Fountain Hills Election Notice Omits Incumbent Details | The Locally Times
A Jan. 22 notice for the town's Aug. 4 primary does not name the mayor and three councilmembers whose terms are expiring.
The Town of Fountain Hills announced procedural details for its 2026 primary election in an official notice posted on January 22, 2026. The town will hold a Primary Election on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, to elect a Mayor for a two-year term and three Councilmembers for four-year terms. The announcement specifies that a runoff election will be held on November 3, 2026, if no candidate secures a majority of votes in the primary. ## Candidate Filing and Qualifications The town’s notice outlines the requirements for individuals interested in running for office. The candidate filing period begins on March 7, 2026, and concludes at 5:00 p.m. on April 6, 2026. To qualify, a candidate must be at least 18 years old, a qualified elector, and have resided in Fountain Hills for at least one year immediately before the election. Prospective candidates must obtain a candidate packet from the Town Clerk’s Office and submit a Statement of Interest before collecting petition signatures. According to the town's election announcement, all required forms, including nomination papers and a financial disclosure statement, must be submitted in person, as electronic submissions will not be accepted. The notice directs interested individuals to contact Town Clerk Bev Bender or Deputy Town Clerk Angela Padgett-Espiritu for more information. ## Incumbent Details Omitted from Notice While the Jan. 22 announcement provides a clear timeline and procedural guide for new candidates, it does not name the current Mayor or the three Councilmembers whose terms are expiring in 2026. The public notice contains no information regarding whether these incumbent officeholders are eligible for re-election or if they have declared any intention to run for another term. Furthermore, public records do not specify how many candidate packets have been distributed or if any Statements of Interest have been filed since the packets became available.