5. Early voting began on Oct. 9. The deadline to register to vote to be able to participate in the election was Oct. 7.
Voters can check their status or request a mail-in ballot on Maricopa Countyโs website.
Those who choose to vote by mail are advised to mail their ballot by Oct. 29 or drop it off at a ballot drop-off location or voting location by Nov. 5.
Here's a link to the Phoenix election publicity pamphlet, which contains information from the city about what voters should know for the election.
Catch up on the District 7 race
Nowakowski forced to defend record after progressives target his past
Phoenix District 7 council candidate withdraws from race after being accused of forging signatures
Phoenix voters to decide if mayor, council deserve first pay raise in nearly 20 years
Phoenix Mayor Gallego launches 2024 re-election bid focusing on economy, sustainability
Former Arizona state lawmaker Marcelino Qui?onez files to run for Phoenix City Council
See all the races for Arizona
Voter guide: Election Day is Nov. 5. Here is a guide to help you learn about all the candidates and the voting and tabulating process.
Taylor Seely covers Phoenix for The Arizona Republic / azcentral.com. Reach her at [email protected] or by phone at 480-476-6116.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix City Council District 7 election: Who's running?
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