The council seat vacated by Erik Dahl earlier this week will be determined by the upcoming election. The Town of Sahuarita will hold a primary election on Tuesday, August 4. Mayor Tom Murphy indicated that deferring to the election seems to be the best and most appropriate course of action due to the circumstances and timing.
“With the primary coming so quickly, it makes sense to let the voters decide,” Murphy said. “Council recess normally occurs in July through most of August, and considering the time it might take to make an appointment, we think it’s a good idea to leave the seat vacant until the election. In the event that the primary determines a winner by majority (as defined by law) there will be no general election, and that person could be appointed at that time to begin immediate service.”
Councilmember Dahl’s seat was vacated when he resigned on Tuesday afternoon, due to an Arizona Statute that prevents him from holding public office. Dahl is an employee of the Arizona State Department of Corrections, and state employees are not allowed to hold paid elective office. Dahl and his superiors were unware of the statute at the time of his appointment to the Sahuarita Town Council in August 2019.