Barney to run for Q.C. mayor; Sanders won't

Queen Creek Town Councilman Gail Barney resigned his post Monday afternoon in order to run for mayor.

And upon hearing Barney's plans, Mayor Art Sanders called the Tribune to announce that he won't be seeking re-election this March.

"I finally found someone I'd rather vote for than myself," Sanders said.

Barney said he and Sanders had talked about the possibility of Barney running since the last election.

"I decided I didn't want to run for mayor last time," Barney said. "We're pretty close; we're first cousins. If (Sanders) really wanted to run, I wouldn't."

However, Barney said he feels like this is the right time.

"You get in a leadership position and you can help direct policy," Barney said of the mayor's role. "You're still one vote in seven, but you can help direct policy."

Barney has served on the council since being appointed to fill an empty seat eight years ago. He said he didn't have any aspirations to become the mayor at that point, but in subsequent years has learned a lot as he's met leaders from other cities and towns.

"I've realized it's a kind of progression," Barney said. "I can offer building of bridges and networks of cooperation."

Barney's parents moved to Queen Creek to start farming in 1948, when Barney was just 6 months old.

Sanders pointed out that his longtime residency gives him the perspective of seeing the town grow over a period of time.

"The biggest thing for me is to know where we've come from and where we're trying to go," Sanders said. "Gail has been here for 50-something years."

Sanders said he has made it known to Barney off and on that he's interested in doing other things. Barney told Sanders he was thinking about running a month ago but actually committed over the weekend.

Barney said he and Sanders generally share the same principles, although they occasionally disagree about specific approaches to issues.

Barney said he's especially interested in continuing work on budget and transportation issues.

Barney also doesn't think being cousins with the current mayor will hurt his chances.

"I think it will help if people think he's done a reasonably good job," he said.

Sanders wasn't quite sure of his plans Monday afternoon. He's been doing a lot of work with Project Challenge, a Queen Creek-based organization that teaches and mentors at-risk kids, and said he might like to do more work with them. He's also had discussions with manufacturers and developers about how he can get involved in bringing green items to town, and he's recently become a champion of gardening.

"I don't have any other political aspirations. Anything that the town needs me for, I'm happy to go on assignment to mop up," Sanders said. "I think it's time to step aside and let a new set of eyes take a look at things."

Barney's announcement means there will be at least four new faces on the council next year, possibly five if Barney isn't elected to the mayor's slot.

In addition to Sanders, incumbent council members Joyce Hildebrandt, Jon Wootten and Gordon Mortensen said last week they don't plan to seek re-election.

Barney had to resign his post in order to run for mayor under state law. The primary election for mayor and council is in March.

The council will likely decide the exact timeline for choosing Barney's replacement at its Nov. 4 council meeting, said Town Clerk Jennifer Robinson.

Open positions are generally filled by soliciting letters of interest and resumes from town residents, then having the Town Council interview the applicants, Robinson said.

The last time a council member resigned during election season, the position was filled in January. That happened eight years ago, when Barney was appointed to fill Toni Valenzuela's seat when she decided to run for mayor, Robinson said.

Monday was the first day candidate packets were available to pick up. Barney was the only person to get a packet as of 3 p.m., Robinson said.