Downey tabbed for second term as MUSD president; new members take oath

Robert Downey was unanimously chosen Wednesday to serve a second year as president of the Maricopa Unified School District Governing Board.

The role of vice president remains up for grabs, as both Torri Anderson and Patti Coutre were nominated, but neither received the necessary three votes to win the position. The 2-2 votes for each came as board member Gary Miller was absent.

Downey nominated Anderson, and both Coutre and AnnaMarie Knorr voted against her. When Knorr nominated Coutre, Downey and Anderson voted no. Another vote will take place during the next Governing Board meeting, at which all five members are expected to be present.

Two new members were sworn in during a ceremony prior to the official meeting. Coutre rejoined the board after resigning to take a job with MUSD as a Facilities & Operations Department administrative assistant in September 2020.

Coutre first won election to the board in 2010 and was re-elected in 2014 and 2018 and served a period as board president. She takes over the seat of Ben Owens, who did not seek re-election.

Downey was sworn for his first full four-year term. He was selected by the district to replace Coutre when she stepped away.

Miller won a full term after completing the term of Jim Jordan, who passed away in February of last year.