FLORENCE, AZ – The appointment of former council member Arthur “Snake” Neal to the Florence Town Council on January 6, 2025, came after debate over who should be eligible for consideration, culminating in two crucial votes that shaped the selection process.
The vacancy emerged through a complex series of events: Vice-Mayor Michelle Cordes resigned in March 2024 to run for mayor, leading to Cathy Adam’s appointment in May 2024. In August 2024, primary winner Florea withdrew her candidacy after being disqualified for living outside city limits. Council members Neal, Mendoza, and Larsen completed their terms on December 9, 2024, just before the current appointment process began.
The latest selection process started on December 9, when the council was presented with five options for filling the vacancy:
- Appointing a write-in candidate from the 2024 Primary Election
- Revisiting applicants from the 2024 appointment process
- Opening a new application process
- Inviting a former councilmember to return to service
- Combining approaches or exploring other options
On December 16, the council voted 5-1 to restrict the candidate pool to only council members whose terms expired in 2024, with council member Tony Bencina casting the sole dissenting vote. This decision required candidates to submit written responses to two questions by December 30: what they hoped to accomplish during their previous council term but couldn’t complete, and what they might have done differently while serving.
The January 6 special meeting agenda included two critical items: first, a motion to reconsider the December 16 decision that had limited candidates to former council members, and second, if that reconsideration failed, proceeding with the appointment from among the former council members who had applied.
During public comments, Brian Chipman underscored the significance of the appointment process, noting that “one-third of the council, taking out the mayor, one-third of the council is going to be serving as not voted but as appointed people.”
Sherri Haahr questioned the wisdom of even considering overturning the December 16 vote, arguing it would set a poor precedent for the new council to reverse decisions based on public pressure. Her position was ultimately reflected in the council’s 4-2 vote against reconsideration, with only Mayor Eaton and council member Bencina supporting the motion to reconsider. Council member Bencina’s vote to reconsider aligned with his initial opposition to the agenda item on December 15th.
Council member Bencina strongly opposed the restricted selection process, citing recent precedent. “I supported a method that each of you had agreed to previously fulfilling vacated seats opening it up to the public,” he stated, referencing Vice-Mayor Adam’s own appointment seven months prior through an open application process.
Vice-Mayor Cathy Adam defended the limited selection process, emphasizing unique challenges facing Florence. “The previous council is privy to complex issues that we need to work on,” Adam explained. “They do not have easy answers and to bring someone else new in would be a long ramp up time.”
Council member Nicole Buccellato echoed this sentiment, noting that council decisions often involve non-public information: “We are privy to information that some of the public is not privy to and we are involved in some things that have not come to light yet.”
Public opposition to the restricted process was vocal. Christina Buckner, an Anthem resident, warned against what she termed “harvesting candidates,” suggesting it could lead to “homogeneous thinking” on the council.
All three applicants – Neal, Mendoza, and Larsen – had served on the immediately previous council, completing their terms on December 9, 2024. In his application, Neal expressed interest in continuing work on a Multi-Generation Center for Florence residents, noting that while Anthem residents have a Community Center, other Florence residents cannot benefit from it. He also emphasized his desire to bridge the gap between Old Town Florence and Florence Anthem. Larsen, reflecting on her eight years of service, detailed accomplishments in expanding council meeting access through Zoom, advancing infrastructure, business development, youth programs, and the arts. She emphasized these efforts require “continual attention and adaptation.” Mendoza’s application highlighted his four-year tenure’s achievements, including the construction of five new brick and mortar commercial businesses in Anthem and revitalization of downtown vacant buildings. He also detailed his work securing an intergovernmental service agreement with Pinal County to widen Hunt Highway from Magma Road to Heritage Road.
The January 6 meeting culminated in two significant votes: first, a failed 4-2 attempt to reconsider the restricted selection process, with only Mayor Eaton and council member Bencina supporting reconsideration. This was followed by Neal’s appointment in a 4-2 vote, with council members Maldonado and Bencina opposing.
The meeting concluded with former Vice-Mayor Michelle Cordes, who recently lost the mayoral election to Mayor Eaton, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest on the council, particularly regarding the current mayor’s previous role as a staff member, though she did not provide specific examples of conflicts.
Council member Bedford concluded the session by acknowledging the divisions while expressing optimism: “We are going to just disagree but at the end of the day it’s going to be beneficial for our town.”
According to Town Clerk Lisa Garcia, Neal’s appointment will last until the next available election in 2026. This timeline was mandated by state law because Florea’s resignation occurred after the election process, requiring the current council to make an appointment rather than hold a special election. The position will then be open for public election, allowing Florence residents to directly choose their representative for this council seat.
