Christopher Glover will be Mesa's newest face on the City Council after the 23-year-old waged a campaign that touted endorsements from state Sen. Russell Pearce and other conservatives.
He beat Vic Linoff, 67, who pitched decades of community involvement and the backing of Mayor Scott Smith and five City Council members.
Glover got 59.1 percent of the vote for District 4, according to unofficial results that included early votes and all precincts.
Glover said his campaigning and work for the Republican Party connected with voters.
"I think it was just hard work, dedication and people knew where I stood on the issues and I resonated more with their personal beliefs," Glover said. "Plus I think just having my family be here a long time and a lot of people knowing my parents or grandparents on both sides."
Glover said he felt he was the underdog from the start. He decided to run after seeing the election would have been uncontested. Glover said he was surprised voters supported him in such strong numbers.
"I will be their voice and listen to them on the City Council," he said.
Glover has a political science degree from Arizona State University and served as an intern for U.S. Sen. John Ensign, R-Nevada.
Linoff, who garnered 40.2 percent of the vote, could not be reached for comment after the results came out Tuesday. Councilman Dennis Kavanaugh attended Linoff's election night rally and said Glover's victory came despite his running a low-profile campaign.
Kavanaugh attributed Glover's win to the election's shift from a city-only election in the spring to it being merged with countless partisan elections in the fall cycle. Many voters were confused about the ballots, he said.
"I think a lot of people didn't realize there was a city election happening at all today," Kavanaugh said.
Mesa was forced to shift elections to the fall after the Legislature passed a law requiring communities with a population of more than 175,000 to combine local elections with fall elections. Opponents argued the Republicans who dominate the Legislature were trying to inject partisan politics into non-partisan city elections.
This election proves that has occurred, Kavanaugh said.
"I think they took advantage of the change in the election date," he said. "I mean where else would you find someone with really no civic experience in an open seat race winning by 60/40?"
Linoff for decades owned Those Were The Days!, a downtown Tempe antiques and book store. He's been active in Tempe and Mesa, advocating for historic preservation, downtown redevelopment and public transportation. He was a charter member of the Downtown Tempe Community, a non-profit group that promotes the city center.
The District 4 race was the only contested one in the city but also had the lowest number of voters with about 2,900 ballots cast between Glover and Linoff.
District 5's Dina Higgins and District 6's Scott Somers were re-elected in their unchallenged bids for their second 4-year terms. Higgins and Somers each had more than three times the total vote of the smaller District 4 tally despite there being no other choice on the ballot.
Yarbles posted at 11:21 pm on Tue, Aug 24, 2010.
This is truly a sad day for Mesa. A minority of citizens, who actually express their voting rights, have condemned the majority to someone who will not be able to apply any sort of experience to this position, but rather will rule with an ideological hammer. Who are we going to elect next Mesa: Ronald McDonald.
yokel85204 posted at 1:54 am on Wed, Aug 25, 2010.
This is a sad day indeed. Vic Linoff was a great fit for City Council; he is very experienced with local affairs and he loves Mesa. Christopher Glover is a nice man, but he will just be an arm of the Church of Latter Day Saints. He is only 23 years old! And only 2,900 ballots were cast? This really should be on the November ballot.
next up posted at 7:53 am on Wed, Aug 25, 2010.
An arm to the LDS church? The typical response. What a joke. What, Vic was an arm of the liberal politics of Tempe? Corrupt? Yes I thought Vic had more experience and would be a better fit for the job. But when he posed in front of Gammage instead of downtown mesa for repub article, I was disgusted. Vic is a nice man, but stubborn and does not listen to others. Glover is green and he showed that he is going to work hard, listen, not ride out retirement like Vic is going to do. We need a person who is going to do all they can, have energy and the experience and help will come with the kid. Im excited that the district voted for something new and young. Something Mesa has never had. Usally, we vote in older, the same type of politicians who think they are better than everyone else. Shoot, look at some of the councilmember’s we have now. Give the kid a chance and work with him to make District 4 a better place, especially downtown.
next up posted at 7:53 am on Wed, Aug 25, 2010.
Sounds like sour grapes for Dennis K.
Yarbles posted at 10:12 am on Wed, Aug 25, 2010.
Next Up,
Your points are admirable. Still I don't believe Vic was a typical Mesa politician. Vic merely had the experience needed to make the right decisions facing the council. Glover is an ideologue and that is why he won. His signs explicitly displayed his political views in a race that is supposed to be nonpartisan. The city of Mesa is run by commonsense, center- center-right politicians and that is the way I was hoping it would stay. Glover may be a fresh face, but he certainly does not possess fresh views.
Patriot posted at 10:58 am on Wed, Aug 25, 2010.
