Arizona election features bond measures, city council races

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(The Center Square) – Everything from Tucson City Council races to a sales tax to fund a Cochise County jail was on the ballot Tuesday in Arizona.

Ballots were cast in 10 counties. Here are some of the key highlights for early, unofficial results that were available on Wednesday.

In Pima County, early results showed winners in Tucson City Council races. Democratic candidate Kevin Dahl was ahead of Republican opponent Janet “JL” Wittenbraker in the Ward 3 race. Dahl received 46,823 votes; Wittenbraker, 22,316. Selina Barajas, a Democrat, ran unopposed for the Ward 5 seat, and Democratic candidate Miranda Schubert, with 46,413 votes, was ahead of Republican opponent Jay Tolkoff (22,651 votes) in the Ward 6 position.

The Cochise County sales tax for funding the jail was approved with 10,909 votes in favor and 10,035 opposed. Voters in the county also approved budget overrides in Naco and Willcox elementary school districts

In the city of Holbrook in Navajo County, eight of 10 propositions passed. One of them, Proposition 442, increases to $1 million from $500,000 the amount that the city council may expend in direct expenditures, tax concessions or debt without voter approval. By the same amount, it increases the value of city-owned land Holbrook may grant or exchange, to construct or aid in construction of certain facilities. The proposition passed with 60.41% of the vote.

In Coconino County, voters approved capital bond elections for Coconino County Community College District and Pinewood Fire District with 58.10% and 74.38% of the vote respectively.

In LaPaz County, early results showed budget override continuation for Parker Union School District won support, with 368 votes or 54% of ballots cast. The measure covered maintenance and operations.

In Pinal County, all nine propositions - related to cities, school districts and a fire and medical district - passed. Most involved bond approvals.

In Yavapai County, voters could pick three candidates for the Prescott City Council. Early results showed the top three vote getters as Jim Garing with 23.52% of the vote, Mary Frederickson with 23.23% and Jay Ruby with 19.19%. The bottom two were Henry Ebarb II with 18.39% and Gregory Lazzell with 15.67%.

Also in Prescott, Proposition 485, known as the “Utility Franchise Election,” passed overwhelmingly with 87.96% of the vote. 

A bond measure for the Verde Valley Fire District passed with 73.72% of the vote. Voters also approved budget override continuations for Mingus Union High School District, Clarkdale-Jerome Elementary School District and Cotton-Oak Creek Elementary School District. 

Early results showed bond and budget measures for health care, fire/medical and school districts, as well as cities, were passed in the most populous county, Maricopa, as reported Tuesday night by The Center Square. Maricopa is home to Phoenix.