Controversy over Q.C. Town Council selection

Five finalists were selected to interview for a vacant spot on Queen Creek's Town Council, but some council members who weren't involved in selecting them are wondering why two applicants were left off the list.

The finalists were picked among 11 candidates on Monday by an executive committee made up of council members Gordon Mortensen, Craig Barnes and Joyce Hildebrandt. Left off the list of finalists were Lisa Coletto-Cohen and Robin Benning.

Coletto-Cohen was on the Town Council for eight years before her term expired in 2008. She was on the Planning and Zoning Commission before that.

Benning has served on the Traffic Advisory Commission since 2007 and has been chairman of that group for two years. He's lived in Queen Creek for five years and worked in the community as an architect since 1997.

The finalists will interview with the full council Monday.

Councilman Jon Wootten said the list had some very dedicated people on it, but the absence of Coletto-Cohen and Benning made him question the criteria for selections.

"There were two people whose qualifications, past efforts and service to the town were far and away more than the others and didn't make the short list," Wootten said.

Councilman Jeff Brown echoed Wootten.

"I happen to know there are two candidates - Robin Benning and Lisa Coletto-Cohen - who have given countless hours of service to our town, and they're not on our short list," Brown said. "Not only do they have a record of service to the town government, but they have an extensive record of service to the town."

The council will decide which candidate will fill a spot vacated by Gail Barney, who resigned last month to run for mayor. The finalists are:

Carlos Acuna, a 14-year resident of Queen Creek who has served on the Finance Review Task Force, Recreation Advisory Board and Transportation Advisory Committee;

Chris Clark, a Transportation Advisory Committee member who holds top posts on the Chamber of Commerce and Boys & Girls Club boards and is on the Holiday Parade Committee;

Audri Mansour, the district chair for civic activities for the Boys Scouts of America who has also been involved with the Chamber of Commerce, Boys & Girls Club and holiday parade;

Dawn Oliphant, a four-year Queen Creek resident and 17-year employee with the city of Tempe who is currently in Queen Creek's Citizen Leadership Institute;

Derek Peterson, a history teacher at Queen Creek High School who has served as the school's student government adviser and was on the Board of Adjustments in Show Low.

Wootten worries the selections could discourage residents from getting involved with the town.

"When, in a process like this, you give the impression that taking on those committees and working through that structure doesn't even make you qualified to take on a council seat, that disheartens," Wootten said. "That could tell residents that serving on those committees isn't that important."

Coletto-Cohen said she was "shocked and disappointed" when she found out she wasn't on the list of finalists.

She said she was surprised that people with experience the most relevant to the job - those who had served on the council or town committees - were passed over in favor of other applicants.

Coletto-Cohen doesn't intend to run for a full term but decided to put in her name for the two-year position since at least three veteran council members plus the mayor won't be returning after the next election.

"Council is very complicated. There are so many issues that have so much history behind them," she said. "To throw someone in there and expect them to hit the ground running, and they'll be one of the senior council members after the next election, that's tremendous."

Benning was similarly surprised, but said he was waiting for more information.

"I thought my combination of professional and volunteer experience with the town made me more than qualified. My gut reaction is that something's not quite right," Benning said. "I'm disappointed to say the least. I feel like I have as much or more experience than everyone on that list."

Benning said he'll still run for an empty seat this March.

Mortensen and Barnes, who were on the executive committee, said they couldn't saywhy the finalists were selected. They also declined to explain the criteria used because the discussions took place in executive session, a closed-door council session.

"The only thing I can really say is we went through the 11 people, and we picked the five people we thought were best suited for the position," Barnes said.

Mortensen said he might be able to say more after the selection, but for now, all discussions are happening in executive session.

Hildebrandt, who was also on the selection committee, couldn't be reached for comment.

Wootten and Brown both said it would be possible for the full council to decide to interview candidates who didn't make the short list.

However, Coletto-Cohen wasn't sure if she'd accept an interview at this point even if she were offered one.

"I would need to think strongly about that," she said. "I'm concerned that by accepting the interview, I'd be allowing the town to save face and not affecting what needs to happen."

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