Next up, you are so right about Dennis Kavanaugh. I live in District 4 and I voted for Christopher Glover because I want someone to represent those of us who live in my district, not bow down to serve Dennis Kavanaugh. It was obvious from the beginning that Linoff was outspending Glover. Glover's success proves that candidates can't always buy their way into office.
In the past couple of weeks, our residence has been bombarded with mail and phone calls from the Linoff camp. I was not impressed with who was backing Linoff. Linoff's endorsements read like a who's who list of good old tax and spend boys. US Representative Harry Mitchell's endorsement is poison. So is Dennis Kavanaugh's endorsement. The poisoned icing on the cake was not only getting Claudia Walter's endorsement, but calling residences who had to listen to Walter's voice on a prerecorded message.
Mayor Smith, when it comes tiime to run for reelection, there are many of us who are going to remember that you endorsed Linoff and the fact that you're not a fiscal conservative at all. Your name on the same endorsement list with Harry Mitchell is both alarming and disappointing. You also have not lived up to the expectations of those of us who did vote for you. You're just another good old boy who soon forgot about the campaign promises that you made. At at time when the economy continues to worsen, you're wanting to waste 10 million dollars of unspent bond money to narrow Southern in the the Fiesta Mall area is not only dumb, but sends the message that you are nothing but a tax and spend liberal.
Dennis Kavanaugh, the biggest mistake voters in your district made was to vote you back on the city council. Your past works on previous councils is one of the reasons why Mesa is having difficulty paying for your earmarks. You are also one of the big reasons why former Councilwoman Joan Payne pushed for district representation on the city council. It's about time you took note of that and stopped acting like council members are still serving at large.
As someone who is in his mid-fifties, I had no reservations about voting for Christopher Glover. The last council member who ever did anything for this district was Joan Payne. The current vice mayor certainly forgot about us or couldn't care less about how badly District 4 has gone downhill during his 2 terms in office. I truly believe Christopher Glover will represent District 4, not Dennis Kavanaugh or the rest of the self serving members of the city council. Christopher has a great education to back him up, including a degree from ASU in political science. He's also not tainted by the good old boy syndrome. He may be young but he's certainly not naive.
I would like to thank Christopher Glover, for taking the time to come to my neighborhood and my home so we could discuss the problems we are currently having. Those problems include the lack of support from the city, especially the code enforcement department. I found Christopher to be respectful, intelligent and most of all, he listened. He knows what he is facing in the days ahead as he serves on the city council and I believe he will represent District 4 as it deserves to be represented, and not the special interests served by Dennis Kavanaugh, Dave Richins or Scott Smith.
Mesa's city government needs a good housecleaning. For those of you who say that Christopher Glover is too young and inexperienced, I have a question for you. Just how good of a job have the much older current and former council members done? If this is the best that my age group can do then the time has certainly come to get the younger generations involved with looking after their future, before the older generations mess it up even more.
Councilman Elect Christopher Glover, I would like to congratulate you on your campaign victory. I wish you the best of luck and many of us who live in District 4 have faith in you that you will represent our district well while seated on the city council.
Patriot posted at 11:15 am on Wed, Aug 25, 2010.
Yarbles, what esperience does Vic Linoff really have? Padding his resume with a list of committees he supposedly served on, or running a business in Tempe and running with their elite? He may be the nicest guy in the world but it takes more than that to convince the voters who is the best candidate to hold office. Even those I have voted for in the past who are close to Vic's age turned out to nothing but disappointment after disappointment. Mesa doesn't need more politicians who are to the center and obviously an overwhelming majority of voters in my district agree with me. Chrstopher Glover also did not violate any campaign regulations. He clearly let it be known what he stands for, which is conservative values. That's why a majority of us in District 4 voted for him.
CSalafia posted at 12:15 pm on Wed, Aug 25, 2010.
So, the kid interned for Ensign, eh?
Wonder if he was involved in Ensign's covering up his affair or the illegal lobbying activities.
That's not a bullet I'd put on my resume.
Dennis posted at 12:31 pm on Wed, Aug 25, 2010.
Dear Patriot: I understand that you are critical of my service on city council, but don't rewrite history. Joan Payne and I worked together on the district system initiative and we were the only members of that council to do so. I worked well with Joan who supported me in my later runs for council and I count her as a good friend.
I have always receive great support from the voters in my district where I have lived for 28 years. Constituent service to them is remembered on election day.
I don't know what "earmarks" you are talking about. We do not work like Congress. If we have major capital projects they almost always go to Mesa voters for their approval. So, if you don't like a project, many others had to give their approval too.
I did support Vic Linoff in the race. I do think that civic service to your community is important as well as having a track record as a being a successful businessman is important when you have to manage a one billion dollar city budget.
