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People to elect future Tusayan mayor at polls in 2016

GRAND CANYON, Ariz - In 2016 Tusayan voters will decide who holds the office of mayor.

The decision came after Proposition 407 passed with a 65.38 percent yes vote on Nov. 4.

Until now, a five-member council, elected by voters, decided who would hold the office of mayor.

The decision to have the council nominate and vote for a mayor started after Tusayan incorporated and the first town council was formed in 2010.

Tusayan's current mayor, Greg Bryan, accepted his third two year term for mayor during the Nov. 5 council meeting. Bryan was nominated and voted in by members of the town council.

Bryan will serve until 2016 when proposition 407 gives voters the responsibility of electing a new mayor.

Bryan voiced concern about a direct election, saying there are not enough people willing to serve as mayor.

"It's obvious that there's a desire for it," Bryan said, "I understand, it was just fine with me. I had no objection about a directly elected mayor."

Bryan did oppose proposition 407, but said recently the decision to vote on a mayor through a direct election does not make a big difference to him.

"I was opposed to (proposition 407) because it was poorly written," Bryan said, "I think its going to require some adjustments because it went through the referendum process and may prevent the town council from making it viable and could potentially require another vote somewhere down the road. I definitely saw the difference in the vote and say 'no worries.' It could have just been handled in a different way."

Bryan said the town council has a tough enough time finding people to serve.

Prior to the vote, Bryan offered to bring the matter before the council to discuss the pros and cons of a directly elected mayor if the proposition was voted down.

"I had offered them my argument that if they voted no, I committed that in the first six to nine days, I would bring the issue up for a directly elected mayor and would discuss it," he said, "(We would) have a meeting about it and a hearing on it and do it right, if that is what the public wanted to do."

Bryan said the proposition asked for the mayor to serve two years, which is already a requirement of the position. A process that he thought should be a four year term for anyone new to the position.

"In the initiative it said we should change the policy and make it a two year term. It is a two year term," he said. "My belief is it should be a four year term. I think it takes at least a couple years to get adjusted, to learn and to grow in the position so you can lead effectively, especially as a directly elected mayor."

Bryan can run for mayor in 2016 and says he is not ruling out the option.

"I'm up for election in 2016," he said, " I have two more years to serve. (In 2016) I can run for a council seat or mayor."

Bryan said he and Town Manager, Will Wright spoke with the town attorney to see how the town will move forward in applying proposition 407.

"We asked him to be in the process of looking in to how we will make it applicable and to function in our system," Bryan said, "With regard to state law."

Bryan said he has no intention of stopping the proposition but wants to figure out how to implement it smoothly.

The town attorney will look at the language of the proposition to ensure it is constitutional. At which time the possibility of another ballot measure to ensure proposition 407 is clearly defined could be a possibility.

"We are going to work to supply what the residents want to do," Bryan said.


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