Government

Potter’s recall effort fails; mayoral candidacy over

Jul 3, 2014

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Former Maricopa councilman Leon Potter’s efforts to force a recall election of Councilman Bridger Kimball – and Potter’s bid to become Maricopa’s next mayor – are over.

Potter secured “about 300” of the 850 voter signatures required today to put a recall on the November ballot.

“Unfortunately we won’t have enough signatures, and we are having a meeting to discuss our options moving forward,” Potter said.

Potter said those options are to terminate the recall committee or refile his petition at a later date.

Potter first announced his intention to start a petition to recall Kimball in February in response to Kimball’s refusal to resign as a result of a 2012 DUI arrest.

Kimball pled guilty in February 2013. His guilty plea required he pay nearly $2,000 in fines and court fees and attend a DUI program.

Potter said the goal of his recall effort was to bring awareness and “not turn a blind eye” to Kimball’s actions.

“I believe it takes more courage to admit you’ve done something wrong and step down from your position as a public official than to put the burden on city council and your friends to deal with this,” Potter said.

In March, Potter resigned from city council – and announced he would run for mayor – citing his disapproval of Mayor Christian Price’s unwillingness to publicly demand Kimball resign.

Potter wasn’t able to gather the required 209 nominating signatures by the May 28 deadline to get on the ballot but pledged to keep his mayoral candidacy alive as a write-in candidate (see related story). That bid, too, is now over.

“I am no longer running as a write-in candidate for mayor,” Potter said.

Potter said his resignation and failed attempts to run for mayor and oust Kimball all stem from his belief that Kimball should have resigned immediately after his DUI arrest.

“I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t pursue this,” Potter said. “I knew I wasn’t the only one in the community who felt this way, and I was willing to be the one to step up and take a stand.”