Sedona AZ (December 6, 2010) – The following is a letter to the SedonaEye.com editor:
Much has been said about the latest Sedona Fire District Board election. But the voting results are extremely clear.
In Yavapai County, with 10 out of 10 precincts reporting and 16,516 voters, the winners with the most votes in descending order were Ty Montgomery with 2,775 votes(16.80%), Douglas Fitzpatrick with 2,600 votes (15.74%), Phyllis Erick with 2,473 votes (15.27%), with David Blauert coming in 4th with 2,473 (14.97%). The figures speak for themselves, the largest amount of voters in the county with the most number of precincts, decided that Montgomery, Fitzpatrick, Erick be elected to fill the 3 open seats and picked Blauert to fill the board seat vacated by Don Harr.
Yavapai County 10 of 10 Precincts Reporting
| BERKSHIRE, BERT | 3.79% | 626 | |
| BLAUERT, DAVID | 14.97% | 2,473 | |
| DEMME, JOE | 13.05% | 2,155 | |
| ERICK, PHYLLIS | 15.27% | 2,522 | |
| FISHEL, DICK | 13.44% | 2,219 | |
| FITZPATRICK, DOUGLAS | 15.74% | 2,600 | |
| MONTGOMERY, TY | 16.80% | 2,775 | |
| RYCUS, MEL | 6.80% | 1,123 | |
| Write-in | 0.14% | 23 | |
| 16,516 |
In Coconino County, with only 2 out of 2 precincts reporting and only 3,980 voters, the winners with the most votes in descending order were Dave Blauert with 694 votes ( 17.44%), Phyllis Erick with 652 votes (16.38%), Ty Montgomery with 613 votes (15.40 %), with Douglas Fitzpatrick coming in 4th with 561 votes ( 14.10%).
| Coconino County 2 of 2 Precincts Reporting | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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One could ask if it makes sense that the smallest amount of voters with the least amount of precincts reporting, should decide the outcome of this election. To most people, this could be viewed as a classic example of the tail wagging the dog.
We should not forget that in the combined votes for both counties, Douglas Fitzpatrick came in only six votes behind Dave Blauert. Yet, the largest amount of voters in the county with the most number of precincts, voted Fitzpatrick ahead of Blauert by 127 votes!
There is no question about the fact that this was one of the closest SFD election in history. Neither slate won by a landslide. It was not an issue of the voters being pro or against the fire union. The voters picked an equal mix of candidates from both slates and gave them a mandate to work together to get the job done. They obviously felt that the editorial by the Sedona Red Rock News prior to the election made a lot of sense and voted accordingly.
Therefore, I see it very logical that two of the former board members, Vernet and Graves, suggested that in light of this close election, whoever came in 4th be picked to fill the 4th seat. In light of that, they requested that Rule 20 of the SFD Rules of Procedures be waived.
Rule 20 states very clearly: “ If a vacancy occurs in the office of Board Member, the Board will follow the procedures outlined in State Statute for filling vacancies. In order to fill the vacancy with the most qualified person available until an election is held, the Board will distribute and publish a notice of the vacancy, the procedure, and an application form.” An election was just held and the majority of the combined votes showed that Douglas Fitzpatrick was picked by the electorate as their choice to fill the 4th vacancy.
If the new SFD Board does not follow the mandate of the people who elected them to office, they will loose credibility with the people who voted them in and will begin their term showing the entire community that they have no intention of being fair and impartial in the positions they were sworn to uphold.
Abe Koniarsky Sedona, AZ
For the best in Arizona news and views, read www.SedonaEye.com daily!
Your article looks great, Abe. Thanks for writing it!
Well said in its conclusion. Fitzpatrick should be offered the position and if he declines, it should go to the next candidate with the most votes. If someone stands for an election, that person has performed a civic duty, and is to be honored for that effort, an effort which most of us would never be inclined to perform.
What I find ironic is that Doug Fitzpatrick who is only six votes behind Dave Blauert, may not get appointed to the interim 4th vacant board seat, even though the voters clearly decided during the election that he was going to be their choice for that position.
Yet, he is good enough to be selected among many contenders and being considered for appointment as a Judge Protem on the AZ Supreme Court. Isn’t that the type of individual we need on the SFD board to make decisions with impartiality and fairness? Isn’t this further confirmation that he is the one to fill the vacant seat?
I sincerely hope that the SFD board comes to their senses and makes the obvious
decision this coming Wednesday.