Attachment A - Mayor Kate Gallego Memo - Council District 7 Vacancy.pdf

March 19, 2024 
To: 
Jeffrey Barton 
City Manager 
From:  Kate Gallego 
Mayor 
This memo outlines the procedure the City Council will use to fulfill its duty to appoint a new 
Councilmember to fill the expected District 7 vacancy. Councilwoman Yassamin Ansari has announced her 
intention to step down from the Council effective 3:00 p.m. March 28, 2024.  
I am committed to ensuring the vacancy is filled in the most open and transparent way possible, and in 
accordance with the strict guidelines set forth by the City Charter. Because there are more than 365 days 
remaining on the District 7 term, the Charter requires that several steps are taken in a short timeframe.  
After reviewing the Charter and the procedures used to fill past vacancies, I recommend the process 
outlined below, which complies with the Charter and the State’s Open Meetings Law. I will forward this 
memo to the City Clerk to be posted and made available to the public. 
Interim Council Seat 
1. The Charter mandates that the Council appoint a person to fill the vacancy on an interim basis, with
the term ending the first business day after the canvass of votes for the Special Vacancy Election.
This appointment must occur not less than 12 days, but no more than 15 days from the date of
vacancy. Therefore, I am adding this item to the agenda for the scheduled Policy Session on April
9, 2024, at 2:30 p.m. at the Council Chambers. At this time, the Council will hear from all interested
candidates and then select an interim appointed District 7 Councilmember.
2. Eligible residents who are interested in being considered for the interim appointment are strongly
encouraged to submit a letter of interest and a resume. Candidates must submit all materials to the
Phoenix City Clerk no later than 5 p.m. on April 8, 2024 (the deadline to submit falls on a Sunday,
therefore it is moved to the next business day, Monday the 8th). At that time the Clerk will distribute
copies of all submitted documents to the full council.
3. At the April 9, 2024, Policy Session, each interested candidate, in alphabetical order, will have up to
five minutes to make a statement to the Council. Once the Council has heard from every candidate,
the Council will be able to ask questions of the candidates. Once presentations and questions are
completed, the Council will vote to select the interim District 7 Councilmember. As allowed by the
Charter, any Councilmember may nominate a qualified individual to fill the vacancy, with no second
required. The Council will vote on candidates in the order in which they were nominated, as
recognized by the Mayor. The first candidate to receive an affirmative majority of the votes of the
ATTACHMENT A

Councilmembers present will be selected to fill the vacancy. The interim Councilmember will take 
office as soon as the oath of office has been administered and signed and will serve until the first 
business day after the canvass of the votes for the November 5, 2024, Special Vacancy Election. 
 
Special Vacancy Election 
 
1. Qualified residents who live in District 7 and would like to run in the required November 5, 2024, 
Special Vacancy Election must declare as a candidate within 10 calendar days from the date of the 
vacancy, which in this case will be 5 p.m. April 8, 2024 (the deadline to declare as candidate falls 
on a Sunday, therefore it is moved to the next business day, Monday the 8th). More information 
regarding this process will be available on the Phoenix City Clerk's office website at 
phoenix.gov/elections or by calling 602-262-6837.  
 
2. In accordance with the Charter, the Council must call a Special Election within 10 calendar days 
after the first 10-day period (i.e., within 10 days of April 7). I request that the Council consider 
calling for the special election at the 2:30 p.m. Formal Council Meeting on April 17, 2024. The next 
allowable date for the Special Vacancy Election is November 5, 2024. 
 
Thank you in advance for your assistance with this important matter. 
 
Sincerely,  
 
Kate Gallego 
Mayor 
 
cc: 
City Council Members 
 
Stephanie Bracken, Executive Assistant to City Council 
Denise Archibald, City Clerk 
Julie Kriegh, City Attorney