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    With a very important election on the line this August for the town of Mammoth, it is important to clear the air and remind everyone of what is at stake. First, I know some of the current members of our town council are trying to dissuade people from voting on Aug. 30, 2016 by telling them that it “is only a primary election and that it doesn’t count until November.” Let me add some truth here, the election on the 30^th is the ONLY election for town council. There is not another election for town council. Town council member election do not have a primary. So if voters do not show up on the 30^th to cast a vote for council members or turn in an early ballot now, their voices will not be heard. Again the 30^th of August is the ONLY COUNCIL MEMBER ELECTION.

   Second, I want to remind the great people of Mammoth that our current Mayor Mrs. Frances Wickham was in favor of the school district shutting down the Mammoth Elementary to turn it into a STEM school. Ms. Wickham has also used her position on the town council and as vice mayor to secure her husband a job with the town of Mammoth public works department. When the original issue of medical marijuana came up, she ran around Mammoth telling people it was a done decision, that the council voting on the issue was only a formality and that she had already decided it would be so. Once the council got wind of what was said, she quickly changed her tune and voted against the item.

  Lastly Ms. Wickham has been seated on the council for over 5 years, she should know all the rules and should be a person for the people. However, when money went “missing” from the town budget Vice Mayor Wickham (who at the time was also a check signer) had no idea where the money could have gone, and instead placed all the blame onto others. Ms. Wickham could have taken steps as a vice mayor to get the town of Mammoth an audit, which was never done.

    Frances Wickham wants your vote for re-election even though due to circumstances beyond her control she is unable to perform the duties required of a council person let alone Mayor. Frances Wickham has missed the last two meetings leaving the current council to hold the meetings for her. Six years ago Ms. Wickham wanted to have a member of the council thrown out for failing to attend meetings, yet at this point her absence should just be accepted and excused for health reasons. She is not capable or responsible enough to continue to hold a seat on the council and Mammoth voters need to take the steps to protect their town and not vote to re-elect Ms. Wickham.

   The other council member that needs to be addressed is Mr. Joe Brewer. Mr. Brewer is also up for re-election and is asking members to vote for him. Now remember what I said at the beginning, the main council member election is on August 30, 2016. So why is it that a councilmember who has been on council for over 4 years has no idea when or how the election process takes place? Why is he telling people that the election on August 30, 2016 is only a primary election? Why does he not want people to vote? Is it because he thinks that he won’t be re-elected and so people shouldn’t vote so he has a chance?

   There have been several very, very serious allegations regarding Mr. Brewer’s conduct brought up over his term, yet he still sits on the council. Mr. Brewer has no idea as to proper procedures regarding open meeting laws, as well as how to interpret finance reports from the town that are included in his packet.

    Council member Brewer stated in his last letter to the editor regarding the outgoing mayor that the recall was dumped into his lap. Which is a lie. Mr. Brewer approached me asking me how to write a recall and how to conduct a winning recall campaign. After much discussion I wrote recall petitions with the agreement that the town would recall Ms. Wickham as well. When it came time to gather signatures and I found out that they would not be attempting to recall Ms. Wickham I resigned as the chairman leaving the others to continue in their efforts to get a new council.

    Mr. Joe Brewer is not an honest person. He has allowed his time on the council to facilitate his belief that he is above reproach and has become power hungry. The town of Mammoth is not and has not ever been about fulfilling one’s personal agenda’s yet that is exactly what Frances Wickham and Joe Brewer want to do. Now that Frances Wickham has been elected Mayor by the town council, and Joe Brewer has been appointed to Vice Mayor there is nothing to stand in their way.

   At the last town council Frances Wickham with the aid of Joe Brewer and Pete Gallego made it so that there is now a total of six people/positions within the town of Mammoth who can sign checks. It is usually only 4, two council people, the town manager and the town clerk. The people of Mammoth have heard all about our budget woes, and now that there are six positions and people who can write whatever checks they want there will be no accountability causing budget issues to only get worse.

  I am begging every citizen of Mammoth to please go vote for Alvaro Anaya, Joe Dietz, and Frances Amparano, on August 30, 2016. Attend the town council meetings which are held the third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. This is our town and it can once again become something we are all proud of. It starts with this election.

  Thank You,

/s/ Annie Martinez

Staff (5800 Posts)

There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.

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