Surprise City Council candidate booted from ballot
A northwest Valley resident who hoped to run for Surprise City Council was booted from the ballot on Thursday for not having enough valid nomination signatures.
This was the first legal challenge upheld in Maricopa County for the Aug. 2 election. Other challenges involving state and federal candidates have yet to play out.
At least a third of Kawika Henderson’s 265 signatures were invalid, according to a review by the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office. Problems included signees not registered to vote at the address listed or who lived outside of council District 5, where Henderson aimed to run against incumbent Jack Hastings.
Hastings challenged Henderson’s signatures, which prompted the county review that turned up 94 invalid signatures. Henderson needed at least 250 valid signatures.
Henderson is now challenging Hastings’ signatures in Superior Court. The case will be heard April 19.
Such challenges are not uncommon. Arizona election law provides a 10-day window for legal challenges after the deadline for candidates to file their nominating petitions. Maricopa County saw 43 challenges in 2020. The county has seen seven so far this year, with the deadline to file challenges on Monday.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Sara Agne heard the Surprise challenge Thursday and sided with Hastings.
Hastings will now run unopposed. The council incumbent said challenging Henderson’s signatures was not about stunting competition but instead about ensuring residents have a council member who’s willing to put in the work to do the job properly.
“We’re talking almost a 100 (invalid) signatures here,” Hastings said. “I’m all
Council incumbent Jack Hastings said challenging Kawika Henderson’s signatures was not about stunting competition but instead about ensuring residents have a council member who’s willing to put in the work to do the job properly.
for competition. I think it brings out the best in everybody. But I think if you can’t take the time to get 250 valid signatures, then how are you going to have the time to hold the office and do all the responsibilities it entails?”
Henderson did not respond to The Arizona Republic’s requests for comment, but on Facebook, he accused Hastings of “attempting to rig an election through secretive and underhanded means.”
“Suing in court to disenfranchise verified residents of Surprise’s District 5, only exposes the pettiness of his character and disdain for real, everyday people,” Henderson wrote. “He wants to deny our residents a choice and run unopposed. This is exactly why he should be voted out!”
Hastings is seeking his first full term representing central Surprise, a suburb of some 140,000 residents. He was elected in 2018 to complete the term of Skip Hall, who was named mayor.