I think Chris Glover is a nice guy who ran a decent, civil and honest campaign and he certainly has the potential to represent the city and District 4 well. Councilmembers do wear two hats, one for their district and one for the city as a whole and I think Chris will work well with the entire council.
Dennis Kavanaugh
Yarbles posted at 2:42 pm on Wed, Aug 25, 2010.
Patriot,
It was not an overwhelming majority of voters who agreed with you: it was a majority of voting voters that agreed with you. Turnout for this race was particularly poor and disheartening thus my previous comments.
Patriot posted at 3:21 pm on Wed, Aug 25, 2010.
Dennis, it's apparent that you are under the false impression that voters in District 4 are dumb. Your remarks were insulting and so you get no respect from me.
""I think a lot of people didn't realize there was a city election happening at all today," Kavanaugh said."
"I think they took advantage of the change in the election date," he said. "I mean where else would you find someone with really no civic experience in an open seat race winning by 60/40?"
We did know there was going to be an election and many of us who had the chance to vote did so. Had the turnout been greater chances are Christopher Glover would have won by or close to the same percentage of votes. It's quite obvious that you are upset that Christoper Glover won instead of your buddy. Your inflated ego and your own arrogance were showing in your comments made during the interview.
While you were working working behind the scenes in District 4 to get your buddy elected, many of us were working to get Christopher Glover elected. Not so much because he is untarnished goods, which is a plus in this day and age, but because he believes in conservative values. He comes from a good family and he grew up in in this district. He knows it well and many of the people who live here. Above all, he really cares. He doesn't view representing us on the council as a hobby or something to pass the time during his retirement. Vic Linoff might be years older than Christopher Glover, but that certainly doesn't make him wiser. Many of us who live in this district also viewed the endorsements by you, Walters and Harry Mitchell, as the kiss of death for your candidate.
We, who live in District 4, know exactly where Christopher Glover stands on the issues, including the issue of spending 10 million dollars of taxpayer money for the stupid and wasteful purpose of narrowing Southern. We also know where you stand, Dennis, and that scares us.
Dennis, maybe you and Scott Smith should put away your American Express Gold Cards and spend some time in the shoes of the real working class. You both are so disconnected from reality. Many of us are suffering hard times during a really bad recession that is looking more like the beginnings of a repeat of the great depression. We don't care about your temple of worship called MAC. The police and fire departments are in need of more funding but money is being diverted each year to your golden MAC palace. Wasting taxpayer money to narrow Southern, is just as bad as the proposed bridge to nowhere in Alaska that thankfully never happened. Your priorities are really messed up, so is Scott Smith's..
I have followed the news in Mesa for a long time. I have watched many council meetings on city cable. I can no longer stay on the sidelines and keep my mouth shut. I know all about the games you played to keep out that couple who wanted to open a tattoo shop in the Dobson Ranch area. It came out later that someone sent you information concerning the man's past troubles with the law. With your legal background you should know that his debt to society has been paid in full. Even the police department told you and the council they have no problems with any of the exisiting tattoo shops in Mesa. They do have a good number of problems with massage shops. Your twisted moral values allow massage operators to do business in your district but not tattoo shops. I have a bad feeling that the legal action being taken against the city by that couple is going to be another costly mistake by the city council that will be paid for by more wasted taxpayer money. I'll bet you had a Depends moment when the court ruled in favor of the couple in Tempe who won their battle to open their tattoo shop.
There have been millions of taxpayer dollars wasted on Main St..You're behind much of that wasteful spending. How much better might the downtown area be doing if more of the development was left to the private sector and the city stopped trying to shape it into what they think it should look like? I don't think we will ever know the answer to that question. It's highly probable that you and the majority of the council will continue to try to force your fatal vision for downtown on us all. In the mean time, we, the taxpayers, are still left to lick our wounds over the millions wasted because our past city government tromped on the rights of a private property owner, abusing the eminent domain taking of land for a new hardware store. Hey Dennis, weren't you on the council back during those wonderful days of wasteful spending and fiscal irresponsiblity?
Mesa should have term limits for city council. 2 terms and then you're out for good. The only exception being for those who want to become mayor and again being limited to 2 terms. By doing that we are guaranteed some new council who can hopefully bring some fresh, new and positive ideas to the table, rather than continue making the same costly mistakes that younger generations are going to have to pay for.
You've learned nothing from the past, Dennis. I suggest that you take the blinders off and take a good hard look at what is currently happening around the country in regards to the political climate. Many of us are fed up with career politicians who are so into themselves and their circle of special interests friends. It is people like you who are messing up our country, states, counties and cities. Instead of setting a good example for others to follow, you are leaving a mess so big, that it will take many future generations of our families to clean it up if it can even be cleaned up at all. Christoper Glover is part of the future generations. I am glad he won't have to wait until he's 67 years old to hold office simply because the almighty Dennis Kavanaugh thinks that's a more proper age.
