Gallego to resign, plots run for mayor
Phoenix Councilwoman Kate Gallego announced Thursday that she will resign Aug. 7 to run for mayor.
“I am truly humbled and honored to have the opportunity to serve on the Phoenix City Council. I am hoping to achieve even more as Phoenix’s next mayor and make us a city that truly works for everyone,” Gallego wrote in her resignation letter.
She is the second council member to leave the council to pursue the city’s top spot following former Mayor Greg Stanton’s May departure to run for Congress.
Former Councilman Daniel Valenzuela resigned July 18. The council will meet on Aug. 1 to appoint an interim council member for his west Phoenix district.
Gallego, who like Valenzuela is a Democrat, previously told
that she planned to stay on the council long enough to vote on Valenzuela’s replacement. She said she discussed it with Valenzuela and they agreed it was better for seven council members to vote on one replacement at a time, instead of six council members voting on two replacements at once.
“We both agreed that leaving one at a time was better for continuity and the strength of the city,” Gallego said.
Within 12 to 15 days following Gallego’s resignation, the council will appoint her replacement.
The interim council members will serve until new council members are elected in Districts 5 and 8. Those elections are planned for March.
The mayoral election will be held in November. Besides Valenzuela and Gallego, Republican Moses Sanchez and Libertarian Nicholas Sarwark are running for mayor.