Dallas Paulsen named Council member

A nearly five-year resident of Phase I in Rancho El Dorado whose resume includes being past president of the neighborhood’s homeowners association will soon have input on matters reaching far beyond local covenants, codes and restrictions.

Maricopa City Council on Tuesday named Dallas Paulsen to finish the term of former Councilman Steve Baker who recently resigned after moving out of the area (see “Baker move creates empty council seat“).

“I would like to be involved, if even for a short period of time,” Paulsen wrote in his application to the city.

Paulsen was one of five applicants who spoke on their behalf to persuade those in attendance they were the best qualified for the position.

“I was here before you guys were elected up there,” said Paulsen, who brings 42 years of construction industry experience as a surveyor to the table.

In addition to serving on the Council, Paulsen will continue to serve on the Pinal Comprehensive Plan Committee. In the past, he’s served on the City of Maricopa Taskforce Committee.

Before giving Paulsen the nod, councilmembers, at the suggestion of Councilman Will Dunn, discussed the possibility of bypassing the applicants who had not yet presented their speeches to nominate Anthony Smith, who is running unopposed for mayor this spring.

“I think what a benefit it would be to us on the Council to have him on the Council for the next six months,” Dunn said. “Why don’t we figure out who he is now?”

Councilman Kelley Haddad was the first to agree, but far from the last.

“You make a very valid point,” Haddad said. “I never would have thought of that.”
Smith, apparently, hadn’t either.

“I would respectfully decline,” he said, stepping briefly to the podium although he had not planned to do so and had not filled out the requisite call to the public request-to-speak card.

Smith’s unrehearsed comments came after the Council had bounced the idea around for several minutes until questions arose whether running for mayor would require him to resign, causing yet another vacancy.

Smith expressed his desire that those who had come prepared have the chance to present their qualifications and to offer their service to the city. Instead, the sitting chairman of the Planning & Zoning Commission said he’d prefer to meet with Mayor Kelly Anderson individually in coming months to make the transition, and that he’s already requested to receive a full packet before each Council meeting.

Other applicants included Tom Bradbury, who was later named to the Planning & Zoning Commission (see “Council appoints three new commissioners to Planning & Zoning“); Gerard Hahn, who described himself as a volunteer involved in youth services; Dominic Bailin, a five-year resident and father of five who’s interested in coaching youth sports; and Shellie Gillespie, a self-proclaimed one-woman show who edits The Communicator newspaper.

Following each of their remarks, Dunn was first to speak up. Describing Paulsen briefly as someone he’s “looked to for his guidance and leadership,” Dunn motioned to appoint him to the open post.

The motion was seconded and passed unopposed.

Photo by RuthAnn Hogue