Dennis, I will leave you with a message from us, the little people. Never forget where you came from and where you can go back to. Out of touch politicians like yourself, have awakened a sleeping giant. We, the voters, are rested and very much up to the task of housecleaning. We have only just begun. If you want my respect and the respect of the rest of Mesa's hardworking and financially struggling citizens, go earn it. Go out and get in touch with mainstream Mesa, instead of sitting in your ivory tower at city hall, insulting those of us who live in District 4. You aren't all knowing and wise, you're just an arrogant and pompous jackass.
Patriot posted at 4:19 pm on Wed, Aug 25, 2010.
Yarbles, not every election has a big turnout. Just because there was a smaller turnout of voters, does not mean that Christopher Glover would have lost. He might have won by an even bigger margin.
I find Dennis Kavanaugh's comments relating to Glover's victory to be extremely disrespectful not only to Christopher Glover, but also to those of us who live in District 4. It is up to we, the voters, to decide what is best for us and who we want to represent us, regardless of a candidate's age, how many voters actually voted, or how old Dennis the almighty thinks a person should be in order to hold office. I wouldn't have voted for Dennis if I had lived in his district, but I respect the right of the voters in that district to decide who they want to represent them. That's why I'm not insulting the voters who live in Dennis's district and voted for him. Dennis the almighty needs to understand that he isn't calling the shots in our district, whether he likes it or not. He doesn't have the influence in our district that he mistakenly thought he had. Dennis said he looks forward to working with Christopher Glover. I hope he's sincere because Christopher Glover won't be there to work for him.
I do expect a big turnout in November. It will be interesting to see what the voters have to say about a new stadium for the mega billionaire family from Chicago.
devil-cat posted at 9:08 pm on Wed, Aug 25, 2010.
Whoa -- way out of bounds Patriot. The fact that you would resort to name-calling of a sitting council member works to bankrupt your extremely long and drawn out argument. In fact, that you would chose to call someone a "jackass" in what is essentially a public forum is sadly inappropriate. Is there a possibility that you could make your point without doing that?
It's fine that you like Mr. Glover and his ideas (and not Mr. Linoff) and so this decided who you voted for. Try saying that and leaving it at that.
Hopefully in the future you will choose civility and engagement over nasty comments and name-calling. Honestly, once you start acting out like this it's not even worth reading your lengthy responses.
Patriot posted at 10:18 pm on Wed, Aug 25, 2010.
Devilcat, respect is earned when respect is given. Dennis Kavanaugh was out of line when he made his offensive and insulting comments referenced in this article. I will not respect a person who shows no respect towards the citizens of Mesa, including and especially the citizens of District 4. We've had quite enough of the likes of Dennis Kavanaugh. If you feel that Dennis Kavanaugh has thin skin, then advise him to resign. I have the constitutional right to express my opinions about our elected officials and by God I am going to continue to do just that. Remember, I wasn't speaking out against a private citizen. I was speaking out against an elected official who was speaking out against Mesa's citizens.. You don't have to agree with me but if you're going to condone Kavanaugh's offensive comments, then at least support my right to respond.
devil-cat posted at 11:27 pm on Wed, Aug 25, 2010.
Yeah, I see what you mean Patriot -- if you don't respect someone and/ or don't like what they have to say, it's more commendable to insult them...
I guess that you can say that Dennis' comments were insulting -- that's your choice to believe that and to act on those beliefs. But I don't recall anywhere that Dennis resorted to name calling or engaged in any sort of nasty commentary. And I didn't have to contact him myself to ask him his feelings on what he or anyone else said -- I can read what he said here and see it for the fact that he's engaged in a civil conversation and trying to discuss issues, regardless of who he supported in the election.
And you're absolutely right -- you have every right to say whatever you so choose. But sometimes it shows the better side of respect and discretion to not say everything that comes to mind or that you feel you have the right to say. What does it say about those conservative values that you say are so important in your preferred candidate when you are unwilling to restrain certain impulses and call someone a "jackass" in what is supposed to be a civil forum for discussion?
Patriot posted at 12:34 am on Thu, Aug 26, 2010.
Devilcat, have you noticed what was missing in Kavanaugh's interview? Not one word of congratulations to Christopher Glover. Next up is right, Dennis is suffering from a very bad case of sour grapes. No public congratulatory comments from Linoff either. Very classless if you ask me.
We have young men and women Christopher's age who are serving our country. Many have lost their lives doing so. Why is okay for a 23 year old to go fight our wars but not serve on our city councils? Dennis is very misguided when it comes to who he thinks is entitled to hold elected office. Christopher Glover has earned my respect and my support. Maybe he can show an old dog named Dennis a few new tricks because the political machine in Mesa could sure use a good overhauling.