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Carefree mayor must earn majority of votes
by Sonja Haller - Nov. 4, 2010 11:01 AM
The Arizona Republic
Carefree voters overwhelmingly decided to reword language that allows for the direct election of its mayor.
Earlier this week, 79 percent, or 1,097 voters approved Proposition 407. The measure changes the language of the town's direct election of mayor so that the mayor must be elected by a majority vote or 50 percent of the ballots cast plus one or face a runoff.
Twenty-one percent (285 voters) cast their ballot to maintain the current language that says the mayoral winner must have "the highest number of votes."
The town attorney has said Arizona law requires winning candidates to obtain a majority vote. The proposition authors said they feared the city would be vulnerable to a lawsuit. The proposition detractors said the new wording allows for the candidate with the most money to win because of the potential to extend the campaign in a runoff election.
The first direct election of the mayor will be in March.