Our government officials should always strive for best practices and serve as role models. I respectfully encourage Cecil Yates to immediately resign from his present council seat since he is running for mayor, allowing Fountain Hills residents to elect his replacement.

If he delays in resigning until the legal deadline, the present mayor and council alone would choose his replacement to fill his remaining term, and the rest of our community would not be able to weigh in on our representation. I encourage Mr. Yates to do the right thing; step aside to devote his energies to his campaign and demonstrate support to this community through a fair and inclusive election process for the vacating council seat.

We could then choose a replacement in the August election. If we are expected to have faith in our public officials, we certainly need to have a direct hand in selecting them. Thank you to Mr. Yates for considering my request.